As smooth as silk: Tilt-Up
For such a small component in the total construction cost of a Tilt-up panel, there sure is a lot of debate and strong opinion about bond breakers. In 2010, opinions are starting to give way to fact, with the results set in stone (concrete) for all to see.
For such a small component in the construction cost of a Tilt-up panel, there sure is a lot of debate and strong opinion about bond breakers. In 2010, opinions are starting to give way to fact, with the results set in stone (concrete) for all to see.
With most bond breakers being applied at stated application rates of 5-10m2/lt over two coats, a 32sqm panel will require an average of 4.3 liters per panel. At material costs of $800 and $1000 per 200lt drum (dependent on the type of bond breaker used) this equates to $17.20 and $21.50 per panel. Even contractors working on the finest of margins should not lose money on a panel which costs an extra $4.30 to produce.
But let’s step back a little and look at the whole picture. Firstly, consider the many people paying large amounts to convert their cars to run on gas rather than petrol, in the face of higher fuel prices. Why do they do this? They do this because most people will gladly pay a little extra to save a lot of money in the long run.
Now imagine if you had a bond breaker that cost $4.30 per panel extra to use, but produced panels that did not require any further preparation before painting.
How much does it cost to scrub a panel with sugar soap, or other proprietary bond breaker removal compounds? Remember, this is usually done once the panels have been erected, so a cherry picker/hydraulic lift is required to gain access. How much does this cost? But wait, after washing we need to clean off the residue with a high pressure washer. How much does this cost? Who is going to do all of this work, and how much do they cost? Did this preparation work properly so that the surface may now be painted, or does it need to be done again? How much does all this cost?
To provide answers to these questions alone is worth an extra $4.30 per panel. But how much does all of this extra work cost - $43, $100per panel? Whatever the answer, it is more than $4.30 per panel. What if we consider any patching that is required, has the panel been stained and looks unsightly to the client, does the panel take longer to lift by crane because of high suction forces, does the flammable solvent based bond breaker incur higher freight charges because it is a dangerous good? Would $4.30 cover these costs?
Silcoseal water based bond breaker provides answers to all of these questions, bringing you piece of mind. Yes, most contractors have fierce loyalty to the bond breaker they have been using for years, but many of these same contractors, from Western Australia to Queensland, have been changing their opinions once they have seen what Silcoseal can do. The results are set in stone (concrete). Add to this the years of market experience and feedback in Australia and the US, which shows that Silcoseal uses a minimum 25% less material per job due to higher coverage rates, despite contractors applying it in the same fashion as their previous bond breaker. Suddenly, the cost of bond breaker per 32sqm panel becomes $16.00 – a saving of $1.20! Now that won’t send anyone broke.
Use Silcoseal for tilt-up panels that look (and lift) as smooth as silk.