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 Frequently
Asked Questions - Design Professional
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Paving Stone Questions |
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Keystone Product
Questions |
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Marble Face / Marble Face Polished /
Trendstone® / Trendstone Plus ® Questions |
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| Q1: |
How is the product
made? |
| Q2: |
Is the color on
the surface or all through the blocks? |
| Q3: |
Why is the color
different depending on which plant makes the blocks?
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| Q4: |
How can I be sure
it will not be chipped and scuffed in shipment and
jobsite handling? |
| Q5: |
Can I grind these
blocks at the jobsite? |
| Q6: |
Can any mason install
this product? |
| Q7: |
What is the difference
between lightweight, mediumweight, and normalweight
blocks? |
| Q8: |
What is the difference
between Marble Face/Trendstone Products® and
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face Products? |
| Q9: |
What is the surface
coating? |
| Q10: |
Why do the walls
have to be field coated? Is the field coating necessary?
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| Q11: |
What is the life
expectancy of the product? |
| Q12: |
At what temperature
should the Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face field coating be applied? And not applied?
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| Q13: |
Will the Marble
Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face coating
peel, fade, crack, or spall? |
| Q14: |
Can you control
the color consistency? |
| Q15: |
Can you match colors?
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| Q16: |
If I want to put
on an addition a year or more after the original
installation of Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face blocks, will the new Marble
Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
blocks match the old? |
| Q17: |
Can Marble Face
Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face units be used
in flooring or paving? |
| Q18: |
How does one patch
this product? Can chips in the wall be repaired?
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| Q19: |
Why should I pay
a premium for Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face units when there are so many other less
expensive ground face blocks, split-face blocks,
or bricks? |
| Q20: |
Does Filling the
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face blocks make them waterproof? How do you waterproof
a Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face wall? |
| Q21: |
What special shapes
are available? Can you provide bullnose corners?
Are they available in larger sizes? |
| Q22: |
What
do I use for the washdown to remove mortar and scum? |
| Q23: |
The
wall was properly cleaned at installation, now what
do I do? |
| Q24: |
What
happens if acid is used on Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face blocks? |
| Q25: |
Are
they UL rated? |
| Q26: |
Can
I return blocks I do not use? |
| Q27: |
Is
the score cast or cut? |
| Q28: |
Can
I get the back side of the exposed, unfinished block
scored to match the score on the finished face? |
| Q29: |
Do
I tuckpoint the scored joint? |
| Q30: |
Is
there any special mortar required? |
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NRG Block Questions |
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Paving Stone Questions
& Answers |
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| Q1: |
Why do Anchor Paving
Stones make a better pavement than asphalt or concrete? |
| A1: |
Properly installed Anchor
Concrete paving stones provide a superior pavement
to asphalt and concrete in a freeze/thaw environment.
Paving stones provide a rigid yet flexible pavement
that will expand and contract with the freeze/thaw
cycles. Each paving stone provides an expansion
joint to allow for this movement, unlike concrete
slabs that have expansion joints formed and cut
into them. Paving stones can also be easily dismantled
to make repairs to utilities that may be underneath
the surface, and then repaired without a patch quilt
look to the pavement. |
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| Q2: |
Are all paving stones
interlocking? |
| A2: |
Some paving stones interlock
based on their shape. Others achieve interlock by
the laying pattern. When installed on a proper base
with one inch of sand as a setting bed, and proper
joint sand placed between the paving stones, all
paving stones achieve interlock. |
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| Q3: |
Does the color fade
over time? |
| A3: |
No. Color in concrete
paving stones does not fade. Dirt, dust and other
inert matter can mask the color in the paving stones.
Anchor Concrete also uses the Anchor Guard process
that will provide a higher concentration of color
at the surface of the paving stone. This process
will also provide a longer, more durable wearing
surface than other types of paving stones available
in the marketplace today. |
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| Q4: |
How much quarry
process and sand do I need for my project? |
| A4: |
This will depend on the
type of installation that you are doing. For a patio
or sidewalk, the ICPI recommends that 4 to 6 inches
of quarry process on a compacted sub base, with
1 inch of course concrete sand as the setting bed
for the paving stones. For a driveway, you should
use 8-12 inches of quarry process with 1 inch of
course concrete sand as the setting bed. Usually
1 ton of quarry process or sand will cover 100 square
feet 2 inches thick. So for a 100 square foot patio,
you would need 2 tons of quarry process (4 inches
thick) and Vi ton of concrete sand (1 inch thick).
You will also need to have about 3 to 5% more sand
for sweeping into the joints between the paving
stones. |
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| Q5: |
Why should I use sand
for the setting bed and sweeping into the joints
between the paving stones? |
| A5: |
The sand used for the
setting bed should always be of a course sand type.
