October 2018 – Page 2 – Construction POC

How Caulks And Sealants Are Used In The Modern-day Construction Industry

Posted on October 14, 2018 by blogger

A trip to your local home improvement store can be an overwhelming experience for the average person, especially if you’re trying to figure out which caulks and sealants to use for your exterior home improvement project. Unlike the interior, the exterior faces high UV exposure, extreme temperatures and the requirement to stay 100% waterproof.

When you’re dealing with silicone caulks, you have a non-paintable surface, with poor UV performance. Although water based and latex caulks have good paintability, they also have high shrinkage, poor elasticity and poor UV performance. Synthetic-rubber (polyurethane) sealants and tri-polymer sealants (silyl terminated polyether sealants) can do it all: paintable, great moisture sealing, no or low shrinkage, and very good UV resistance. Many are also pre-tinted in popular colors. These include the popular NP1 (polyurethane sealant), Sonolastic 150 VLM, and Novalink sealants.

All of these sealant and caulk materials are heavily advertised and marketed with super flashy packaging, labels and all kinds of fancy logos. If you’re looking for a high performance caulk or high performance sealant, you can literally be confronted with hundreds of brands and companies that claim to have the best product for your needs. So what can you do, when you are bombarded with all kinds of choices?

Each brand of caulk generally has its own special and unique qualities. Although, it is in your best interest to read all of the labels and also follow the company specifications, for the use of the caulk and sealant, the very thing you want to know may not be found on the labels of the containers at all! Many of the best products are architectural / commercial grade and not generally available to the public.

Sealant was originated through the needs for exterior finishing in the home building industry. Caulk was originally a term that was used to describe the sealant material used to build boats. Many companies and manufacturers these days are using caulk as an all-purpose word to describe paintable interior grade products. Sealants by definition have at least /-25% elongation capability over a long-term period and are UV resistant. Advanced sealants are 100% solids and offer up to 100% elongation.

Most of the general public use caulk and sealant interchangeably to serve the same basic purpose, which is to fill gaps between building materials and to shield materials from air and water.

Although sealants and caulk work the same basic manner, they both also fail for the same basic reasons. There are three major types of caulk failures that you will encounter. These are substrate, cohesive, and adhesive. The bond that is put between the substrate and the caulk can actually fail, making the caulk tear and break down. Caulked joint problems are also very common and are usually due to the substrate not being effectively prepared or using the wrong product all together.

So, before you choose a certain kind of product, you want to really think about how you will be using it and for what purpose. You will also want to consider the area or location you are going to apply the caulk or sealant.

For example, if your intent is to seal the area around the base of a toilet, sink, bathtub or shower, it will be imperative that you purchase a product that both mildew-resistant and durable enough to survive scrubbing and chemical cleaning. If your intent is going to be to use sealant or caulk between wood clapboards and vinyl windows, then you’ll need to purchase a product that is able to bond very well to both types of materials and is weather resistant.

You will also want to keep humidity, temperature and moisture in mind when you are shopping for caulk or sealant. Water-based caulks not recommended for outdoor projects, because these products do not withstand the hot-to-cold and cold-to-hot weather changes, as well as other harsh weather situations. If you are living in an area that is below 50F during the time you need to apply sealant, then you’ll probably want to use a silicone sealant, instead of polyurethanes, because polyurethanes are very difficult to apply in chilly conditions.

Other Applications: For sealing skylights, glass domes, greenhouses and such, Sonolastic Clear 25 is a popular product. For Kynar or siliconized paint finished metal roofs, a special sealant formulated to seal to these surfaces is a must. Products such as Duralink are popular. For repair of swimming pool tile grout lines, polyurethane sealants are excellent. Products like Ultra provide a very durable seal, which can survive in areas where grouts fail quickly. Ultra is also used as a pickproof sealant in security applications.

To the delight of many, who prefer the do-it-yourself project, certain caulks and sealants can be color-matched to paints, tiles, grout, wallpaper and even carpeting. The beauty of these products is that they can be color-matched while they are still in the product tube. NP1 is also available in many popular pre-formulated colors. Any good home building products store will be able to help you color-match your caulk and sealant to your desired color. Once the caulk has cured, then it will precisely match the color you were seeking to acquire.

