News / brick mortar

• Mar 05, 2014

  Salinity in Australia - a big problem that builders need to consider.

  The Master Builders Association meeting held in Maitland last week had a very entertaining and informative guest speaker from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The topic was urban salinity. Salt from the soil can have a very destructive and catastrophic effect on masonry in buildings. Salt is drawn up into masonry with rising damp, and over many years with wet and dry cycles, more and more salt is deposited into the point of evaporation, typically in brickwork or stonework below damp proof course [DPC] level. The pressure exerted by crystallising salt can exceed 200MPa, whilst the tensile resistant strength...

  Read more →
  • Ben from Efflock, Brick Mart, brick mortar, brickwork, Brookvale, building advice, building in saline areas, building materials, building problems, building technology, camden council, chlorides, construction in saline soils, construction problems, damp proof course, efflock for saline areas, exposure grade bricks, ground salt, masonry, prevent salt attack, prevention of salt attack, rising damp, saline soils, salt attack, salt in sand, salts, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, spalling, stop salt attack, urban salinity
  • Share

• Feb 04, 2014

  North Shore Timber and Hardware now selling Efflock

  North Shore Timber and Hardware is the latest business to offer Efflock to the local building trade. North Shore Timber have six locations and have an excellent reputation throughout Sydney and in Gosford for quality building supplies. As the name suggests, NST are primarily timber merchants but do supply some sand and cement based products. As many small building contractors are from a carpentry background, we see that the partnership with NST will offer great exposure of the Efflock brand to small builders - who will in turn benefit with a dramatic reduction in building defects risks.

  Read more →
  • avoid efflorescence, brick mortar, brickwork, building in saline areas, building materials, cement, Chatswood, Efflock, efflock to prevent efflorescence, Gosford, Miranda, North Shore Timber and Hardware, render additive, rendering, Thornleigh, Waterloo
  • Share

• Jan 20, 2014

  Rising Damp and Salt Attack - free PDF

  We have recommended this publication on our blog previously: Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic and Older Buildings. Salt attack is as destructive to masonry as termites are to timber, and is prone to occur on any building site in Australia due to our soils and extreme weather patterns. As salt is dissolved by water and absorbed by masonry, the water evaporates, leaving behind more and more salt with each wet cycle. Salt crystallises to expand at extraordinary pressure   (> 200MPa) to easily turn stone, bricks and mortar to dust. As outlined...

  Read more →
  • Brick Mart, brick mortar, brickwork, building in saline areas, building problems, Camden Council, cement additive, control transport of damp through masonry, CPD points for builders, Damp proof course, DPC, Dubbo council, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflock to prevent rising damp in render, efflock to prevent salt damp, efflock to prevent water absorption, get efflock, getefflock, Green Star, green star approved, Green Star rating, recommended additive for saline areas, saline areas, salinity, salt attack, Salt Attack and Rising Damp, Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic Buildings, salt attack in brickwork, salt in soil, salts rising, sustainable architecture, why you should get efflock
  • Share

• Dec 18, 2013

  The RALAN Group - New Development now using Efflock

  Builders for The RALAN Group, Steve Nolan Constructions Pty Ltd are currently constructing two multi storey developments. These projects are located at 6-8 and 10 Drovers Way, Lindfield, in Sydney. The two buildings share a total of 112 apartments, from 1 bedroom, to 3 bedroom penthouses.  Efflock is currently being used in face brickwork, both to control efflorescence and keep the mortar clean to reduce maintenance and keep the building looking good. Efflock is planned for use in any areas of the building where efflorescence is considered a risk externally, and will also be included internally in the bathrooms to...

  Read more →
  • avoid leaks, bathroom, bathrooms, brick mortar, brickwork, Calcification and efflorescence associated with decks and balconies, cement additive, Drovers Way, efflorescence in brickwork, efflorescence in render, how do I prevent efflorescence, Lindfield, Ralan Property Services, reduce building costs, responsible construction practice, Steve Nolan Constructions, Steve Nolan Constructions Pty Ltd, The Ralan Group
  • Share

• Oct 09, 2013

  Efflock to present to Master Builders Association - Manly Warringah Division.

  Efflock will be a guest speaker at tomorrow night's meeting of Manly Warringah Division of the Master Builders Association. Click on the link for details and to book. All are welcome to attend and building professionals can collect 2 CPD points for attending.  Efflock also presented to the Southern Highlands Division of the MBA in Goulburn last night. Despite a blackout making the presentation a bit of a challenge, the product received a great deal of interest from local builders, in particular for bathrooms and for building in saline environments. 

  Read more →
  • avoid efflorescence, avoid leaks, bathrooms, brick mortar, Building in a saline environment, building in saline areas, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, Goulburn, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hydrophobic tile bed, Manly, Mantly, MBA, prevent capillary action, saline environments, salt attack, salt attack in brickwork, salts, salts coming out of tiles, salts leaching out of tiles, tiled areas, tiling, Warringah
  • Share

• Sep 13, 2013

  Efflorescence in the UK

  Efflorescence is clearly a problem the world over. Google has images and stories about efflorescence from all four corners of the globe. During a visit to the UK, we have seen efflorescence leaching from the face brickwork of many new buildings and brick fences. Common perception from most local tradesmen is that efflorescence comes from modern clay bricks. In some walls we have seen, the bricks do appear to produce salts which are seldom seen in Australia. However, for the most part, it does appear that porous mortar is the main culprit, or sometimes there is a combination of leaching from both...

