Why Barrier-1®?

 

ECONOMICAL INSURANCE

Each year, North American commercial property owners spend an estimated $2.4 billion dollars on remediation of structures and interior furnishings as a result of moisture-related flooring failures. At 1/10th the cost of topical treatments, Barrier-1® Admixture System is the most economical insurance against the overwhelming problem of moisture-related flooring failures.

Flooring failures add significant cost to any project in terms of business disruptions such as call-backs, flooring replacement and litigation, as well as the added expense of applying a costly topical moisture treatment. The benefit of preventing these issues far outweighs the small investment of adding Barrier-1® Admixture at the beginning of the project.

Learn more about the causes of moisture-related flooring failures

 

PROVEN RESULTS

The Barrier-1® Admixture System has been eliminating moisture related flooring failure issues in the US for over five years with 100% success and has achieved this unparalleled track record by effectively shutting down the route of excessive, early loss of hydrating moisture shortly after slab placement.

Hydration is the key chemical reaction at the microscopic level between Portland cement particles (and other pozzolanic material) and water that gives concrete its desired strength characteristics; in fact, the more evenly and longer a slab hydrates, the greater the resulting desired characteristics.

By allowing the fresh slab to hydrate more evenly throughout than concrete placed without Barrier-1, each particle of sand and stone is more thoroughly coated with cement paste creating a much stronger overall slab. Further, this increased hydration greatly reduces the capillary break present in all slabs to the point that the route of moisture vapor emission is closed down. The result, a stronger, non-hygroscopic slab that exhibits greatly reduced shrinkage and curl.

Barrier-1® Admixture is supported by a comprehensive, performance-based warranty (subject to compliance with manufacturer’s recommendations).

 

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

The Barrier-1® Admixture System is integral to the concrete and can be added to the mix at the batch plant or job site. The product works by eliminating the route of moisture vapor emission through concrete by closing down the integral capillary system.

The Barrier-1® family of products also includes a Topical System for application to existing slabs. Our Topical System is designed to penetrate deep into the concrete slab and stop moisture vapor emission.

In partnership with Wolverine Coatings, we also offer BondTite 1503, Bond Enhancer & Moisture Proof Coating, which can be applied to concrete containing Barrier-1® Admixture System or as the final coat of Barrier-1® Topical System. BondTite 1503 is a unique three-component, water-reducible coating which allows the application of coatings, membranes and underlayments a mere 12 hours after treatment and provides superior adhesion to the concrete slab.

 

SIMPLE TO USE

Both Barrier-1® Admixture and Topical System contain zero VOC's and require no special handling or equipment.

Barrier-1® Admixture is integral to the concrete for new construction. The product can be added to the mix at the batch plant or job site and is designed to benefit all types of slabs: below-grade, on-grade and above-grade. See the Admixture Product Data Sheet for specific details.

Barrier-1® Topical System is applied in two coats to the existing concrete slab. Specific application details are found in our Topical System Data Sheet.