WHY WE DON'T USE ANY TAPES OR STRIPS IN JOINTS
OUR GUARANTEE
Other Information
How to place concrete
How to fill ICF walls
Curing concrete
Fixing leaks and sealing joints
What too much water does to concrete
Capillary action in concrete
Settlement cracking
Drying cracking
Thermal cracking
Other bad things that happen to concrete
About OPC
About PFA
About GGBS
About silica fume
About interground limestone
Which is stronger, pure OPC or a blend?
Mixing waterproof concrete by hand
Steel fibres in waterproof concrete
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Our System of Achieving Waterproof, Waterproof Concrete Structures.
There is nothing easier than messing up waterproof concrete.
Therefore the first element of our System is supervision.
- Supervision ordering the concrete and any pump
- Supervision of the concrete when it arrives
- Supervision of the concrete when it is placed - we even bring along a tremmie pipe for narrow walls
- Supervision of the concrete when it is compacted - we even bring along 3 serviced, effective vibrating pokers of a suitable size for the day's pour
- Supervision of, or at least advice about, curing the concrete.
We will also discuss how to form kickers and seal divi bar holes - if asked, or if we do not like what we see, we will discuss how to succeed without either.
In the past, while I was a site engineer and as I gained experience building domestic basements, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
Absolute proof that those who do this kind of work all the time do it badly all the time.
See the page about supervision for a list of 22 more common errors.
But since 2009 all I have had is success.
All you require
- steel reinforcement designed for the job
- a large concreting team - 5 men and a supervisor (this is normally only for 30 minutes a load)
- ideally add waterproofing chemical on site (then no one is tempted to add water)
- and a good, effective tool box talk before you start.
And Our Guarantee:
As good as the best of the rest. In fact the wording is an adaptation of wording given to me by the best of the rest a few years ago.
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The Concrete
This is a generally safe mix design. As a part of our supervision service we will discuss any sulphate resistance or compensation for unusual aggregate with your local readymix suppliers. So this might not be the mix you need.
P350
CEM I
Extra concreting sand/pump mix
Maximum water/cement ratio 0.45
Target slump 40mm
Absolutely no chemicals added by the concrete supplier. No WRA.
You will need to explain that you will add your own super plasticiser when the load arrives on site. (You will actually be adding waterproofer as well, but this has no influence on the concrete).
This mix will be near enough exactly the same as any other concrete that is to be waterproofed. If your readymix supplier has a mix design on his system from Caltite, Pudlo or Sika, it is likely to be so similar you can ask him for that mix design but without any chemicals added. (Note. Do not copy a Xypex mix design - not as good).
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