Concrete sand is the optimum type and gradation
for this part of the project. This is a national
uniform specification set forth by the Interlocking
Concrete Paving Institute (ICPI). Some people like
to use stone dust, and in some areas, stone dust
can be an effective setting bed. The reason stone
dust is not recommended is because it will not allow
for drainage under the paving stone. It is also
harder to get the paving stones to "seat"
properly in a setting bed of stone dust. |
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| Q6: |
Should I mix some Portland
cement into the sand I am going to sweep into the
paving stones and the setting bed sand? |
| A6: |
No. Never mix Portland
with the sweeping sand. This will cause a stain
that will be permanent. As far as the setting sand
is concerned, you will be defeating the purpose
of a flexible system. |
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| Q7: |
How do paving stones
compare in performance to stamped concrete? |
| A7: |
Stamped concrete is merely
concrete slabs with a pattern stamped into the surface.
They are susceptible to the same problems of a concrete
slab sidewalk or patio. Cracking due to freeze/thaw
cycles may happen with a stamped concrete patio.
Paving stones can be dismantled and repaired with
the same product being used on the surface. How
do you repair a utility, such as a pool filter,
that may break under a concrete slab? You would
need to cut out and remove the concrete and repair
it, and pour new concrete and stamp it. It will
never match. |
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| Q8: |
Should I seal my concrete
paving stones? Are there any advantages to doing
this? |
| A8: |
There are several advantages
to sealing concrete paving stones. Sealing paving
stones will help them to resist staining. Sealing
will also help to bind the sand in place and prevent
germination of weed seeds that may collect at the
surface of joint sand. In New Jersey and New York,
only water-based sealers are available. One disadvantage
to sealing paving stones is that it would need to
be sealed every couple of years, thus increasing
the maintenance of the project. |
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| Q9: |
Will weeds grow up
from my paving stones? |
| A9: |
The growth of weeds or
grass results from seeds blowing into, and then
lodging in the joint sand. Weeds do not grow up
from the bottom through the quarry process. Controlling
these weeds is a simple solution. Mix a pre-emergent
weed killer into the joint sand. Should weeds germinate
over time, the use of a post emergence weed killer,
such as Round-up, can be spot sprayed to control
the problem. |
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| Q10: |
What can I do if my
paving stones become damaged or badly stained? |
| A10: |
You can easily remove
a paving stone and replace it. Sometimes, oil stains
can be so bad that they cannot be removed with an
oil stain remover. Simply remove the paving stones
and replace them with clean stones. |
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| Q11: |
How do I remove snow
from my paving stone driveway or walkway? |
| A11: |
Paving stones can be shoveled
and plowed the same as a concrete or asphalt pavement.
The chamfered edges around the paving stones help
to prevent the edges of the plow from hitting the
comers of the stones. A plow with a rubber edge
is preferred. Rock salt and calcium chloride will
melt snow and ice, but they can also harm the paving
stones. |
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| Q12: |
Can I lay my new paving
stones over my existing concrete driveway and patio? |
| A12: |
Yes, provided you have
ample room to allow for the additional 3 inches
that will be above the concrete. If this is going
into a doorway, you may have a problem with clearance.
Also, the concrete should be free of any major cracks.
Remember, any movement in the concrete slabs that
you are going over will show themselves in the surface
of the paving stones. |
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| Q13: |
Can I use Anchor paving
stones around my new pool? |
| A13: |
Can I use Anchor paving
stones around my new pool? A: Yes. Paving stones
make an attractive pool deck and provide a slip
resistant walking surface. Paving stones also take
on moisture, leaving a pavement cooler underfoot
than the traditional poured concrete surface. Anchor
Concrete Products, Inc. also has a bullnose paving
stone that will make an attractive pool coping that
will match the paving stones around your pool deck.
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Keystone Product
Questions & Answers |
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| Q1: |
How high can Keystone
walls be built without the use of geogid? |
| A1: |
Keystone walls can be
constructed between 2' (.6m) and 6' (1.8m) high
depending on the type of unit, soil conditions,
amount of batter used, and surcharge on top of wall. |
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| Q2: |
Are concrete footings
ever necessary or required? |
| A2: |
Most Keystone walls can
be built directly on 4-6" (100-150mm) of well
compacted granular base. However, there may be occasion
to consider the use of a concrete leveling pad.
EXAMPLE: Applications in or near water, a taller
wall built on soft sub-soils, or a wall that is
very long and by using a concrete footing, the contractor
can speed up the installation process. |
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| Q3: |
Can I use sand to help
level the units? |
| A3: |
Yes. After the road base
material has been leveled and compacted, a '/2"
(13mm) to 1" (25mm) of sand may be used to
help speed up the leveling process. |
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| Q4: |
Can adjustments be
made on a concrete leveling pad? |
| A4: |
Minor inconsistencies
on a concrete leveling pad will not usually create
much of a problem. However, if there are noticeable
differences in block height as the units are placed
due to low spots in the leveling pad, a thin layer
of sand or mortar may be used to help the leveling
process. High point inconsistencies may require
some grinding. Make all adjustments as gradual as
possible. Before you begin laying the base course,
be sure to check that the leveling pad is level
front to back. Make corrections as needed, especially
if the back of the footing is higher than the front.
