News / building technology

• 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

• Apr 08, 2013

  Master Builders Association Presentation

  Efflock will be hosting a presentation at the July meeting of the NSW Master Builders Association, Northern Suburbs Division.       Date: 18th July 2013 Venue: Roseville Golf Club, 4 Links Road, Roseville. RSVP: Melissa Stevens - 0419 144 495. Please book at least 1 week prior for catering purposes. The presentation will explain the behaviour of salt and efflorescence in buildings and how it can be managed, as well as other common building problems that can be managed easily using Efflock. We look forward to hearing specific questions and experiences!

  Read more →
  • Australian Master Tilers Association, avoid efflorescence, avoid leaks, bathrooms, building advice, building defects, building materials, building technology, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate excretion, cement grout additive, control transport of damp through masonry, controlling efflorescence, curing efflorescence, efflock to prevent rising damp, efflock to prevent water absorption, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence in balcony tile bed, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, environmentally friendly, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hydrophobic tile bed, hygroscopic salts, Is efflorescence a defect? MBANSW, leaking balconies, leaking bathrooms, lime bloom, lime weeping, MBA Northern Suburbs, MBA NSW, moisture barrier, mould barrier, number one defect, patented technology, permeable, prevent capillary action, prevent efflorescence, salt attack, tiled balcony, time saving, white leaching, wicking
  • Share

• Apr 02, 2013

  Are you trying to install a secondary membrane, but it keeps raining?!!

  Having Efflock in a tile bed means a secondary membrane to control efflorescence is no longer required. However, Efflock is proving very useful to a number of our customers who still prefer to install a secondary membrane on their tiled balconies as another line of defence.  An apartment block in Sydney with efflorescence stains from the top balcony streaming down the facade. The permeable yet hydrophobic effect of a tile screed containing Efflock means that a tile bed can expel moisture from the hydration process, whilst repelling any rain that comes along in the mean time. A screed containing Efflock is...

  Read more →
  • amalfi tiles, architects, Australian Master Tilers Association, building materials, building problems, building program, building technology, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate excretion, capillary action, control transport of damp through masonry, controlling efflorescence, critical path, efflock, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflock to prevent water absorption, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence in balcony tile bed, efflorescence prevention, environmentally friendly, grout, how do I prevent efflorescence, Master Tilers Association, patented technology, permeable, prevent lateral damp, reduce building costs, repel water, secondary membrane not required, Skippens, tile bed, tile grout, tile talk, tiled areas, tiled balcony, tilers, tilers online, tiling, time saving, weather delays in tiling
  • Share

• Mar 31, 2013

  Efflock is the preferred choice for protecting million dollar views

     Even the most exclusive suburbs of Sydney with some of the most impressive private homes do not escape the scourge of efflorescence. Efflock is fast becoming the product of choice for remedial builders and tilers to rectify and prevent unsightly efflorescence stains from occurring.  Check out our 'Stockists' page or speak to your local trade supplier about stocking Efflock for your next project. Efflock is also available online with prompt free delivery throughout Australia.

  Read more →
  • 1 litre Efflock, 5 litre Efflock, architects, Australian Master Tilers Association, building materials, building problems, building technology, calcium carbonate, controlling efflorescence, efflock, Efflock costs around $7/m2, efflock in grout, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence in balcony tile bed, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, environmentally friendly, Flock, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, hydrophobic tile bed, lime weeping, Master Tilers Association, MBA eastern suburbs, patented technology, permeable, randwick tiles and glass, salt, salt attack, Skippens now stocking Efflock, tile bed, tile grout, tiled areas, tiled balcony, tilers, tiling, white deposits, white leaching, wicking
  • 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

• Feb 22, 2013

  Some basic facts about everyday building materials you may not know.

  It was pointed out to me yesterday, that to date, my blogs are written in a way that assumes some prior technical knowledge about building. Considerable interest about Efflock is coming from home owners, 'Do-It-Yourselfers', or from people who are interested in including Efflock in their building project, but aren't quite sure how to recommend its use or exactly what it does to the tradesmen they are engaging. So here goes.... Firstly, many people may assume that concrete is waterproof: It makes sense right? You see concrete on bridges, footpaths, driveways and balconies everywhere, so surely water doesn't affect it?? ...

  Read more →
  • bathroom renovations, bathrooms, building advice, building materials, building technology, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate excretion, cement, cement additive, cement grout additive, concrete, controlling efflorescence, Crystalline technology, crystallisation of soluble salts, curing efflorescence, DIY, Efflock, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, grout, Home renovations, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, leaking balconies, leaking bathrooms, lime bloom, lime weeping, moisture barrier, mould barrier, mould in grout, mould in showers, mould inhibitor, mould prevention, New Product, patented technology, porous materials, prevent capillary action, prevent salt damp, prevent wicking, renovation advice, repel water, salt, salt deposits, seal grout, secondary membrane not required, shower grout, sustainable building, Sustainable building products, tile bed, tile grout, tiled areas, tiled balcony, tilers, tiling, time saving, waterproof concrete, white deposits, white leaching, wicking
  • Share