The City of Brotherly Love certainly knows a thing or two about great architecture. From the American Philosophical Society to the First Bank of the United States, there is no shortage of old, historical buildings that played a part in the forming of the United States. In fact, the Historical Commission of Philadelphia lists 22,000 properties in 15 historical districts. Without question, Philadelphia is famous for its excellent, historical buildings.

But with older buildings comes the responsibility to care for and preserve them. Philadelphians are tough, but so are their winters. Freezing temperatures, sleet, snow and ice can negatively impact structures, and it’s best to be proactive when it comes to protection.

In addition to the historical structures, homes in Philly and the surrounding suburbs also have to contend with the harsh seasonal elements. Whether talking about new homes or repairing older vintage models, fixing the foundation is an important step in protecting your biggest investment.

Mar-flex offers both peace of mind and the protection you need to cover your home. Strength, stability and reinforcement are crucial to combating the elements and guarding against future costly—possibly catastrophic—repairs.

Mar-flex’s line of concrete repair products includes complete crack injection and repair kits, crack injection urethanes, injection ports, port pastes and epoxies. These can be used to help weatherproof and waterproof your home and get ready for the worst that nature can throw at you.

Businesses, too, can utilize the concrete repair products to protect their workplace. Safeguard your office furniture, equipment, computer workstations and more with a solid, reinforced solution to repair all cracks and weak points of your concrete work.

Contact the professionals at Mar-flex to talk over how we can protect your home or place of work. We can discuss a set of solutions that are right for you and designed to help ensure a long life for the structure. Get in touch to discover the protection you need for your home or business.

February has been surprisingly wet for the residents of Knoxville, TN. Nearly three inches of snow have hit the ground in the second month of 2015, and rainfall has been even greater. With a major winter storm sweeping the region, the question on many Knoxville residents is: will my basement waterproofing hold?

Knoxville residents looking to verify the safety of their basements should first ensure that no existing cracks are visible. Freezing precipitation can quickly exacerbate existing damage to below-grade structures, leading to catastrophic damage. Home and business owners should also know the warning signs that a crack may be about to form, including dark spots on walls, increased pest activity, rust and peeling paint, or musty odors. If you fear your basement or foundation may be compromised, call a repair specialist immediately.

Winter weather also poses a risk to below-grade structures that are not yet cracked or damaged. While rainwater typically drains off uniformly throughout a storm, snowmelts can quickly deposit a large amount of water into the soil around a foundation. This results in a swift rise in hydrostatic pressure capable of rupturing waterproofing membranes and damaging foundation walls. The buildings best equipped to deal with these issues employ complete waterproofing systems, including a basement waterproofing membrane, a drainage board and drainage tiles. The drainage components of the system keep water flowing away from the foundation to reduce hydrostatic pressure and prevent debris from reaching the waterproofing membrane. The membrane prevents water from seeping into the foundation itself.

How does snowfall impact basement waterproofing? This will soon be a critical question for below-grade structures in Charlotte, NC. The city and surrounding area are currently under a Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service. According to NOAA, families in Charlotte will face up to eight inches of snow by this evening.

So, back to critical issue at hand; what risks do these storms pose to foundations and below-grade structures?

The greatest danger is to basements that have already suffered cracks. The frozen ground can cause existing fissures to widen quickly. Homeowners and businesses with these issues are at risk and should look into foundation repair kits or call basement waterproofing professionals in their area.

Even if your basement or foundation is currently waterproofed and crack-free, it could still be at risk from the oncoming storm. Large snowfalls allow a significant amount of water to accumulate on the ground simultaneously. Melting causes all of this water to quickly seep into the ground around a foundation. Snowmelt events result in a dramatic increase in the hydrostatic pressure around a foundation in a short amount of time. Below-grade structures without high quality waterproofing membranes, drainage boards and drainage tiles (collectively known as a waterproofing system) may find themselves underprepared for such a large influx of water.

1) Learn about Green Building Materials In Public Projects
NEW! Building Successful Public Projects,
Thursday, February 5, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, LVCC South Hall, Room S219
Mar-Flex is the industry leader in green waterproofing products because we believe these innovative materials represent the future of our industry. This year, World of Concrete is affirming that prediction by hosting their first special presentation of green building and public works projects. This forum will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear industry leading concrete suppliers, producers and public officials highlight flagship green-building projects around the country.