In summary, let’s review your options again:

1. Water-based caulks are the easiest to work with. They have a smooth, thin and consistent flow, and they are easy to apply with almost any tool. These products cure quickly, have very little odor, and the clean up is easy with water.

2. Silicone caulks and sealants are good for interior or exterior areas, which will not be painted and are good for areas that will be exposed to extremely cold weather, certain metals, and glass. Silicone materials do not repair well (nothing wants to stick to cured silicone material, not even more silicone)

3. Synthetic rubber sealant is best used for areas with high movement and dissimilar materials. These materials can be painted and are designed for long-term exterior exposure. There is also less chance that the synthetic rubber bond will break during movement. Common applications are roof tile repairs, roof moldings, and roof to wall sealing, window frame sealants, and doorsill sealant.

4. Self Leveling Expansion Joint Sealant, such as SL1 and SL2, are used to fill and seal the expansion joint gaps in concrete and driveways.

5. Tri-Polyimer sealants, such as Sonolastic 150VLM are the next generation. Although somewhat more expensive, they offer superior exterior performance.

6. New Hybrid products are available that defy all classifications. Using these kinds of sealants can yield a lot of surprises, so be sure to read the instructions carefully. Some of these products tend to expand upon drying, so it is best to test them out in an inconspicuous location before actually using them on your project.

Print this article and take it with you when you are shopping for caulk and sealant. Review it and then follow any instructions on the containers of the products you buy. It is our hope that this quick tutorial will help provide some clarity on exactly what products you should buy for your home improvement or home construction project.

Redwood – Your Best Choice In Swing Set Construction

Posted on October 11, 2018 by blogger

Everyone has their own reasons for choosing a particular wood for their swing set. Some buy pine because of budget restrictions, others select cedar for its low maintenance and buyers of redwood may do so just to match their deck. All those woods are available to you as well, but before you decide there are a few facts you should know about redwood that makes it the better choice.

In order to fully understand the qualities that make redwood the best choice for your swing set, you need to know a little more about the wood itself. Not all redwood is the same and it’s important you know exactly what kind you’re paying for.

Although redwood is available in several different grades, a commonality between them is the pink/red color that ages to gray over time. A widely used grade of redwood is Con-Heart, which means it’s a construction grade wood that comes from the heart of the redwood tree.

It’s this redwood that is naturally resistant to insects and rotting. Wood taken from the outer part of the tree must be stained each year to prevent decay. Many companies offer redwood swing sets, but if it isn’t taken from the heart of the tree, it will require some maintenance. You’ll never have to do any staining or sanding on swing sets made from Con-Heart grade Redwood.

If there are any white parts in the redwood, it’s called sapwood and it has virtually no resistance to rotting or insects. Again, you’re protected with Con-Heart Redwood, because it contains no sapwood. Heart redwood has a natural resistance to insects and decay that goes all the way through the wood, not only the surface. This is important because it means the exposed ends and edges created from sawing or nailing are just as resistant as the outside surface of the wood.

Redwood is also naturally stable and while all woods swell and shrink to some point depending on moisture in the environment, redwood does it less than the others. This means redwood stays flatter and retains its shape much better, with a lower risk of warping, splitting, or cracking.

The true test of durability comes in how your set looks after many years of use. Redwood is very durable and even after as long as 20 years later, will hold its looks better than most other woods of the same age.

Some companies will use just enough redwood in the construction of their sets that they can legally call it ‘redwood’, when in fact it may be a mixture of redwood and red cedar, or even Chinese Fir. Read all the fine print and if in doubt, ask! If you’re paying a higher price for redwood, you certainly want to be sure that’s what you’re getting.

Before you finalize a purchase, especially if your swing set is made from Con-Heart wood, find out if Con-Heart was used for the entire set or just for the larger pieces. In order to enjoy the most benefits from heartwood’s natural protective ability, the whole set should be constructed with it, not just the beams and bigger pieces.

Estimating Residential Construction Costs

Posted on October 8, 2018 by blogger

In the business of residential construction there is a serious problem with projects being underestimated, resulting in little to no profits for the building companies. It can seem as though no matter how meticulously they work on accurate data collection, money seems to go like water through their hands. In such a highly competitive price related industry, it’s vital for contractors to acquire expertise for creating accurate estimates. To be best understood, the process of producing a quote can be divided into two areas; typical residential costs and potential costs.

