Masonry Magazine July 2012 Page. 18
MORTARS, MIXTURES AND STAINING
When you change the color of a large building, you're impacting the community where that building is located.
Modifications with stain give architects and general contractors confidence in the outcomes, so much so that masonry stains are commonly specified on projects around the world. The exciting thing is how science is changing the stains themselves.
Today, the best companies offer multiple types of stains, since no two jobs are the same. A one-kind-fits-all approach to staining is bound to yield poor results. True staining professionals will evaluate your masonry before recommending a particular stain. For example, lithium-based stains are ideal for concrete masonry, because they provide added benefits like greater penetration and chemical bonding. This makes the surface harder and less absorbent. Or, think about stains that reduce energy costs by decreasing thermal transfer, since they reflect infrared light. I love to watch architects' eyes light up when I talk about these.
Ready for more science? Top-quality stains incorporate up to 20 percent recycled materials, which not only qualifies them for LEED points, but actually makes finishes and masonry harder and more durable. I hope you can sense my excitement as I talk about these products, because it means masonry will continue to be the building material of choice. And, masonry buildings will perform better and be even more beautiful in the future.
Masonry staining has proven to be a cost-effective solution for a variety of reasons. It's not uncommon for my crews to take on building with more than one-half million bricks. When you change the color of a building that large, you're really impacting the community where the building is located. Few things are more satisfying than hearing clients exclaim that they "don't know why they didn't do this sooner!"
I'd like to close with this thought: Masonry is still an art, and one of the most powerful tools a masonry artist has is color. Superior stain technologies offer an endless variety of color options, while providing excellent performance and great value. Of course, not all stains are created equally. The product you select for your project is as critical as the company you choose to apply it. When you're ready to have color applied to a building, be sure and select a knowledgeable company that has a track record of standing behind the work and uses the right product for your project.
Your best bet is a company that manufactures and applies its own stains. Companies that use off-the-shelf paints, ancient technology or import products from overseas may leave you high and dry, if there's a problem. Also, carefully read the product warranty. You'll want a transferable product warranty, not one of these "as long as you own the property" deals. Run as fast as you can from those.
Once you see what can be achieved with today's stains, it will create more opportunities to sell, install and design with masonry. IMAS
Russell Gray has been president of Nawkaw Corp. for 25 years. Nawkaw has offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and has applied its products successfully in countries worldwide.
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