1) Find out how green building materials save green
Saving Money And Protecting The Environment In Concrete Production
Thursday, February 5, 2 p.m.
Continuing our interest in the ongoing evolution of green building technologies, we want to highlight this forum which focuses on the financial benefits of modern building materials. This is really the defining element of the newest wave of technologies, such as our own Shockwave drainage boards, green materials are now also economical materials. We are living through a rubicon-crossing moment where green technology has become inexpensive technology. Wise attendees will be sure attend this conference to stay up to date on the changing times.

3) The Hoover Dam & Bypass Bridge Tour
Sunday, February 1, 2015, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
and Friday, February 6, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
The Hoover Dam is a world wonder and a testament to American ingenuity. As the building industry evolves to keep pace with a swiftly changing world, it is worthwhile to remember what incredible feats we can accomplish. The dam has inspired generations of builders to push the boundaries of what is possible, and that inspiration is direly needed as builders and manufacturers strive to keep pace with an evolving world.

4) Concrete Industry Management (CIM) LIVE and Silent Auctions
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Silent Auction: 11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Room N263 in the North Hall
Live Auction: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Room N262 in the North Hall
World of concrete is a business event, of course, but it has also made a historic impact on the education of the next generation of concrete professionals. One of the largest philanthropic events in the industry is this exciting annual auction. Last year these auctions raised over $800,000 for participating universities. This year the flagship item is a massive truck, but there are over 100 items worth bidding on for this great cause.

5) Mar-Flex Waterproofing and Building Products Display
If you see nothing else at World of Concrete this year, you need to see the newest technologies from Mar-Flex. Our flagship products are the greenest, strongest and fastest draining waterproofing products in the industry. If that isn’t reason enough to stop by, consider this: Mar-Flex’s history of innovation has pushed the entire industry forward in the 21st Century, so there is nowhere better to find out what is on the horizon than our booth. Come see us and talk shop, you won’t regret it.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting a boom in building in the Francisville area of Philadelphia. New construction means the need for new basement waterproofing and drainage board systems, which are particularly important for cities located on the waterfront. The real estate developers heading up new home construction in Francisville include MJL Properties, a local business which has been producing quality homes in Philadelphia for years.

“We are our own general contractor; we do all the building, using high-quality materials, no vinyl siding or anything like that,” Loonstyn told the Inquirer. “We are builders, myself and my dad, and it’s been a long climb.”

With home prices rising swiftly in the area, we hope that MJL and other developers are protecting their newly constructed homes by investing in high quality below-grade waterproofing systems. Waterproofing technology has come a long way in the past few years, and not all developers are aware that systems now exist which are designed to last a lifetime. [link to warranty page]

Click here to read the full article from the Inquirer.

Green Building: New Solar Plant Coming To Charlotte

Last week, Duke Energy announced plans to build a 13-Megawatt solar energy facility at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps. This is promising vote of confidence for green technology from an organization that thrives on its pragmatism and good judgement. As one of the world leaders in the development of green building materials for below-grade waterproofing, we are deeply invested in the future success of all environmentally friendly technologies.

Projects like this new Duke Energy facility will show the public that green technology is quickly becoming the standard of choice for new construction and energy projects, and will ultimately fuel demand for green products across all market segments. Our own ShockWave drainage board, for example, is one of our most popular products because its innovative design utilizes 100% post-industrial recycled material and the resulting product is more effective than anything else on the market.

Everyone at Mar–Flex would like to congratulate Duke Energy and the US Marine Corps on this stellar collaboration. If there is further news on the plant’s development in the future, we will report it here.

Click here to read the original press release about the new solar plant.

New Homes Fuel Need For Basement Waterproofing In Knoxville

The Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting a boom in new home construction and an increase in home prices in Knox County, near Knoxville, TN. Building permits for new homes in the county increased for two consecutive years according to the report. It is a promising sign for the county, which had a contracting construction market for the two previous years.

However, the Knoxville real estate market isn’t entirely out of the water yet. Unless new home owners demand that homebuilders and developers invest in high quality basement waterproofing products, their post recession investments could quickly become literal money pits. The foundation of a home is literally a metaphor for “the thing on which everything else rests” and that couldn’t be more true in the case of these early investors in the area’s new homes. A cracked foundation can destroy a home’s value.

The most effective way to protect a home is to invest in a complete waterproofing system. Foundation waterproofing systems combine waterproofing membrane with a drainage board and drainage tiles. This ensures the below-grade concrete is kept dry and free of debris, while also channeling water (and the hydrostatic pressure it creates) away from foundation walls and spaces beneath the foundation.

