News / salt

• Jun 13, 2013

  Efflock ideal for building in high saline areas

  I gave a talk about Efflock to local builders at a Master Builders Association meeting out at Campbelltown last week. An interesting problem was raised, which I have touched on briefly in a previous blog.  A builder at the meeting told me that the soil in the Camden area south west of Sydney is notorious for high salinity. The high salt content presents major problems for standard construction where rising damp can have very damaging effects on brickwork below the DPC or 'Damp Proof Course' level. The DPC is typically located around floor level, meaning that numerous courses of bricks...

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• 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.

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• 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?? ...

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• Jan 07, 2013

  Efflorescence can be avoided

  Before Efflock, methods to control efflorescence required much complexity and have been flawed in one way or another. In fact, Chapter 9 of 2009 edition of the "Master Builders Association Guide to External Waterproofing" lists the the well adopted methods and highlights each of their disadvantages. In summation it concludes "there really is no way to completely prevent efflorescence"- which is incorrect. Efflorescence is something that is not widely thought about, until it begins to deface a building and starts costing money. It has until very recently been considered a maintenance issue, but that is no longer the case. Builders and tilers are being held liable,...

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• Nov 26, 2012

  Trapping moisture with a secondary membrane

  The popular approach to controlling efflorescence on tiled balconies, is to provide a secondary membrane directly beneath the tiles. Another approach is to bond the tile bed directly to the substrate and install a single membrane on top. Both of these methods are popular and can be effective in controlling efflorescence from the tile bed, but there are pit-falls. Firstly, efflorescence is also known to release from tile adhesive and grout, which are both located above the membrane. Secondly, these methods trap all the moisture in the tile bed under an impervious membrane. Moisture in the tile bed concrete mix...

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• Oct 27, 2012

  Efflock test with salt water samples

  We've put Efflock to the test with exactly what you should not do to concrete! Pictured are two samples of 4 sand: 1 cement each made with 140mls of straight sea water from Coogee Bay off the coast of Sydney. They have been cured and placed in a dish of water to test their water repellency. In the foreground is the Efflock sample. Even with salt water in the concrete mix there is clearly no wicking effect! Without water able to dissolve salts and free lime, efflorescence cannot occur.

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