It is important to note, that taking the time to
accurately level and finish off the concrete leveling
pad will allow for minimal adjustment time and greatly
speed up the installation process. |
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| Q5: |
How many Keystone units
should be buried? |
| A5: |
Typically, 1" (25mm)
is buried for every 8" (200mm) of wall height
with a minimum of 6" (150mm) below finished
grade. In most cases, other than where the grade
slopes away from the wall at the base, 3 to 4 units
are the maximum to be buried on tall walls. More
than that does not create an added benefit. Unit
burial is not a function of building below frost
depth in cold climate areas like rigid wall systems,
but is meant to provide resistance to base exposure
from erosion to grade in front of the wall. |
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| Q6: |
Is there a way to figure
how much setback there will be per course before
construction of the wall begins? |
| A6: |
Yes. Level three units
side by side and install the pins in the preferred
set of pin holes. Set the next course of Keystone
units on the three you just leveled and slide them
forward toward the wall face so they are in full
contact with the pins. Measure the distance the
second course tails are overhanging the units below.
This will give you your true setback per course.
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| Q7: |
Should I always begin
construction at one end of the wall or is it o.k.
to start in the middle? |
| A7: |
Construction of the wall
should begin at your lowest point whenever possible.
If the wall is going to tie into a building or structure,
measure the distance from the comer of the Keystone
unit to the edge of the building and make sure the
distance is in an increment of 18" (457mm).
(Full, unit width). |
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| Q8: |
What size rock is best
suited for filling in and around the Keystone units
in the drainage zone? |
| A8: |
A clean, angular W (20mm)
rock is best for corefill if available. Otherwise,
use a clean rock material that is '/2 - 1 '/2"
(15-40mm) in diameter. Avoid aggregates that are
round in nature. Angular material will provide the
best interlocking strength. Also, avoid material
that contains a lot of fine grains in that these
fines can flow with water through the wall and possibly
stain the wall face. |
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| Q9: |
How much rock do I
need to use? |
| A9: |
Adequately fill all open
cores and 12" (305mm) behind the unit when
using a Keystone Compac unit. The additional rock
behind the unit provides better drainage and eliminates
the need for compaction equipment directly behind
the wall. For Keystone Standard units, core filling
needs only to be placed in all open cores to the
back of the tail. |
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| Q10: |
What advantages are
there to using a pinned system? |
| A10: |
Unlike other retaining
wall products. Keystone's pinned system offers the
choice of near vertical or one inch setback options.
It allows you to achieve tight comers and radii
automatically without having to cut units while
maintaining the running bond pattern. The Keystone
fiberglass pins also provide additional shear strength
at the wall face and positive connection with geogrid
which allows proper pre-tensioning and resistance
to bulging during construction. |
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| Q11: |
How high can Keystone
units be stacked before placing unit corefill and
backfill? |
| A11: |
Keystone recommends adding
corefill and backfill after each consecutive course
for the Compac units. This insures that all voids
are properly filled with rock providing maximum
interlocking strength. It also aids in keeping the
wall straight and reduces the amount ofwaisted rock.
NOTE: Because of the depth and size of open core
areas on the Keystone Standard units, Keystone recommends
that the standard units can be stacked up to a maximum
of 3 units before placing unit corefill and backfill.
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| Q12: |
What type of material
should be used to backfill? |
| A12: |
Granular materials such
as rock and sand are best if available. These types
of materials compact fairly easy and won't hold
moisture than can increase the weight of the soil
behind the wall. Keystone walls can be effectively
built with silty material and lean clays, but these
types of soils require more compaction and care
should be taken not to place these materials when
they are wet. High clay soils that shrink and swell
rapidly as well as organic soils should be avoided.
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| Q13: |
How often do I need
to compact the fill soils? |
| A13: |
Compacting backfill material
in 8" to 12" (200mm-300mm) lifts allows
you to effectively compact the entire area behind
the wall without putting unnecessary pressure on
the units. Thick lifts of soil require more compaction
effort and create a greater force at the back of
the wall which may cause potential alignment and
rotation problems. Consult with a geotechnical engineer
for further compaction criteria based on specific
site soil. |
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| Q14: |
How often should the
wall's alignment be checked? |
| A14: |
Wall alignment should
be checked at least every third course by visually
looking down the wall or using a string line along
the pin holes or tall positions. The wall should
also be checked every 15-20' (4.6m-6.1m) to make
sure the units are level from front to back. If
the bubble on the level is high to the back, this
means the wall is building to negative batter (leaning
forward) and needs corrective measures. |
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| Q15: |
How can I fix units
that are out of level? |
| A15: |
If the units are leaning
back toward the embankment, due to geogrid thickness
or units being thicker in front than back, this
is generally not a problem in that the batter is
increased. However, if space is limited on top of
the wall, this could be a problem because the wall
is setting back faster than expected. To correct
this problem, you may uniformly insert shims under
the tails to bring the units back to level. The
best material for this would be excess geogrid,
pieces of asphalt shingles or other appropriate
non-deteriorating materials. Avoid using wood or
materials that will deteriorate over time. Care
should be taken to make adjustment in small increments.
