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What Is Galvanizing?
A common way to protect steel against corrosion is to galvanize it. The term refers to the original process that entailed deposition of zinc by an electrical process, using a galvanic cell (battery). Electroplating is still used but coating raw steel with molten zinc (hot-dipping) is the more common practice. “Hot-dipped galvanized” is technically a […]
You’re Pushing It!
With winter practically here, you should have already developed your snow and ice removal plan for the year, but it’s never too late to create or amend one. Among the things to consider are areas where snow is to be pushed by plows. The lower ends of parking lots are seemingly logical places to push […]
Problems Caused By Sandy
Hurricane Sandy certainly caused a lot of problems relative to water intrusion issues that occurred in places where they had not been previously seen. Site drainage around buildings is very important and numerous problems were reported due to clogged gutters, downspouts and other water drainage components that need to be carefully checked and maintained on […]
Balcony Insulation and Condensation
Cantilever balconies are commonly seen protruding from the façade of condominiums and apartments. However, this arrangement can lead to problems arising from heat transfer and condensation, resulting in mold growth. Typically, steel framed cantilever balconies have beams that extend into the building and connect to the structure. Concrete balconies are usually cast integrally with the […]
Gutter Talk
Autumn is here and soon all those colorful leaves you’ve enjoyed will be clogging your roof gutters. Gutter cleaning time is fast approaching and the earlier it’s done after the last leaf has fallen in your neighborhood, the less unpleasant it will be. Dry leaves are fairly easy to remove. Fermented leaf sludge is just […]
Paved Paradise & Put Up a Parking Lot
An emerging idea is to put solar panels in parking lots, instead of on roofs. Perhaps you have seen the solar panels at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. If you have a big enough parking lot, a significant amount of electricity can be generated and the cars can be parked in the shade of these […]
Pavement Fashion Makeover
Is yellow, green, or blue the new black in pavement fashion? It might be if the researchers that are looking into making parking lots more eco-friendly have anything to do with it. By changing the color of asphalt from black to a lighter color they hope to reduce the heat island effect in cities that […]
The Root of Some Evil
“A man does not plant a tree for himself, he plants it for posterity.” – Alexander Smith When planting trees around your property and near your buildings, think in the long term. That small tree will eventually become big, maybe even really big. We get calls related to foundation problems and wall cracks caused by […]
Weeding Out Problems
Keep on the lookout for Japanese Knotweed – it is on the list of the top 100 worst weeds, worldwide. Locally, it has spread from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, so those in the Mid-Atlantic region should be alert and remove this pervasive weed. The plant is so tenacious that it is known to cause […]
Pouring Concrete vs Pouring Rain
Unpredictable summer thunderstorms can wreak havoc on a concrete pour. Rainwater can cause a new concrete surface to become soft, which in turn decreases the abrasion resistance and strength of the concrete, while increasing the tendency for dusting and cracking to develop. The key to preventing damage to the concrete surface by a rainstorm is […]
Cleaning Solutions!
Removal of Rust Stains from Concrete: It’s hard to find a building today without concrete surfaces stained by rust. Rust stains can adversely transform the aesthetics of a beautiful building. How can rust stains be removed? Let’s find out! Once rust staining has occurred, it is important to remove the stains without altering the color […]
Curing Concrete in the HEAT!
Some people may say that concrete is a paradoxical material: it is strong and yet fragile; it is mundane and yet remarkably versatile. But more often than not, this material is taken for granted as the surface of everyday elements such as streets and sidewalks. As discussed in our September 26th, 2011 post “Curing Concrete […]