Plastering & Skim Coat
It is not advisable to mix skim coats with latex. Only add the amount of clean water recommended.
Yes. There are skim coats specially formulated for external walls.
For assistance, please contact us.
Generally, painting works can be carried-out after the skim coat has dried, around 7–14 days, subject to site condition.
On drywall, skim coat normally takes about 2–3 days to dry.
On concrete surfaces or plastered walls, skim coat takes about 5–7 days to dry.
In extreme situations such as high humidity and constantly damp substrates, skim coats may take more than 7 days to dry.
It is advisable to wait at least 14–21 days before skimming work can commence on new concrete or new plastered wall. This will allow sufficient time for the new concrete or new plastered wall to fully cure.
Tile Setting System
Generally, most grout joints are filled with materials made from cement, making the filling material porous and absorbs liquid readily. Consequently, grime, water and moisture can seep through it and under the tile. After a prolong period, problems such as debonding of tiles and hollowness may occur.
Sealing grout joints will reduce/prevent the growths of mold and mildew. It also prolongs the tile lifespan and minimize damage to a considerable extent by keeping water and moisture out.
Before sealing grout joints, carry-out a simple test by releasing droplets of water onto the grout. If it absorbs water, it is a tell-tale sign that the grout joint needs sealing.
Normally, grout joint sealing materials comes in liquid form. To seal grout joints, apply 2–3 layers of the sealing material onto the tile grout.
Sika's product:
Yes, most cementitious tile grouts can be mixed with latex.
Sika's product:
Epoxy tile grouts are made of epoxy resins and filler powder which makes it waterproof and resistant to stains, harsher cleaning detergents and mild chemicals. Its durability makes it the ideal choice for wet areas (eg. showers, kitchens and bathrooms), swimming pools, high foot traffic areas and commercial areas.
Sika’s Product: Davcopoxy 271
Sanded tile grouts contain sand and is used for grouting floor and wall grout joints, with width between 3–12 mm. The sand thickens the grout to prevent shrinkage and cracks in wider grout joints.
Unsanded tile grouts does not contain sand and is used for grouting grout joints that are ≤ 3 mm wide. It has a smooth texture making it suitable for grouting smaller joints.
Sika's product:
Sanitized coloured tile grout is a cementitious grout designed for use with most types of ceramic tiles and natural stone applications and is available in a wide range of colours. The grout contains additives, which provides resistance to a broad spectrum of molds and mildew. It is mostly used in wet areas (eg. household kitchens and bathrooms)
Sika’s Product:
Roof System
To waterproof a solar roof, it must be designed with a comprehensive, integrated solar solution incorporating the proven performance of waterproofing membrane assembled with the roof accessories such as SikaRoof® Base PVC and SikaRoof® Anchor-W PVC.
U-values are worked out from the Thermal Resistance of the respective materials making up the roof, similar to walls. e.g U=1 / R total. The higher the R, the lower the U, the better.
3 common types of roof insulation materials available in the market:
- PIR is a rigid polyisocyanurate foam, it is made by a chemical process by mixing MDI, polyols, blowing agents and other additives.
- Mineral wool products are generally produced out of basalt in a physical process.
- XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) is a closed-cell structure board and is often stronger, with higher mechanical performance, and is, in principle, often more expensive than EPS.
Difference between XPS and PIR roof insulation:
- XPS roof insulation layer has very high compression strength and low water absorption. XPS roof insulation is ideal for use on inverted applications and utility decks with high loading.
- PIR is excellent in its thermal characteristics. It is usually used for adhered applications and is compatible with PVC membranes.
Metal deck roofs can be repaired using PVC membrane or LAM system. Please consult Sika for further support.
Roof drainage sheets are perforated to allow water to pass through to the drainage space below. This prevents excessive water from accumulating and causing damage to the roots of the plant as well as preventing the grass or vegetation from becoming saturated.
Waterproofing System
Liquid applied membrane is monolithic, seamless, and self-flashing. The termination should apply using the same material without any accessory.
Not all liquid applied membrane are root resistance. Kindly consult Sika for suitable root resistant product.
Lquid applied membrane can be applied using brush, roller, or airless spray.
Wet film thickness (or WFT) is the measured thickness of any applied wet paint that is liquid-based before it cures. It is measured by using a WFT gauge.
Dry film thickness (or DFT) is the thickness of a coating as measured above the substrate. DFT is measured for cured coatings (after the coating dries).
The thickness of a coating depends on the product's technology and application. It is measured by using tools or equipment.
Sika recommends consumption of 1.0 kg per m² per coat and a minimum of 3.0 kg/m² is required for swimming pool.
Injection System
Crack width in concrete can be measured with Sika’s Crack Width Gauge. Other methods such as filler gauge can also be used.
Elastic and very quick-gelling injection material is normally used in curtain injection and in situations that has high velocity water gushing out from the structure. In this situation a fast setting (within several seconds) 2-component material is required. Normally, a 2-component pump is used to inject the resin.
For more information, please consult Sika’s Technical Service Department.
In curtain injection, injection resin is injected into the surrounding soil creating an impermeable gel/soil matrix that prevents water from entering the structure. The resin can be injected from within the structure, or from outside the structure.
For more information, please consult Sika’s Technical Service Department.
A good injection is an injection at low pressure for as long as possible in order to fill all the fine cracks/gaps. Normally, an injection pressure of ~300 psi (~20 bar) or lower should be sufficient in sealing the cracks (for damp and low-pressure flowing water in cracks).
Important Note:
The assumption that higher pressure will result in better sealing of the cracks should be discarded. Therefore, always maintain injection at low pressure for as long as possible.
For more information, please consult Sika’s Technical Service Department.
Yes, this is normally possible for products with long open-time/pot-life.
For more information, please consult Sika’s Technical Service Department.