If the units are rotating outward and higher toward
the back of the unit, the problem should be addressed
immediately. If the tails are higher than the fronts
by more than Vi" (20mm), disassembling and
portion of the wall should be considered. The same
guidelines and materials for shimming the back of
units may be used for the fronts as well. For minor
adjustment, tapping down the back of the units with
a maul or dead blow hammer may also help. |
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| Q16: |
How can units that
are out of alignment be fixed? |
| A16: |
To determine which units
are out of alignment, run a string line across the
pin holes before the pins are placed. Adjust the
misaligned units by sliding back and forth until
the pin holes are in alignment with the string line.
If when looking down at the kidney shaped holes,
you see that these units are not in full contact
with the pins below due to the adjustment, don't
be alarmed. The gravel fill should adequately fill
in around this area to secure the unit against the
pin. If the unit type you are using has the dual
pin option, either position may be used if it helps
the alignment process. |
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| Q17: |
When building gravity
walls with terraces, what is the recommended distance
between the terraced walls where the upper wall
does not affect the loading condition on the lower
wall? |
| A17: |
The distance between terraces
(face of wall to face of wall) should be greater
than or equal to two times the lower wall height.
Typically this can also work for lower height soil
reinforced walls. With higher reinforced walls or
walls built on a slope, the issue of global stability
must be considered by a qualified engineer in analyzing
the terrace situation. |
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Marble Face / Marble Face Polished /
Trendstone® / Trendstone Plus ® Questions and
Answers |
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| Q1: |
How is the product
made? |
| A1: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face masonry units are integrally
colored concrete blocks with one or more faces ground
to expose the variegated colors of the natural aggregates.
A special additive is included in the concrete mix
design to prevent efflorescence. A factory-applied,
clear satin gloss acrylic accentuates and highlights
each burnished face and provides moisture resistance.
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® 1'1'1'8®
filled and polished masonry units offer smooth terrazzo-like
surfaces. After the initial grinding process, the
pores and interstices are filled with a cementitious
grout. The face(s) is then polished smooth in a
multi-stage process. A clear acrylic seals and covers
the face, resulting in a smooth finished surface.
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| Q2: |
Is the color on the
surface or all through the blocks? |
| A2: |
The color is integral,
i.e. it is uniform throughout the concrete block.
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| Q3: |
Why is the color different
depending on which plant makes the blocks? |
| A3: |
The aggregates used to
make the blocks at each plant come from different
sources and are of different colors and particle
shapes. This changes the color and appearance of
the finished products. |
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| Q4: |
How can I be sure it
will not be chipped and scuffed in shipment and
jobsite handling? |
| A4: |
Trenwyth takes great care
in the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face units to protect the finished surfaces. The
units are placed on sturdy wooden pallets and a
layer of heavy cardboard is placed between each
layer of blocks. The entire cube is then covered
with a heavy gauge plastic bag and strapped with
steel banding. Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face units should be handled as
finished material on the jobsite to avoid scuffing,
chipping, or other damage. |
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| Q5: |
Can I grind these blocks
at the jobsite? |
| A5: |
No. Precision equipment
is needed to grind and polish Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face units and this
can only be done satisfactorily in the factory.
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| Q6: |
Can any mason install
this product? |
| A6: |
Any mason can install
this product. However, we find that masons who are
not highly skilled do a very poor job installing
Marble Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
units. Conversely, masons experienced in laying
architectural blocks who are good craftsmen can
lay ground face blocks very well. Unfortunately,
no matter how well our blocks are manufactured,
if they are not laid well, the appearance of the
project is diminished. |
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| Q7: |
What is the difference
between lightweight, mediumweight, and normalweight
blocks? |
| A7: |
CASTM C90 specification
for load-bearing concrete masonry units defines
lightweight as concrete less than 105 Ibs per cu.
ft., mediumweight as concrete between 105 and 125
Ibs per cu. ft. and normalweight as concrete of
125 Ibs per cu. ft. or more. The aggregate used
to make lightweight blocks is usually expanded shale,
expanded clay, pumice, or some similar type of open-cell
material. By its nature such aggregate is porous
and will allow some moisture penetration. ASTM C90
sets the maximum rate of absorption at 18 Ibs per
cu. ft. for lightweight, 15 Ibs per cu. ft. for
mediumweight, and 13 Ibs per cu. ft. for normalweight.
