Month: February 2018

What do you want to know?

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what subject is most relevant to the projects that are going on in different regions.  This is the opportunity to request a subject or question that might be relevant to any ongoing projects; an opportunity to create a dialog to better understand the processes and details surrounding either the installation or logistics surrounding the resinous business.    Please post questions in the comments section and I will do my best to respond or expound on the subject.

Most of the common job site problems today are due to a combination of expectations and scheduling conflicts.  While most people understand how the process works, they don’t understand that the conditions required for most applications are finished conditions.  The importance of permanent lights, finished trades, and conditioned space are paramount to a quality installation.  The way that I try to explain the process is to compare resinous flooring to “manufacturing” a product in place rather than taking a pre-manufactured product and installing it in place.  The most experienced superintendents still face pressures from owners and other trades that lead to premature installations on most resinous flooring projects, and cause mistakes to be made that are avoidable.

A projects schedule can negatively influence many trades on a project if not managed properly.  the most important thing is communication and understanding.  The purpose of this post is to start an open discussion among professionals to better understand the order that finish products should be scheduled during a project.  Pool planning has led to projects moving more efficiently, however it still has not solved some of the constraints of installing a finished product without permanent lights and conditioned air due to permitting an inspection issues or other unpredictable variables.

In short, what questions can be asked to start an honest open discussion to improve our industry as a whole?  Thanks for reading and please feel free to ask any relevant question relating to installation, scheduling and process.

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Understanding the Construction “Payment Gap”

it is hard for many people in non-construction based businesses to understand the challenges that most subcontractors face in financing their businesses.  Where most of business is conducted on a point of sale or 30 day term basis, that is not the case for most commercial and industrial construction businesses.

images bills

Subcontractors are the companies hired by a General Contractor to complete each specialized area of work on a construction project.  While there are contracts that protect both parties in this arrangement, a subcontractor is usually responsible for providing both materials and labor to perform their scope of work and that adds an extra layer of challenges when it comes to financing a project.  Most construction projects can take months and even years to to complete while many subcontractors are only on a project for weeks or days which can lead to their profits being tied up for an extended time period.  Most contracts today required the General Contractor to hold a “retainage” until the entire project is accepted and complete.  In many cases this money is not received for a year or more after the original billing; this can mean that a subcontractors profits can be held for over a year.

I have outlined the payment process in other blog posts, but the “payment Gap” that seeks to destroy subcontractors is the most difficult obstacle to overcome.   This obstacle starts with a monthly billing period and extended payment terms based on owner approved payment applications and then progresses to retainages held and warranty periods.  As explained in some of my other blog posts, the billing and payment process is quite confusing and difficult to master, but the most difficult thing is the “gap” between the receivables on a project and the payables. ( billing -resinadviser  ) . While some suppliers will allow for extended payment terms and joint check agreements, most suppliers put their contractors on 30 day terms.  When a subcontractor bills according to contact documents, payment on projects can take 45-90 days in the best case scenarios.  This difference in receivables and payables is what I call the “Payment Gap”.

This gap is not exclusive to the subcontractor, contractor relationship; the gap exists between resin manufactures and their suppliers as well.  Many material suppliers are held hostage to raw material suppliers who change their prices based on market price and demand rather than long term contracts.  They are also plagued with shortages and inconsistencies that have to be dealt with before the product is shipped to its destination.

In Short, there are many hurdles that have to be jumped over before a resinous project can be installed, and even more before it is paid.  It is very difficult for a company to overcome the “payment gap” and achieve financial stability.  Success is measured by getting 90 days ahead of your money and staying that way even when there are inconsistencies in schedules and billed work.

Moral:  If you are a contractor, do not get over extended and always communicate your payment concerns with both your General Contractor and your Supplier.  It is better for everyone involved to be aware of the payment terms.  Always stay 90 days ahead, and watch billings to project what payments will look line down the line.  Plan ahead so that you can manage any surprises.  Ultimately, there should be more advocacy for 30 day payment terms for subcontract work (especially materials and direct labor) with protections for the owner and General Contractor; most projects are bank funded and the funds are readily available before the project begins.  By working together, this problem can be ultimately solved.

 

 

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Understanding Resinous Flooring – Made Simple.

Explaining myself to an architect recently, I discovered that I was talking in circles and still not communicating the differences between epoxy floors and urethane floors.  I realized that getting through the matrix of possibilities without a guide can be overwhelming for someone who is not surrounded by all of the products on a daily basis.  Like many other products on the market today, resinous flooring products are diverse, different and confusing to select.  A once simple product has evolved into an endless combination of products that keep the most informed professionals on their toes.

In My Life and Work by Henry Ford in collaboration with Samuel Crowther. 1922., Henry Ford said, ‘Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.’  As we all know, you can buy a Ford in almost every color today.  Like Ford, the material manufactures saw the opportunity for customization and thought it would increase their market share in the flooring industry.  This change has been beneficial for the industry, but added an extra layer of confusion for the customer.  While simplicity makes decision making easier, products need to be designed to maximize lifespan and performance based on their anticipated environments.  For the sake of this discussion, an oversimplification of product lines will help in understanding the basics of resinous flooring.

