Tech Publications

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…

TECH NOTES | Windows Part 1

Studies indicate that exposure to daylight improves our alertness, productivity, and general well being. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program recognizes the value of natural light in work areas and awards points to buildings that provide daylight and outside views to building occupants. These studies confirm what we already knew – we…

TECH NOTES | Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head

Catching the rain in buckets inside of your building? There is an inexpensive method to detect moisture problems in your roof that will relieve your rainy day blues for years to come. Water can enter the roof system by means of condensation, damage and/or deterioration of the roofing membrane and flashing system. Moisture-laden roof materials…

TECH NOTES | No Place to Park

Recent headlines about parking deck failures have left us uneasy about the safety of our parking decks and other exposed building structures such as stadiums, dams, terraces, etc. Real estate for parking isscarce, so whether you are visiting the local mall, a city building or the doctor’s office, you will more often than not wind…