Most Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face units are normalweight. |
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| Q8: |
What is the difference
between Marble Face/Trendstone Products® and
Marble Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
Products? |
| A8: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® units are ground on the face or faces
and an acrylic is applied to the finished surfaces.
Marble Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® units, as
the name implies, involves an extra process. After
the initial grinding, the pores and interstices
of the face or faces are filled with a cementitious
grout and polished smooth in a multi-stage process
before the acrylic is applied. This gives the appearance
of high quality terrazzo. |
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| Q9: |
What is the surface
coating? |
| A9: |
A clear high solids acrylic
coating is applied in the factory after the blocks
are ground and polished. It is completely light
stable and will not deteriorate with exterior exposure
and weathering. |
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| Q10: |
Why do the walls have
to be field coated? Is the field coating necessary?
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| A10: |
The factory applied acrylic
is designed primarily to protect the Marble Face
Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face surfaces
during shipment and installation. The field coat
covers and enhances the entire wall including the
mortar joints and it hides all the scuffs, scratches,
and nicks that occur during handling and installation.
We consider the field coating necessary because
it puts the finishing touch to the installation
and brings out the full beauty of TRENDSTONE Marble
Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
units. |
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| Q11: |
What is the life expectancy
of the product? |
| A11: |
50 years plus-if the building
is properly designed and the Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face units are installed
correctly. |
| |
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to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q12: |
At what temperature
should the Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face field coating be applied? And not applied?
|
| A12: |
The Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face coating should
be applied to dry walls when the temperature is
above 55° F. It should not be applied at temperatures
lower than 55° F. If a coating other than Marble
Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
coating is used, please follow the manufacturers'
instructions carefully. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q13: |
Will the Marble Face
Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face coating
peel, fade, crack, or spall? |
| A13: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face coating contains the highest
quality acrylic available and will not peel, fade,
crack, or spall when properly applied to a dry surface.
However, if the walls are not properly designed
or constructed with appropriate flashing, weeps,
vents, etc., and the substrate block is continuously
saturated behind the acrylic, deterioration may
occur over time. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q14: |
Can you control the
color consistency? |
| A14: |
Yes. Great care is taken
in the Marble Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face manufacturing processes to ensure a high degree
of color consistency. This includes checking incoming
raw materials, use of computer controlled precision
automatic color injection equipment, precise control
of the moisture, the curing process, etc. As with
any natural product, there are minor color variations
from block to block. Final inspection includes dry
stacking samples drawn from the production line
every half hour and comparing to the master sample
for that project. Always request a jobsite field
panel to be erected prior to approval. |
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to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q15: |
Can you match colors?
|
| A15: |
Yes, within the limitations
of the aggregates available at each of our plants.
|
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q16: |
If I want to put on
an addition a year or more after the original installation
of Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face blocks, will the new Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face blocks match the old? |
| A16: |
We can usually match previously
manufactured colors quite well. However, we recommend
that if possible, a small piece be cut or chipped
from the existing wall and sent to us. If that is
not possible a new sample of the color should be
visually compared to the existing wall and adjustment
made to the color if necessary. Aggregates are a
product of "Mother Nature" however and
can vary over time. Always order a full size current
sample to verify color. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q17: |
Can Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face units be used
in flooring or paving? |
| A17: |
The distance between terraces
(face of wall to face of wall) should be greater
than or equal to two times the lower wall height.
Typically this can also work for lower height soil
reinforced walls. With higher reinforced walls or
walls built on a slope, the issue of global stability
must be considered by a qualified engineer in analyzing
the terrace situation. |
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to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q18: |
How does one patch
this product? Can chips in the wall be repaired?
|
| A18: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face units cannot be satisfactorily
patched. Small chips, scratches, and scuffs will
become almost unnoticeable when the field coating
is applied. Units with large imperfections should
be removed and replaced. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q19: |
Why should I pay a
premium for Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face units when there are so many other less
expensive ground face blocks, split-face blocks,
or bricks? |
| A19: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face units are the highest quality
ground face or burnished blocks available. Anchor
Condrete Products specializes exclusively in prefaced
and prefinished concrete masonry units. If quality
and service are important to you - you should specify
and use Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face units. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q20: |
Does Filling the Marble
Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face
blocks make them waterproof? How do you waterproof
a Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face wall? |
| A20: |
The filling of the surfaces
of Marble Face Plus/Trendstone Plus® Ground
Face units does make them less permeable to moisture.
However, masonry walls should be able to "breathe"
so that any moisture which does get behind the facing
can escape harmlessly to the atmosphere. A silane
or siloxane coating applied to the wall in accordance
with the manufacturers' instructions can be very
effective by making the surface hydrophobic, i.e.
it will repel the moisture from entering the wall
system, but will allow any moisture inside to escape. |
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to questions> |
|
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|
| Q21: |
What special shapes
are available? Can you provide bullnose corners?
