News / patented technology

• 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 06, 2013

  Frustration of rain on tile screed with exposed balconies.

  By using Efflock, a secondary membrane to control efflorescence is not required. There are however, builders, architects and engineers who insist on including a secondary membrane as they like to 'cover all bases'. I can understand that; as builder myself, I like to include a few insurances in my work to avoid getting that phone call nobody wants. A secondary membrane remains good building practice, so long as excessive moisture is not sandwiched and trapped in between layers in the process. I've also had situations myself in remedial work, where we opted to screed first, then apply a membrane and...

  Read more →
  • amalfi tiles, Australian Master Tilers Association, building advice, building problems, control transport of damp through masonry, controlling efflorescence, efflock in grout, efflock to prevent efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic tile bed, leaking balconies, Master Tilers Association, moisture barrier, patented technology, porous materials, prevent capillary action, reduce building costs, repel water, secondary membrane not required, Skippens, Sustainable building products, tile talk, weather delays in tiling
  • 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

• Feb 07, 2013

  What does Efflock cost per square metre of tiling?

  Efflock prevents efflorescence and creates hydrophobic tile bed, adhesive and grout for around $3.87/m2 (for a 30mm thick tile bed). Compare that with the cost of a secondary membrane for at least $20/m2, and you're way in front Even with a tile bed 100mm thick you're saving cost and extra processes. Plus there are no hassles with inclement weather, no issues with trapping moisture between two membranes, and you even have the option to wet bed your tiles! Efflock allows the bed to permeate, meaning it will release moisture from the hydration process, whilst repelling water ingress.  Less cost, big time savings...

  Read more →
  • 1 litre Efflock, 5 litre Efflock, Australian Master Tilers Association, building costs, calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate excretion, cement grout additive, controlling efflorescence, curing efflorescence, eff lock, efflock, efflock cost, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflock, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, Flock, how do I prevent efflorescence, hydrophobic, lime bloom, lime weeping, Master Tilers Association, patented technology, prevent wicking, reduce building costs, render, repel water, salt deposits, seal grout, secondary membrane not required, tile bed, tiled balcony, tilers, time saving, white deposits, wicking
  • Share

• Jan 25, 2013

  New pricing for 2013

  Growing demand has meant lower manufacturing costs and savings that we can pass on to our customers.  Efflock was only launched in October last year but already (and excitingly) our second shipment is on it's way!

  Read more →
  • 1 litre Efflock, 5 litre Efflock, bathroom, bathroom renovations, building costs, calcium carbonate excretion, controlling efflorescence, curing efflorescence, efflorescence, efflorescence control, efflorescence prevention, eflorescence in balcony tile bed, environmentally friendly, how do I prevent efflorescence, mould inhibitor, mould prevention, patented technology, permeable, secondary membrane not required, Sustainable building products, tile bed, tiled balcony, tilers, time saving, white deposits, white leaching
  • Share
• ← Prev 1 2 Next →