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The quarterly QUIKRETE® eNewsletter |
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Vol. 2 Issue 1 |
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The QUIKeNews delivers the goods on all the goings on from The QUIKRETE® Companies - from contests and news to the latest products and projects.
Please forward along to any of your home-improvement minded friends and reply back to us if you would like to unsubscribe at any time. Thank you for supporting The QUIKRETE® Companies! |
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT:
QUIKRETE® VENEER STONE MORTAR CALLED UPON BY "EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" |
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The QUIKRETE® Companies provided masonry mortar and acrylic fortifier to aid in the building of a new home for former Marine Sgt. Jason Thomas and his family. The construction of the single-family home, located in suburban Whitehall, Ohio, was aired in February 2007 on the ABC Network's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
During construction, forty-two 80-pound bags of QUIKRETE® Veneer Stone Mortar were used by Columbus, Ohio-based Reitter Stucco & Supply Co. to install veneer stone around the lower exterior of the home. The QUIKRETE® Veneer Stone Mortar was applied as a scratch coat over expanded metal lathe. To combat low temperatures during application, ten gallons of QUIKRETE® Concrete Acrylic Fortifier were added to the mortar mix; improving mortar to unit adhesion and setup time. |
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Jason Thomas is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps. and one of two Marines who helped locate and rescue a pair of New York City Police Department officers buried in the rubble after the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The police rescue was later depicted in the Oliver Stone film "World Trade Center" (2006).
The house, where Thomas lives with his wife and four children, was completely rebuilt in seven days last November on the home-makeover reality show. |
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IN THE NEWS:
THE QUIKRETE® COMPANIES LAUNCHES REDESIGNED WEB SITE
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To better serve its customer base, The QUIKRETE® Companies has launched its redesigned Web site, www.quikrete.com. Divided into "On the Job" and "At Home" sections, the redesigned Web site navigates customers directly to the relevant information they need.
Professionals can educate themselves about each product by referencing technical data specific to their building segment, while homeowners can gain project inspiration through an interactive "virtual home" and a diverse project library. These features, in addition to plant locations and a contact page, allow professionals and homeowners alike to obtain technical expertise, thoughtful advice and a prompt response to their questions.
The new site also features a "Media Center" section, which contains all the latest news from The QUIKRETE® Companies - including recent news releases, current media coverage and case studies about commercial projects all across the United States that feature QUIKRETE® products. |
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IN THE NEWS:
I-70 BRIDGE POTHOLE REPAIRS
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 On Feb. 13, 2007, after nearly two weeks of freeze/thaw temperature changes, a 4-foot long, 8-foot wide pothole opened up in the westbound lane of the Interstate 70 overpass at West 20th Avenue in Denver on Feb. 13. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was forced to shut down the right and center lanes of I-70, limiting traffic flow to one lane, resulting in a backup for six miles.
In need of a speedy solution, the CDOT contacted the Denver office of The QUIKRETE® Companies to request product to repair the bridge deck as soon as possible. Within hours, The QUIKRETE® Companies were on site with a load of QUIKRETE® FastSet™ DOT Mix for a full-depth repair of the overpass. Once QUIKRETE® FastSet™ DOT Mix was poured; it set in approximately 30 minutes and reached a compressive strength of 3,000 psi after 90 minutes. |
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| Following cold weather precaution guidelines, workers used a heater to maintain a temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit for the water being added to the mix, to ensure that the mix would react properly. All told, more than 3,000-pounds of QUIKRETE® FastSet™ DOT Mix were used in the bridge overpass repair. |
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| Two and a half hours after the initial application of the mix, Colorado State troopers were able to open all of the lanes on I-70, far exceeding the goal of opening the lanes by the next morning. By using QUIKRETE® FastSet™ DOT Mix, the repaired overpass was able to achieve 6,500 psi after 24 hours and a 10,000 psi after 28 days. |
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PROJECT SHOWCASE:
RETURN TO ELEGANCE BY TRANSFORMING CONCRETE SURFACES
 Transform any exterior concrete surface with QUIKRETE® Etching Stain, available in rich earth tones (Coffee, Tan and Olive), and QUIKRETE® Etching Stain High Gloss Sealer. Delivering a clear, high-gloss topcoat, the sealer enhances the durability and color depth of the permanently etched concrete.
Etching stains applied to interior floors and exterior surfaces can create a multi-toned finish to compare with natural stone, weathered marble or tile. The color tone is permanently imprinted into the concrete as the etching stain chemically reacts with the concrete; resulting in a finish that will last.
For this project, homeowners also will need a 3/8-inch premium roller with extension handle; roller tray; 3-inch premium brush; garden sprayer; stiff-bristled brush; wet/dry vacuum or string mop; and painter's tape and plastic to cover areas not being stained.
- Careful preparation of the concrete surface is essential to ensure the etching stain can properly react. Therefore, the surface must be cleared of all debris, grease, oil stains, sealers and paints.
- While cleaning, be sure to check that the concrete is porous and will accept the etching stain. If water beads on the surface, then further cleaning is necessary.
- Prior to staining, protect all areas not being stained with tape and plastic, and test the pressure and spray pattern of the garden sprayer with water.
- Next, dampen the entire surface to be stained but avoid standing water.
- Spray the stain in a back and fourth pattern to saturate the entire concrete surface.
Allow 4 hours to dry.
- Remove etching residue by saturating the surface with water and scrubbing vigorously with a stiff-bristled brush. Follow scrubbing by removing residue with a wet/dry vacuum or string mop.
- After surface is completely dry (18 to 24 hours), start applying the protective topcoat by trimming all edges and hard to reach areas with a brush.
- Roll the sealer in 2-by-6 foot areas across the etched concrete surface. If the first coat sinks in rapidly, apply a second coat after 2 hours.
- Allow the surface to dry for 18 to 24 hours before light foot traffic and 72 hours before heavy use.
ASK "Q":
 Do you have a question about a QUIKRETE® product or project? If so, send your question to BRIAN - our ASK "Q"
resident expert from the QUIKRETE® Technical Center.
What do I use to build or repair a concrete slab when it must be used in a short time?
BRIAN: Depending on the performance level required there are several options. QUIKRETE® Fast-Setting Concrete provides a compressive strength of about 4000 psi in 2 hours and is often used for setting air conditioner bases and other small projects around the house. QUIKRETE® FastSet™ Concrete Mix is suitable for heavy industrial and highway use. It achieves 3000 psi within 3 hours and 5000 psi after 24 hours. There are two other options suitable for industrial and highway use: QUIKRETE® Rapid Road Repair (extended by 50 percent with less than 1/2 inches of gravel) and QUIKRETE® FastSet™ Non-Shrink Grout (extended by 50 percent with less than 1/2 inches of gravel).
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I want to put a railing into a sidewalk. How can I do it?
BRIAN: Use a masonry core drill or chisel to create a hole in the concrete. The size of the hole should be at least 1 inch larger than the size of the railing. The hole should be at least 3-inches to 4-inches deep. (In many cases you will drill through the entire slab). Remove all loose concrete and debris from the hole. Dampen the hole prior to pouring QUIKRETE® Anchoring Cement but do not leave standing water in the bottom of the hole. |
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