  Read more →
  • brick mortar, brickwork, Britain, British, calcification, calcium carbonate, cement, controlling efflorescence, England, GB, Great britain, hydrophobic, Ireland, Masonry bloom, NHBC, prevent capillary action, prevent efflorescence, prevent lateral damp, prevent mould, render, render additive, salt bloom, Scotland, UK, United Kingdom, Wales, white deposits, white leaching
  • Share

• Apr 25, 2013

  Recommended Reading: Salt Attack & Rising Damp in Buildings

  This publication is a great reference for builders and for anyone considering building or renovating - particularly for understanding rising damp in older houses. Salt can be an incredibly destructive compound, and understanding how salt damp behaves is the first step in designing a solution to control and prevent salt attack. Efflock is an ideal product to prevent the transport of salt throughout masonry. Efflock is excellent for use in new construction to prevent efflorescence and damp problems in tiled patios and wet areas, but can be used in many different applications such as render and brick mortar. It can sometimes however,...

  Read more →
  • architects, blistering paint, brick mortar, building defects, building materials, building problems, control transport of damp through masonry, crumbling brickwork, crumbling render, Damp proof course, efflock, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, Home renovations, hydrophobic, hygroscopic salts, phosphate in soil, prevent capillary action, prevent rising damp, prevent wicking, Recommended reading, Salt Attack and Rising Damp, Salt Attack and Rising Damp - A Guide to Salt Damp in Historic Buildings, subfloor walls
  • Share

• Mar 14, 2013

  Capillary action

  Capillary action (also known as wicking) is a common problem in buildings. Like the very action we depend on, of blood flowing through our bodies capillaries to our extremities, water can also flow and be drawn along or through many building materials. Roof leaks are one example where capillary action is often responsible.   Picture: Capillary action on a clay brick. Ordinary tile screed of the same sample size would reach total saturation in around 10 minutes . Concrete and masonry, even of high quality contains capillaries. Common problems we see that arise from water flowing through concrete include: Concrete...

  Read more →
  • absorption, blistering paint, brick mortar, building technology, calcium carbonate, capillary action, cement grout additive, control transport of damp through masonry, controlling efflorescence, curing efflorescence, efflock in grout, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, leaking balconies, leaking bathrooms, masonry absorption, Master Tilers Association, moisture barrier, mortar additive, mould barrier, patented technology, permeable, prevent mould, prevent rising damp, prevent salt damp, prevent wicking, repel water, rising damp, rising damp in render, tile bed, tile grout, tiled balcony
  • Share

• Mar 04, 2013

  Efflock is a sustainable product choice

      Efflock is 100% VOC free. Being water based and solvent free, also means Efflock is not flammable and has no offensive or dangerous odour. Efflock's maximum concentrate formula also means minimal plastic packaging waste and minimal fossil fuel consumption through transport. Sustainability Through Longevity: Production of masonry products like tiles, bricks and cement by nature, demand a carbon hungry manufacturing process. Each of these materials however, are some of the most versatile and useful building materials we have, and can be very long lasting when installed with diligence. Increasing the 'service life' of each of these building materials...

  Read more →
  • amalfi tiles, architects, Australian Master Tilers Association, bathroom, bathroom mould, bathroom renovations, bathrooms, blistering paint, brick mortar, building advice, building defects, building materials, building problems, building technology, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate excretion, cement, cement additive, cement grout additive, concrete, control transport of damp through masonry, controlling efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, environmentally friendly, Home renovations, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hygroscopic salts, leaking balconies, leaking bathrooms, lime bloom, lime weeping, Master Tilers Association, MBA eastern suburbs, moisture barrier, mortar additive, mould barrier, mould in grout, mould prevention, new bathrooms, New Product, number one defect, patented technology, permeable, prevent capillary action, prevent rising damp, prevent salt damp, prevent wicking, randwick tiles and glass, reduce chemicals down the drain, render, render additive, repel water, rising damp in render, salt attack, Skippens Landscape and Building Supplies, sustainable building, Sustainable building products, tile bed, tile grout, tiled areas, tiled balcony, tilers, tiling, VOCs, Volatile organic compounds
  • Share

• Mar 01, 2013

  Efflock to prevent rising damp and salt attack in buildings

  Photograph showing rising damp and subsequent salt attack below DPC level. Rising damp is destructive for buildings. It is well understood that damp very quickly will create rot in structural timbers such as bearers and joists, and therefore a DPC (damp proof course) is provided to prevent rising damp. A modern DPC is typically a black embossed polythene roll that is laid out directly beneath ant-capping, or just below finished ground floor level. Polyethelene underlay (black or orange plastic) serves the same purpose for slab on ground construction. What is not usually considered, is that rising damp can also have destructive consequences...

  Read more →
  • blistering paint, brick mortar, building advice, building defects, building materials, building problems, building technology, cement, cement additive, cement grout additive, control transport of damp through masonry, crumbling brickwork, crumbling render, Damp proof course, DPC, Efflock, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflorescence, efflorescence control, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hygroscopic salts, mortar additive, patented technology, phosphate in soil, prevent capillary action, prevent rising damp, render, render additive, rising damp, rising damp in render, salt attack, subfloor walls, sustainable building, Sustainable building products
  • Share