To tackle this problem, make a wider joint and use the right sealant. Prevention: Let’s face it, jobs happen all year round.
Installing in warmer or colder temperatures means the whole joint will experience a lot more extension or contraction. That’s when a joint is at its “in-between” point of movement.
#TOMAS KARLSON INSTALL#
Problem: The best time to install a sealant, according to Karlson, is in the spring or autumn. Prevention: This is best dealt with in the design phase by designing proper expansion joints and ensuring the joints are optimally spaced to allow for the expected degree of movement. If there is excessive contraction or expansion, it could be because of extreme weather or improper joint design - or both. “When you have different types of substrates, such as stone, granite, concrete, different types of metal or vinyl window frames coated with unknown finishes, you don’t know how they react until you do a test.” Karlson says to do primed and unprimed mock-ups so you can see the difference. “That’s one of the things I want to really stress - do a mock-up,” says Karlson. Prevention: Do a mock-up test before starting work and be sure to test all the substrate materials involved, because you won’t know what happens until you try it. Instead of enhancing adhesion they end up acting as a bond breaker, which leads to early joint failure. Karlson advises against this practice, warning that primers won’t go over all sealants and substrates. The key to preventing problems with sealant is to know ahead of time whether the materials need primer. A huge problem in the industry, according to Karlson, is the “prime all the time” mantra. Problem: Some materials always require a primer, some never require a primer and some materials only need a primer based on certain conditions. We asked him to help identify some of the common causes of sealant failure and to provide tips for addressing them. That’s why we enlisted the help of Thomas Karlson, Parking & Restoration Specialist at Master Builders Solutions in Minneapolis, MN. Karlson spends most of his time traveling the Midwestern United States helping contractors and owners solve moisture challenges in buildings. In short, he’s seen a few things. But not all sealants are created equal, and not every installation is trouble-free.
If water is the source for most problems in any structure, a well-specified sealant is a structure’s first line of defense.
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