Click here to read the full article from the News Sentinel.

Mar-flex’s telescoping vents, which we call Vortex Vents, make it easy to ensure basements are safe during floods. The technical difficulty of installing normal flood vents has caused many homeowners to forgo this critical safety technology. That problem set our R&D department to work, and the resulting telescoping vents are a wonder of engineering. Made in America, Vortex Vents can expand to fit a wide array of wall widths.

For homeowners, that means safer below-grade structures are easy to construct. For contractors, it means the vents in the truck will be the vents that go into the wall. No more returning to the warehouse for new parts, no more waiting for new vents to arrive in the mail. It is a one-size-fits-all experience designed to maximize convenience and, thus, maximize safety.

If you have a question about telescoping vents and the impact they can have on your next construction job, contact us today.

Last week, Duke Energy announced plans to build a 13-Megawatt solar energy facility at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps. This is promising vote of confidence for green technology from an organization that thrives on its pragmatism and good judgement. As one of the world leaders in the development of green building materials for below-grade waterproofing, we are deeply invested in the future success of all environmentally friendly technologies.

Projects like this new Duke Energy facility will show the public that green technology is quickly becoming the standard of choice for new construction and energy projects, and will ultimately fuel demand for green products across all market segments. Our own ShockWave drainage board, for example, is one of our most popular products because its innovative design utilizes 100% post-industrial recycled material and the resulting product is more effective than anything else on the market.

Everyone at Mar–Flex would like to congratulate Duke Energy and the US Marine Corps on this stellar collaboration. If there is further news on the plant’s development in the future, we will report it here.

Click here to read the original press release about the new solar plant.

The Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting a boom in new home construction and an increase in home prices in Knox County, near Knoxville, TN. Building permits for new homes in the county increased for two consecutive years according to the report. It is a promising sign for the county, which had a contracting construction market for the two previous years.

 However, the Knoxville real estate market isn’t entirely out of the water yet. Unless new home owners demand that homebuilders and developers invest in high quality basement waterproofing products, their post recession investments could quickly become literal money pits. The foundation of a home is literally a metaphor for “the thing on which everything else rests” and that couldn’t be more true in the case of these early investors in the area’s new homes. A cracked foundation can destroy a home’s value.

The most effective way to protect a home is to invest in a complete waterproofing system. Foundation waterproofing systems combine waterproofing membrane with a drainage board and drainage tiles. This ensures the below-grade concrete is kept dry and free of debris, while also channeling water (and the hydrostatic pressure it creates) away from foundation walls and spaces beneath the foundation.

Click here to read the full article from the News Sentinel.

We already answered questions about the best method for choosing basement waterproofing products, so we are interpreting this question to mean, “how should I approach the task of waterproofing a basement?”

The only ideal time to waterproof a basement, though you might not think of this initially unless you live and breath waterproofing like we do, is during the initial construction of a building. When waterproofing a basement, the waterproofing membrane and drainage board need to be applied to the outer wall of the structure. If the foundation is already buried, there is no way to reach it without digging up the entire below grade level. We wish we could be everywhere, ensuring no structure was ever built without a long-lasting waterproofing system. Unfortunately, some builders still don’t invest in modern basement protection products. If your basement has sprung a leak, you’ll need to contact basement repair specialists to address the problem. We recommend the team at DryPatrol.

It is not impossible to waterproof a building that has already been constructed, however, is just isn’t the most cost effective way to approach the problem. Many buildings that were meant to last the test of time were constructed before basement waterproofing technologies, such as our top-of-the-line ShockWave drainage board, were developed. In these cases, or others where the building’s value merits the expense, the foundation can be exposed, have a waterproofing system installed and then be reburied.

Looking beyond waterproofing a building’s substructure, you may also be interested in an above ground waterproofing material. A waterproofing membrane can vastly reduce weathering damage to a building. Fusion UV and ProVention 363, our next generation green waterproofing membranes for residential and commercial use respectively, can be sprayed above ground, dry grey (rather than black) and can be applied to poured walls, poured walls, cinder block, stucco, steel, wood and galvanized metal. The versatility of these LEED compatible products reflects Mar-flex’s commitment to innovation. Our research team develops products that move the residential and commercial business industries forward.
If you have any other questions about basement waterproofing or poured wall foundations, give Mar-flex a call. We have decades of experience, and we want to put it to good use helping people like you.