Are they available in larger sizes? |
| A21: |
A large assortment of
special shapes are available or can be made. We
have numerous molds, jigs, etc. - the most in the
industry. Give us a drawing or sketch of the special
shapes you would like and let us show you what we
can do. We offer a chamfered corner instead of a
bullnose. Most designers prefer it. Bullnose corners
can be provided at a higher cost. A full range of
oversize units are available. See monumental brochure. |
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to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q22: |
What do I use for the
washdown to remove mortar and scum? |
| A22: |
Refer to the Cleaning
Instructions sheet in our product literature. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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| Q23: |
The wall was properly
cleaned at installation, now what do I do? |
| A23: |
Apply the field coating,
collect your money, and go to the next job. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q24: |
What happens if acid
is used on Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face blocks? |
| A24: |
The danger involved in
using acid on Marble Face Polished /Trendstone Plus®
Ground Face surfaces is that a small amount of the
solution can soak behind the acrylic coating. If
this is not completely removed by rinsing, over
time it will degrade the concrete behind the coating
causing discoloration and/or microscopic peeling
of the acrylic. |
| |
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to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q25: |
Are they UL rated? |
| A25: |
Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face blocks are tested annually
to Underwriter Laboratories (UL) standards by various
independent testing laboratories. Therefore, they
are UL rated although they are not UL listed, there
being no requirement that ground faced blocks be
UL listed in the United States. |
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to questions> |
|
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|
| Q26: |
Can I return blocks
I do not use? |
| A26: |
No, all Marble Face Polished
/Trendstone Plus® Ground Face blocks are custom
made. We require a signed sales contract before
we will start manufacturing any order. Since we
don't make any blocks for stock, any Marble Face
Polished /Trendstone Plus® Ground Face blocks
that are ordered in excess must be taken and cannot
be returned. |
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to questions> |
|
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|
| Q27: |
Is the score cast or
cut? |
| A27: |
The score is cut into
the finished side of Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face blocks. |
| |
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to questions> |
|
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|
| Q28: |
Can I get the back
side of the exposed, unfinished block scored
to match the score on the finished face? |
| A28: |
Yes. |
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to questions> |
|
| |
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| Q29: |
Do I tuckpoint the
scored joint? |
| A29: |
The scored joints must
be tuckpointed to match the rest of the mortar joints.
If they are not, the continuity between the scored
joint and the mortar joint is lost. |
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to questions> |
|
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|
| Q30: |
Is there any special
mortar required? |
| A30: |
Colored mortar that matches
or complements the Marble Face Polished /Trendstone
Plus® Ground Face colors can create a beautiful
effect. For more information on mortars see Mortars
in the GENERAL information sheets in our product
literature. W.R. Grace DRY-yBLOCK® is recommended
for all exterior mortar. |
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to questions> |
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|
| |
NRG Block Questions
and Answers |
| |
| Q1: |
What is the R-Value of a NRG Block? |
| A1: |
For a medium weight block (108 lbs./ft3),
the R-Value is 15, 19 and 24 respectively, for 8",
10" and 12" blocks. |
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to questions> |
|
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| Q2: |
What method is used to calculate
these R-Values? |
| A2: |
Values are calculated using the equivalent
thickness method as recommended by the National
Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA). |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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|
| Q3: |
Is this the same as the Parallel
Method? |
| A3: |
No, the Parallel method typically
results in higher R-Values, but is not considered
accurate to be accepted by the building industry.
|
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to questions> |
|
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| Q4: |
How does this R-Value compare with
common block? |
| A4: |
A NRG Block is six to ten times higher
in R-Value than a common block, which ranges from
1.5 to 2.5 depending upon the aggregate used. |
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to questions> |
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| Q5: |
How does this R-Value compare to
other insulated block? |
| A5: |
Other blocks using inserts or hollow
core blocks with poured insulation range between
5 and 6 for an 8" block. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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| Q6: |
How do these R-Values relate to
building codes in both residential and commercial? |
| A6: |
Most residential building codes require
a minimum of R-11 in the basement and R-19 in sidewalls.
Most commercial codes address the energy efficiency
of the building as a whole. This is known as the
envelope. NRG Block's higher R-Value allows for
trade offs, such as more windows or skylights. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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|
| Q7: |
What type of energy dollar savings
can I realize over a year? |
| A7: |
Niagara Mohawk, an electric company
in upstate New York, estimated that a 10,000 sq.
ft commercial building would save $500 annually.