To get started, I will focus on the major types of resinous flooring.  I am going to describe four types of resins that will meet our exceed most project needs.  There are many more types and sub-types of resins, but for simplification I will use the four most used resin types in this article.  The most common used and recognized resin is epoxy, then urethane and then the less known polyaspartic and methyl methacrylate (MMA).  Without exception, each of these products can be filled with identical decorative aggregates for a similar finished product.

EPOXY:

Epoxy materials have been used longer and more commonly than any of the other resin types.  In 1936, epoxy paint was patented in Switzerland and by the late 1950’s, they were being used in military specifications.  Epoxy’s are “any of various usually thermosetting resins capable of forming tight cross-linked polymer structures characterized by toughness, strong adhesion, and low shrinkage, used especially in surface coatings and adhesives.” EPOXY – The Free Dictionary

By the late 1970’s Epoxy’s were available for flooring installations in meat packing plants and heavy industrial shops, but it was not until the late 1980’s, when decorative aggregates were introduced, that epoxy materials hit the mainstream construction industry.  Epoxy Products are usually two component thermosetting products that can, but often do not, contain solvents.  It is simply a two part clear glue that cures to create a hard plastic like finish.

  • Pro’s:
    • Easy to obtain
    • Easy to work with (many different types available)
    • Very hard finish (often up to 11,000 PSI)
    • Easy to pigment and use with decorative additives
    • Smooth or textured
    • Available with low odor (when 100% solid)
    • High build (can be used as grout or mortar)
  • Con’s:
    • Not UV stable (amber color with UV exposure – including florescent lighting)
    • Scratch-able by sharp objects. (abrasion resistance lower than urethane)
    • Not resistant to high temparatures
    • not moisture tolerant in most cases.

Urethane:

Urethane is a slightly more diverse resin that contains materials derived from petroleum or plant resins.  This material ranges from thin high performance coatings, to heavy cement filled overlays.  Most urethane’s entered the market as a solution to two major problems with epoxies.  Urethane is both harder and more UV stable than epoxy in most cases.  Many flooring systems that required a high build coat and an abrasion resistant finish use epoxy as the base coat and urethane as the final ware coat.  Due to the superior adhesion qualities of Epoxy, the combination of these two materials expand where resinous flooring can be used.  To simplify the understanding of Urethane, splitting it up into tow categories helps.

  1. Urethane Coatings:  Coatings have been around for a long time and have been utilized in conjunction with epoxy primers to create a long lasting, light stable, hard shell finishes for protecting concrete floors and walls.  This process usually involves mechanically abrading the surface and applying multiple coats to achieve a thin mil system that is both cost effective and attractive.  These products have been used on metal for ships and tank linings as well.
  2. Urethane Cements:  The use of Urethane cements is more recent in the timeline of resinous flooring.  This material utilizes resins that create water as a byproduct during the curing process; the water is then utilized by a cement component to create a concrete like finished product that is mixed in with aggregates based on the desired thickness and performance requirements of each system.  This product has become popular due to its ability to resist hydro-static pressure, handle high heat and wet environments, and its speed of installation.  It has replaced epoxy in food production and commercial kitchen environments.

While there are many other uses for urethane’s, the two above are the most common in the flooring industry.  One more other common use for urethane’s that cross over into the flooring industry would be in flexible track systems and permeable overlays.  Most of these systems use moisture cured urethane’s to achieve a flexible system in combination with rubber or gravel to produce an attractive usable surface that is much more resilient than concrete.  It is important to note that most urethane systems utilized on floors and walls are in combination with epoxy to utilize there maximum benefit.  Urethanes are also commonly used for waterproofing parking decks and mechanical rooms.

History of Polyurethanes

Methyl Methacrylate (MMA):

I am not gong to spend much time on MMA’s because their use is more limited but easily explained.  This is a product that has some very good qualities and some that are less than desirable.  It is very hard to find a more chemical resistant product that sets up as fast as MMA and is light stable.  These products are often used where speed, temperature and chemical attack are of high importance.  These products can set up in very cold conditions and stand up under the suns rays with little to no discoloration over time.  One of the problems with this resin is the overwhelming oder that comes with the curing process, and the rapid installation rate takes a trained installer to achieve a good finished product.  While the product performs well in many environments, its installation requirements limits its use in many areas.  Even though the odor contains acceptable rates of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), it can still get into food products and cause negative effects on people exposed to the fumes.

MMA information

PolyAspartics:  

For the scientists and enthusiasts:

Polyaspartics

 

Polyaspartics have evolved as the a perfect blend between polyurethane’s and mma’s; they have the high gloss of polyurethanes and the fast setting light stable qualities of mma’s.  Polyaspartics are very chemical resistant and remain slightly flexible while achieving a hard protective shell.  While mma’s will only bond well to themselves, Polyaspartics can be used with epoxy systems like polyurethanes to create successful hybrid systems for varying environments.  These products are very durable and very clear; they work well with decorative quartz and Flake.

Moral:

Like always, I like to finish with a “moral”.  It is important to know the difference between many of the materials on the market.  Even though I have highlighted a few, there are many more that can be utilized for each individual projects.  It is important to get advise from a knowledgeable trustworthy professional to plan the best product for each project.  If you have questions or need advice please contact resin adviser for your next project.

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