BEACHWOOD, Ohio - BASF Construction Chemicals has invented a new kind of concrete that it says will transform the $20 billion repair construction industry, because once it sets, it's virtually crack-proof.

BASF says its "ZERO-C" (zero-cracking) line of concrete is a stronger and more durable alternative to the mortars that usually repair - and re-repair - crumbling historic buildings and other older structures.

"This is like finding the cure for cancer for our industry," marveled Peter Emmons, founder and chief executive of Structural Preservation Systems, a specialty repair contracting company in Hanover, Md.

"It's pretty ground-breaking for restoration construction, taking concrete and actually improving its performance," agreed Dilip Choudhuri, principal and executive director of structural diagnostics services for Walter P. Moore engineering firm in Houston, Texas, which repairs bridges, stadiums and buildings.

ZERO-C will also be available for contractors repairing residential driveways, sidewalks, balconies and other projects.

The construction industry has spent decades looking for materials that won't crack when they are used to repair and reinforce older materials, because even hairline cracks can let in pollutants and start disintegrating the concrete.

"The goal of our industry is to stop repairing the repair," Emmons said.

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Original blog post by: http://www.cleveland.com/

Snow Melt
What can you do to prevent surface water infiltration from snow melt?
 
There are several preventative measures that you can take both before and after a snow event.
 
Before it snows:
 
1. Before it snows, be sure that the ground surface around the perimeter of your foundation wall has a positive grade (i.e., sloped away from the wall).
2. Check your gutters and keep them clear.  We highly recommend installing buried downspout extensions to take water from melting snow on your roof a safe distance away.
 
After it snows:
 
1. Keep the end of your downspouts clear so water can flow freely.
2. Avoid piling up snow along the foundation walls.
 
 
The "X-FACTOR" is below-grade foundation wall waterproofing.  Even with proper grading and downspout extensions, if you foundation wall isn't properly water-proofed below grade then water seepage can occur.  This is especially true for older CMU block walls as the blocks and mortar joints around them are fairly porous.  You should consult a SSC engineer if you have a concern about foundation waterproofing.

Here's a picture of some significant concrete spalling on the interior face of a foundation wall of a older home in Purcellville, VA.  This is the result of decades of water infiltration through the wood framing and plywood covering the access panel.  This problem can be fairly easily solved by simply installing a new window that is properly sealed.  The concrete wall itself is still intact and shows no other signs of damage.  
Spalling can also be the result of the freeze/thaw cycle, ground shifting, rebar corrosion, exposure to corrosive elements, or improper installation of concrete during the original construction.  Materials used for this type of repair include two-component, epoxy-based mortars that utilize silica and/or aggregate, polymer-modified cements or hydraulic cements, as well as additional materials specific to the customer’s repair needs.
 
Our recommendation to the homeowner was to install a new, properly sealed window and repair the concrete face as described above.

Foundation problems should be addressed as soon as they are discovered and before the damage is irreversible. The two most common types of foundation failures are foundation settlement (vertical movement of the footers) and foundation wall bowing (lateral movement of below-grade walls).

Foundation Settlement
Typical signs of foundation settlement are stair-step cracks and vertically sheared bricks or blocks. The direction of the cracks is very important in determining whether the foundation wall movement is vertical or lateral (bowing) as the remediation design is entirely different.

Bowed Foundation Walls

Bowing walls will commonly have a long horizontal crack starting 3 to 6 feet from a corner foundation to the opposite corner of the same wall and terminate into stair-step or diagonal cracks leading to the ceiling or floor.

At Soil and Structure Consulting we can help you with these and many other foundation problems:

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