National Fuel Gas, a utility company in the same
area, estimated an annual savings of $300 for gas
heat in a 6,700 sq. ft. office/warehouse complex. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| Q8: |
What is your insert made of? |
| A8: |
Expanded polystyrene (EPS). |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q9: |
What is the percentage of recycled
material in your inserts? |
| A9: |
We are currently using 15% to 30%
but would like to use more, up to 60%. Unfortunately,
it is not readily available. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q10: |
Is there any toxic material in
the inserts? |
| A10: |
No. It is non-toxic and contains no
formaldehyde. Expanded polystyrene is the same substance
used in Styrofoam coffee cups. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q11: |
Does the process for making the
insert use any CFC's or other environmentally unsafe
processes? |
| A11: |
Chloroflourocarbons are not used in
its production. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q12: |
Does the block itself (the concrete
aggregate) have any recycled components in it? |
| A12: |
Not necessarily, however, several
manufacturers use up to 50% recycled aggregate and
the federal government requires 15% fly ash in blocks
used in federally funded projects. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q13: |
How much does this block cost as
compared to regular block? |
| A13: |
Compared to un-insulated common blocks,
NRG Block generally costs $2.50 to $2.75 more per
block. However, on a Cost/Sq.Ft./R-Value (ie. Apples
to apples), NRG Block always costs less. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q14: |
How does this block compare in
cost with other insulated blocks on the market? |
| A14: |
Most insulated blocks add $.70 to
$1.15 to the cost of a common un-insulated block. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q15: |
Do you have any cost comparisons
of various wall systems? |
| A15: |
A Cost Comparison Study is available
to architectural firms upon request. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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|
| Q16: |
Compared to non-masonry, where
can I pick up savings in using this type of wall
system? |
| A16: |
NRG Block, like all masonry material
has high Thermal Mass and Heat Capacity, as well
as, Thermal Lag - all which allow specification
of smaller and less expensive heating and cooling
units. Annual fire insurance premiums are lower
by as much as 60% with masonry construction. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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|
| Q17: |
What size NRG Blocks are available? |
| A17: |
Currently, nominal 8", 10" and 12"
widths by 16" lengths and 8" height. |
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<return
to questions> |
|
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|
| Q18: |
Does it only come in common block
or are architectural styles available? |
| A18: |
NRG Blocks can be made in all types
of architectural finishes, including split face,
split rib, single and multi-scored, glazed, ground
face and Mesa Stone finishes. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q19: |
Are the blocks available in colors
and specials? |
| A19: |
Yes, the block can be made using a
large variety of aggregates, added color, and added
waterproofing. Specialty blocks such as corners
and halves are not currently available, but common
blocks can be substituted in their place. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q20: |
Is this a structural block? |
| A20: |
Yes, tests show that NRG Blocks meet
or exceed the minimum standards set by ASTM C90-90. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q21: |
Can this block be used in a firewall? |
| A21: |
Yes, an 8" NRG Block wall is rated
at two (2) hours, which is all that is required
for most load-bearing or non-load-bearing applications.
10" NRG walls are rated at four (4) hours and 12"
NRG walls are rated at four (4) hours. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q22: |
Can this wall be used in below-grade
applications as well as in above-grade applications? |
| A22: |
Yes, below-grade applications often
must use both horizontal and vertical reinforcement
depending on the size of the block used and the
soil conditions and code requirements in a particular
area. NRG Block can accommodate most of these situations. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q23: |
Are the test results for the block
available? |
| A23: |
Yes, test results will be sent to
licensed architects or engineers. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q24: |
What is the NRG Block wall system
STC sound rating? |
| A24: |
The 8" block has a Sound Transmission
Class (STC) of 51 and the 12" block has an STC of
55. We estimate that the 10" block has an STC of
53 based on a direct interpolation. These results
are better than Soundblox®, the leading sound absorbing
masonry design sold in today's market. The NRG Block
is the only block that has a solid fa?ade yet still
will provide a superior noise barrier to any other
block on the market. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q25: |
Where are the blocks made? |
| A25: |
NRG Licenses block manufacturers to
produce and service a regional area. Licensees distribute
the blocks through normal channels, such as dealers
and building and masonry contractors. Anchor Concrete
Products is the licensed manufacturer of NRG Block
in the tri-state area and Philadelphia market. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q26: |
How are the blocks made? |
| A26: |
We took great pains to minimize the
differences in manufacturing NRG Block. The mold
box and parts supplied as part of the license agreement
retrofit into the manufacturer's machine (Besser)
and the process is virtually the same. Most facades
available from a licensed manufacturer are available
in the NRG design. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q27: |
Do the blocks come already assembled
with the insert ion them? |
| A27: |
Yes, the inserts are either hand or
machine inserted as the cured blocks exit the drying
kiln (min. 6 hours). They are then cubed, palletized
and shrink-wrapped for shipping. Upon arrival at
the job-site, the mason lays them up just like common
blocks. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q28: |
How do you handle this block? |
| A28: |
Handling is a matter of preference.
