Masonry Magazine November 2012 Page. 39

Words: Steve Fechino
Masonry Magazine November 2012 Page. 39

Masonry Magazine November 2012 Page. 39
Aligning final patch with the substrate

Intro

Finishing a structural concrete patch

Not every chip should be patched. Many patches, no matter how well they are installed, will draw the eye to the patch and not to the overall appearance of the elevation. Many chips are too shallow and feathered, which will cause many patching compounds not to perform well. A shallow patch can be applied in mandatory situations. However, they must be cut at the perimeter of the patch to create an edge, along with increasing the depth of the patch to meet the minimum depth requirement for the material that you choose.

Akemi

SOME PRODUCTS COMMONLY USED by stone masons have several different uses, depending on the repair or installation. Akemi has been used for years to secure anchors, set Dutchman pins and "glue" in patches. Mixing stone dust into akemi can enhance the color of the epoxy, allowing for less obvious patch. Akemi for exterior use must be labeled as exterior-grade material and mixed with an activator to create the proper composition for the mason. Akemi can be sanded, polished and honed, offering many options for small patches. There are akemi products on the market that have good ultra violet resistance, but they are, by no means, the standard. When patching fine-grained granites and marbles, akemi can be a great choice for repairs, with pre-planned color matching, short curing times and fine consistency.

Akemi can be used in a wide range of temperatures and will cure below freezing when an accelerator is used. On the opposite end of the thermometer, an accelerator is not recommended for situations over 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Stone patching

JAHN RESTORATION MORTARS are single component restoration patching mortars that are mixed with water and applied drier than block mortar to create a durable, carvable and color-matched repair. This patching material can be used on a variety of substrates with predictable results. Competing with traditional patching materials that typically combine three materials - water, latex modifiers and base mixture - to create a patching material, this product eliminates the opportunity for mixing errors.

Jahn Restoration Mortars do not use latex or acrylic bonding agents in the creation of the repair, eliminating failure due to salt and freeze-thaw cycles. The process for Cathedral Stone Products to choose the proper restoration mortar begins with analyzing the substrate. Once the substrate composition has been determined, a mix is chosen from hundreds of mixes that are on file. By matching the mix to the substrate, the repair weathers and performs at a higher level than standard repair. The material is placed on surfaces that are sound. The product can be placed in any thickness, due to a unique formulation that does not exhibit shrinkage. This creates a different approach to the labor installing the product. In pointing applications, single lift installations are not a problem.

When creating a repair, remove all small chips and damaged substrate mortar before application. Presoaking the substrate is not required for the Jahn Restoration Mortars products and is not recommended, as the addition of water can affect the final color of a repair. Something that Cathedral Stone Products takes great pride in is matching from original substrate samples sent to their lab. Intermittent misting of the lifts and finished patches is recommended for a period of 72 hours, to allow proper hydration and curing of the repair. When misting is impossible, applying polyurethane sheathing and encas-

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READER SERVICE #299

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READER SERVICE #284
November 2012
MASONRY 37


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