SKA Industry Leaders

CASE STUDY: ICRI Article Rehabilitation of 60-Year Old Mitchell Water Treatment Plant

SKA is excited and proud to have an article featured in the July-August 2020 edition of ICRI Concrete Repair Bulletin. A few of our extremely talented and dedicated engineers developed the article highlighting the structural rehabilitation and service-life extension of the filter house and concrete basins at the 60-year old Mitchell Water Treatment Plant in…

TECH NOTES | Brief Case Studies Deterioration of Concrete in Building Materials

Concrete is a very durable building material when properly designed, proportioned and constructed. Unfortunately, deterioration can occur if attention is not paid to detail in the design construction phases of a project. One such situation is that associated with Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR). ASR is an expansive process in concrete between alkali hydroxides in portland cement…

TECH NOTES | Excess Salt Not Good for Our Bodies or Buildings

Coastal environments are some of the most severe for building materials such as reinforced concrete. Winds can carry ocean-borne chloride-based salts considerable heights and distances for deposition on structures in their path. Together with moisture, chlorides soak into concrete and stimulate steel corrosion that tears it apart from within, skyrockets maintenance and repair costs, and…

TECH NOTES | You Can’t See What You Can’t See

It’s almost inevitable, roofs and fenestrations are going to leak. Extreme weather conditions, normal wear and tear over time and environmental and foreign intrusions deteriorate and penetrate even the best building envelope solutions on the market. Water leaks not only damage interior finishes, they promote membrane deterioration and decrease the effectiveness of insulation. Often, the…

TECH NOTES | Not Just Another Day at the Beach

Coastal structures have increased susceptibility to corrosion, concrete distress, leaks and safety hazards due to moisture and airborne salts from the ocean. Restoration projects at beach front condominiums can be complex, often necessitating intricate repairs and advanced preservation techniques for meaningfully extending the life of the building. These projects typically require specialty engineers and contractors…

Top 7 Ways To Save Energy Costs In a Home During Winter

Heating and cooling costs are one of the most expensive utilities in every home. No matter where you live, the conservation of energy to reduce costs is becoming more and more important for sustainability and your wallet. Here are seven ways, as building science engineers, that we commonly recommend to homeowners that will help reduce…

Project Award Wins and Case Studies

This year, SKA won the “Excellence in Concrete” Award (ACI Carolinas) for structural rehabilitation and concrete restoration associated with the Mitchell Water Treatment Plant Structural Repairs & HVAC Improvement Project. In addition, SKA won Project of the Year Award (ICRI – Carolinas) for Nissan Stadium Upper Deck – Concourse Waterproofing & Concrete Repairs. Recently, SKA was also…

Rising Construction Costs Have You Down?

by: Aaron B. Bopp, P.E., LEED AP BD+C and Carrie McClellan Recent construction costs are significantly higher due to various reasons, including a rise in cost of materials and reduced workforces. Building projects will have to be scaled way back, rebid with reduced scope and in some severe cases, the projects could be cancelled. Reduced…