After a short learning curve (3-4 hours), masons
are comfortable handling the block. The thumbholes
should be used and the laborer should always present
the blocks with the same orientation to facilitate
bundling. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| Q29: |
Will the mason's charge a premium
to put this block in? |
| A29: |
Our experience is that the range of
up-charges are from 0 to 10%. We believe that this
is reasonable and insignificant as it pertains to
the cost effectiveness of a NRG wall. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q30: |
Does this block go in slower than
ordinary block? |
| A30: |
The up-charge would indicate that
the masons expect up to a 10% fall-off in production.
However, we have observed that such a fall-off occurs
during the learning curve phase but approaches zero
as they continue to lay-up the block. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q31: |
What do you do for specialty block
such as corners and halves? |
| A31: |
NRG Blocks are made to standard dimensions
and, therefore, can be mixed for easy coursing with
standard hollow core blocks. NRG Reinforcing Units
can be made with one end flush for use as corner
or sash blocks. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q32: |
Are there provisions for horizontal
and vertical reinforcing? |
| A32: |
Yes, the top of the insert has slots
to accommodate truss-style Dur-O-Wal. Vertical Reinforcing
can occur with the 10" and 12" units as their masonry
module can accept grouting. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q33: |
How do you handle electrical outlet
requirements? |
| A33: |
Much the same way we handle vertical
reinforcing. Additionally, surface-mount and baseboard
electrical chases can be used where applicable (Ask
your NRG representative to provide you with drawing
details). |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q34: |
What are typical applications for
the block? |
| A34: |
NRG Blocks can be used wherever an
insulated wall is desired, both above and below-grade,
load-bearing or non-load-bearing, noise attenuating
and/or fire resistant (2-4 hour rating). |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q35: |
In particular, what commercial
applications are there? |
| A35: |
retail stores, office buildings, restaurants,
warehouses, manufacturing plants, cold storage rooms,
livestock facilities and industrial facilities,
etc. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q36: |
What institutional applications
are there? |
| A36: |
Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted
living facilities, day care centers, schools, museums,
gymnasiums and military barracks. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q37: |
What residential applications are
there? |
| A37: |
Single-family homes (basements and
full masonry), condominiums and townhouses (party
walls). |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q38: |
Can the block be used for single
width applications? |
| A38: |
Yes, NRG's superior design allows
for a cost effective way to build with single wythe
construction, yet double width benefits. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q39: |
Can the block be used as a backup
block for brick veneer? |
| A39: |
Yes, a face brick veneer with an air
cavity of 1" to 4" will increase the R-Value to
16.4 for an 8" NRG wall. |
| |
<return
to questions> |
|
| |
|
| Q40: |
List the features of the block
and the benefits those features provide to the end
user. |
| A40: |
Cost Effective - on a $/Sq.Ft./R-Value
basis, NRG Block is best (ask for our complete Cost
Comparison Study). |
| |
Improved Moisture Resistance - the
inserts touch one another on the vertical and horizontal
joints, minimizing the passage of moisture. |
| |
Improved Sound-Deafening - the complete
vertical and horizontal barrier separating the interior
from the exterior wythes, provide for excellent
noise attenuation, with STC's of up to 55 for a
12" NRG wall. |
| |
Pre-insulated at manufacturer - owners
can be assured that they are receiving what they
paid for and architects can be assured that what
they have specified is being installed. |
| |
Continuous Insulation - the insert
extends through the mortar joints on all four sides
of the block thereby insulating that part of the
wall that accounts for up to 40% of the energy loss. |
| |
Flexibility of Use - in addition to
readily mixing with common block for easy coursing,
they can be specially ordered with different interior
and exterior finishes such as a glazed interior
and a split face exterior. |
| |
Thermal Mass - this is the property
of materials to store and release heat over time.
One half of a NRG wall system is on the interior,
where it is most effective in modulating temperature
fluctuations. This property is negated with interior
insulation on a common block wall. |
| |
Thermal Lag - this is the time necessary
for a material to reach a constant rate of heat
flow. NRG thermal lag is 5 times greater than a
standard block thereby reducing thermal cycling
resulting in a requirement for smaller heating/cooling
systems. |
| |
Thermal Stability - NRG inserts do
not settle, warp, lose their insulating value when
they are wet or break down. They are non-toxic,
contain no formaldehyde or CFC's. |
| |
Reduced Dewpoint - NRG Blocks have
been calculated to lower the temperature at which
condensation may occur on inside walls by over 80°
Fahrenheit. |
| |
Fire Wall - an 8" NRG Wall System
has a 2 hour fire rating, the 10" a 3 ? hour fire
rating, and the 12" a 4 hour fire rating. This allows
the block to be used in most load bearing or non-load-bearing
applications where a fire wall is required by code,
such as interior walls between townhouses. |
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