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Screed evaluation method: Cross-hatch testing for surface strength

Flooring

Screed Evaluation Methods

A prerequisite for a sustainable and beautiful wood floor is a strong and dry screed. Therefore this screed has to be carefully accessed. The first source of information is the architect, engineer, or main contractor who will have all of the information about the build-up and nature of the floor. The second source is the screed contractor who can provide the screed details and if appropriate, any subfloor heating protocols. If, as so often in renovation projects most of this information is not available, there are a few simple methods that can be used to evaluate the screed.

Architectural concrete facade with joint sealing

Joint Sealing
Facade Joint Sealing

Considerations for Facade Joint Design

The facade is the face of buildings. In contemporary architecture, the facade is of special interest expressed by large dimensions, unconventional shapes and high material diversity. Especially with these unique shapes and connections, joint design is demanding and prone to mistakes. For integral joint specification, following some rough guidelines will result in a long-lasting and tight building envelope.

Concrete Admixtures
Construction
Concrete Admixture
Watertight Concrete
Corrosion Protection

Corrosion Resistant Concrete

Concrete is an ingenious building material, also because in combination with reinforcing steel it exhibits tremendous load-bearing capacity. The combination of steel and concrete has the advantage that under normal conditions the high pH value of concrete creates a passivating layer of iron hydroxides on the steel surface, which protects it from corrosion. Particularly steel, however, can be compromised in its durability of performance by the presence of moisture and salt.

Concrete Admixtures

Man spraying mortar on the wall

Concrete Repair
Sika MonoTop®

Dry vs Wet Machine Applied Mortars for Concrete Repairs

Concrete repairs can be conducted with different systems and methods. In the European Standard EN 1504 Part 9, Principle 3 defines the application of repair mortars by machine as well as by hand. In this article you will learn about the advantages of machine application for both dry and wet spray processes. We also give an overview of how to select the right method and equipment for each type of application together with the corresponding Sika materials.

Concrete Repair

Concrete Admixtures
Construction
Concrete Admixture
Watertight Concrete

Fire Resistant Concrete

The danger of fire is present always and everywhere. The imminent danger depends upon actual exposure, and naturally differs if the threatened construction is a pedestrian subway, a roadway tunnel or a subterranean garage in a skyscraper. Concrete is the loadbearing material in nearly all built structures and is therefore at high risk, since the entire structure would collapse upon its material failure.

Concrete Admixtures

Injection for waterproofing leaking cracks 3d rendering

Waterproofing
Injection
Below-Grade Waterproofing

How to Select an Injection Material to Seal Leaks?

Leaks in concrete, masonry and natural stone structures can often be securely sealed and waterproofed by injection. However, to make leaking structures watertight for the long term, it’s essential to select the right injection material. On the basis of our extensive technical and practical experience, we have prepared a guide which will help you choose the optimal injection solution for your project requirements.

Concrete Admixtures
Construction
Concrete Admixture
Watertight Concrete

Sulfate Resistant Concrete

Particularly in underground construction, concrete structures are exposed alongside loads and wear of decade-long use to influences emerging from the sub grade such as permanent mechanical stresses and aggressive water.

Concrete Admixtures

Industry
Modular Construction

Replacing nails and screws with Sikaflex®-545

Sika Industry know-how in replacing nails, screws and rivets has a long-proven track record since back in the 80’s. This journey has now begun in the modular building industry. Millions and millions of screws and nails are used by every customer: time consuming, noisy, expensive and lot of waste. In addition, producers have now requested adhesives for a bonding solution.

Modular Construction

Joint Sealing
Elastic Adhesive Bonding

Purform® - The Leading Polyurethane Technology

Joint Sealing
Roofing Membranes
Construction
Residential
Industry
Flooring
Roofing
Concrete Admixtures
Waterproofing
Passive Fire Protection
Joint Sealing
Modular Construction

A Material Supplier’s Responsibility to Offsite Construction and Modular Builders

There is a great deal of conversation in the media relating to offsite construction, modular buildings and modern methods of construction - the success of this approach is key to the future success of our construction industry. The challenge for component or material suppliers is to be able to transfer their ideas and knowledge to the specifiers and manufacturers.