Firstly a contractor must calculate the costs for anything that comes under the heading of typical residential construction costs. The location and environmental costs are a large part of this, and contractors should always survey the residential block prior to

commencing. This will enable them to assess things like whether the land is wet or dry and any money that needs to be allocated for demolition and removal of debris.

A quotation for a residential building estimate should give accurate details about how much the construction will cost to build according to the plans supplied. This means data must be compiled to cover laying a foundation(concrete, footings, slabs, columns and associated machinery), heating or cooling systems for the home and framing and flooring(walls, roofs, floors & floor coverings, ceilings etc). The exteriors and interiors include any materials used to cover the inside and outside of the building such as bricks, paints and built in cupboards and cabinets. Windows are just as important when it comes to quoting accurately, and contractors can sometimes forget about the extra wood used for their installation along with other hardware.

Electricians and plumbers can be tricky when it comes to accurately forecasting the cost of their work. They are also working off estimations, so you need to have confidence in their ability to give accurate quotes include lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures like toilets and showers. Appliances are presumed to be included in residential construction estimations, so quote for items like dishwashers and garbage disposals, and be willing to include any extra’s the customer requests.

The area of other costs can be devised after the contractor has investigated all the typical costing data. Other possible costs to be included in the residential construction estimate can include preparation of the site, permit applications, demolition/debris removal or landscaping. Any changes requested after the plans have begun to be executed can be added if they have been approved by the appropriate executives.

It is impossible to get an absolutely accurate figure for the exact price of building a residential home. Every contractor is more than aware of the possible variables that can interrupt the expected flow, and for this reason always include escalation, contingency reserve and market update allowance clauses in the quotations.

To enable residential construction estimates to be more accurate and less complicated, do the company and contractors a favor and buy some construction estimating software. Estimates will be immaculate, organized and scheduled in advance so plans go ahead without any problems, and they will look professional and impressive as well. Seriously save time and money and get in synch with the ebbs and flows of your business through live updated data for analysis on how projects are currently running and ways to improve for future ones.

Construction Company Qatar, Constructions Companies In Qatar

Posted on October 4, 2018 by blogger

A construction company in Qatar may have specialization in a particular aspect of the construction process or may have complete resources to finish the entire project, from design to build, all on its own. It is often a good idea to hire a company that is capable of finishing a project from the start to the end. This helps minimize the cost involved and meet the deadlines defined at the planning stage.

However, in cases when you need to restore or remodel an existing building structure, you would probably require a firm specialized in certain aspects of the construction process. It helps to have a list of companies that have different specializations and also those that can offer all construction-related services under one roof. A Yellow Pages directory is the place where you are likely to find information on such construction companies in Qatar.

From a small house to a large-scale industrial edifice, or an infrastructure-related project, the constructions companies are able to provide services to a variety of clients and for a variety of purposes. They are also one of the largest employers of people of various skills.

Architects, interior designers, civil engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors, building services engineers, structural engineers, and supervisors are some of the skilled groups of people that necessarily comprise a constructions company in Qatar. A construction project also requires the help of people like contractors, plumbers, building material suppliers, landscape designers, electrical engineers, financial advisers, legal specialists, and many more to take the final shape.

The industry comprising the various groups of companies and people who contribute to the successful development of a construction project in Qatar is expected to get a further boost in the coming years. The reason for this is the fact that the country has been chosen as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2022.

This is the first time that any Middle East country is given an opportunity to organize such a large-scale sporting event of the world. It is an honor to be able to get this opportunity, but at the same time, the pride of the nation is at stake. It is a great responsibility to fulfill the expectation of the global community and the people of the country will leave no stone unturned to make this happen.

We can expect to see an unprecedented surge in all sorts of construction activities across all corners of the country. This makes the role of a construction company in Qatar extremely important. All big or small construction companies in Qatar share the responsibilities to speed up their activities with quality deliveries and bring a substantial change in the sporting as well as the general urban infrastructure in Doha and other cities, in tune with the international standard.

The expectations are high, but the construction companies in Qatar have means and resources to meet these expectations well before the deadlines reach. Yellow Pages industry plays its own role of giving enough exposure to the constructions companies that have operational bases located in Qatar. One can find an elaborate listing of these companies and firms in one of the best online business directories in Qatar known as yellowpageqatar.com.

For more details about Construction companies please visit on http://www.yellowpageqatar.com