Concrete Thoughts

The Basics of Self-Sealing

Sarah Rippin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:06:02 +0000

Self-Sealing is the ability to stop the flow of water by automatically closing cracks. Krystol® Concrete Waterproofing self-sealing technology is based on principles that are very similar to the processes that occur during the hydration and hardening of concrete. Importance of Self Sealing Decreases water permeability (Increases corrosion resistance) Re-seals new cracks that form during [...]

Growing Buildings?

Sarah Rippin — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:37:35 +0000

Have you ever liked the look of a building in the summer, yet found it to be out of place in other seasons? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a building change its look to reflect the time of year? A team of researchers at the Structural Technology Group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya [...]

ARMCA Convention brings Gord Bamford and Dazzling Denim to Jasper

Sarah Rippin — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:32:30 +0000

The Alberta Ready-Mixed Concrete Association held their annual convention at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge this year in stunning Jasper, Alberta. The convention offers members a chance to meet and network, and is integrated with the Annual General Meeting. The ARMCA is the recognized authoritative voice in the ready-mixed concrete industry in Alberta, servicing the [...]

Waterproofing Underground Mansions

Sarah Rippin — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:01 +0000

With a population of over 8.17 million people, the city of London, England continues to grow. The most recent census, released in 2012, reported a population increase of 12% over the past 10 years. This makes London the fastest growing city in England. The population boom has contributed to an increased population density, with limited [...]

Build Day with Habitat For Humanity!

Sarah Rippin — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:30:19 +0000

On Thursday May 2nd, a dedicated group of Krytonites headed out to Burnaby to roll up our sleeves and volunteer our time to a Habitat for Humanity townhouse project. It was a beautiful day to help a great cause. Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver has been working hard to complete this project in Burnaby, which [...]

International Forum Opens Doors for the Future of Concrete

Kari Yuers — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:00:04 +0000

Concrete has been around in different forms for thousands of years, but the last few decades have shown new innovation and technologies to improve concrete’s versatility and durability. With so much successful concrete construction, it makes me wonder about what we can do within the global concrete community network to help share the accumulated knowledge [...]

Ocean’s Open House, 2013

Sarah Rippin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:36:39 +0000

On Saturday, April 27th, a team of Krytonites went down to Granville Island to join Ocean Concrete in their annual open house. Getting up close and personal with the largest cement mixer truck in North America was exciting for the kids, and despite the rain there was a great turn out! Kids learned about hydrostatic [...]

Three Causes of Slump Loss

Sarah Rippin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:18 +0000

All concrete has slump loss or it would never harden. In the normal slow congealing we call ‘setting’, the concrete first gradually loses all its slump and then proceeds to harden. However… What can be a cause for concern to the concrete user is an abnormally high rate of slump loss. There are several causes [...]

Five Signs of a Leaky Basement

Sarah Rippin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:50:29 +0000

Maintaining a dry basement adds not only to the durability of your home, but mitigates health issues caused by mold, and reduces the need for costly repairs. Even basements which have minor water damage or persistent moisture issues can create an un-inviting space which can reduce the versatility of your home. Regular inspections of your [...]

Waterproofing Admixture to Improve Mortar

Sarah Rippin — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:15:15 +0000

Krystol Mortar Admixture (KMA) is a specially designed chemical admixture for cementitious mortar. It contains a unique blend of specialty chemicals that react with the cementitious materials in the mortar to form hydration crystals. These needle-like crystals block the capillary pores and micro-cracks within the mortar to dramatically reduce permeability and water absorption of mortar [...]