Modular Construction

Close up view of bitumen membrane applied on roof at parapet

Bituminous Membrane
Roofing Membranes
Roofing

How to Choose or Specify the Correct Bitumen Membrane

Whether you're an architect, roofing applicator or anyone involved in selecting the right bituminous roofing, it's hard to know where to begin.

Floor joint in warehouse floor

Flooring
Industrial Flooring

How to Design an Ideal Floor for Warehouse and Logistics Facilities

In warehouses and logistics buildings the concrete slab and flooring are critical to the effective functioning of the operations. However, it is often the perception that the concrete floor is one of the most straight forward elements of the project, and many times the overall attention paid to design and construction detail is less than proportional to its ultimate importance in the efficient operation of the facility. The expectation is that these large area floors must be constructed with lowest possible cost and provide problem free service year after year.

Clean red and white decorative laboratory interior floor with female research technician at work

Flooring
Decorative Floor
Healthcare

Designing colorful floor in hospitals and other healthcare facilities

A well-crafted color palette can do wonders for a healthcare facility. The use of color and graphic images can align to the existing logo and symbolic color of the facility to achieve an overall visual aesthetic, while it can also elicit emotions and unique perceptions of space. It has an ability to calm or excite, can make a room appear smaller or more grandiose, or even trigger subconscious reactions. Color is the most vital, impactful and expressive design element in a designer’s toolbox.

Excavator standing on heavy duty cementitious floor in warehouse

Flooring
Industrial Flooring
Industrial

Dry Shake Hardeners for Concrete Floors

Dry shake aggregate floor hardeners are commonly applied to the surface of freshly placed concrete to improve wear resistance and occasionally to color a concrete surface. They decrease typical plain concrete negative properties like dusting and liquid absorption by improving the abrasion resistance and reducing surface permeability.

Car on outdoor parking garage made with Sikafloor coating system

Flooring
Car Park

Wear Resistance of Floor Coatings in Car Parking Garages - Parking Abrasion Test

Everyday parking floors are exposed to mechanical stress. Deck coatings in multi-storey car parks and basement garages are among the most heavily stressed of such systems. Therefore, car park surfaces demand robust and highly resistant coatings. In this article you will learn about our Parking Abrasion Test which we have developed to measure wear resistance of floor coatings in parking garages.

Workers applying wood floor adhesives

Flooring
Wood Floor Bonding

The Science Behind Wood Floor Adhesives

The task of wood floor adhesives is to firmly bond the organic wood floor elements to the generally inorganic screed. The adhesive must hold the wood in place, connect it to the underlying screed and transfer stress originating from the natural expansion and contraction of the wood to the generally rigid screed. The undesired but natural movement of the wood can become visible in cupping, joint formation, or in extreme situations failure of the adhesive or screed.

Man applying SikaScreed on floor

Flooring

Potential Screed Issues and Solutions

If the screed is even, strong and dry enough, then only mechanical surface preparation such as grinding and cleaning is required, before wood floor bonding is possible. However there are many situations where the existing or even new screeds are not suitable, and additional treatment is necessary before wood flooring can be installed. Sika has developed complete balanced system solutions for all of the different possibilities that may be found in these situations.

Roofing
Green Roof
Sustainability

How Do Green Roofs Work?

Green roofs work by creating a roofing surface that allows for vegetation to grow and water to drain through. They absorb rainwater through the build-up of plants, soil, and drainage layer down to the waterproofing membrane and substrate.

Green roof with Sika PVC membrane installed on Ballycotton House in Cork, Ireland

Roofing
Green Roof
Sustainability

Which Type of Green Roof for Your Project?

Green roofs are not a new concept, but they have grown in popularity over the past decade as people aim to achieve more sustainable construction projects and utilise previously unused spaces, such as flat roofs.

Roofing
Green Roof
Sustainability

Why Go Green? Benefits of Choosing a Green Roof

Green roofs offer tangible benefits for end users, inhabitants, owners and the greater community. They can range from economic and ecological to social and aesthetic reasons.

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