Knowledge Articles

Roofers face multiple problems on site today. 80% of failed roofs and leaks are caused by non-roofers. Therefore, it is a main priority to protect the roofer’s craftmanship from traffic on the rooftop during the total building phase, during construction and beyond.

Whether you're an architect, roofing applicator or anyone involved in selecting the right bituminous roofing, it's hard to know where to begin.

Choosing to buy proper amount of tile grout and tile adhesive is important. Lack of understanding to calculate, lead to abundant quantities or shortage than expected. So what are appropriate quantities of tile grout and tile adhesive shall you buy? Difference factors e.g. tile size, tile gap and application area are what you have to concern. The calculator from Sika will bring you a more convenient, just a few clicks.

PU Foam is a polyurethane foam in spray foam type. They can be used for fixing, insulating and filling connection joints around window and door frames, pipe entries, air conditioning vents and roller blind housings and filling large cavities, fill and insulate against noise, cold, and drafts and waterproof, easy to apply with nozzle valve, can be cut, sanded and over painted. The foam texture looks like a mousse and cure in contact with moisture when applied. Therefore, PU foam is widely used in both construction and DIY. Below you can learn more about their properties and preparation and application process.

Smart use of water–based materials can be an effective strategy against moisture-related problems in floor constructions. This is what we implement in our Sikafloor® MultiDur water-based epoxy range. Tough and water vapor permeable, plus low VOC & odor, Sikafloor® MultiDur water-based epoxy flooring systems are especially suitable for your next functional floors if you have issues of humidity or rising moisture in the floor slab. Additionally, among the range, the system Sikafloor® MultiDur WS-26 has the unique performance of the fire classification A2fl -S1.

Are you a building contractor or working in a similar field and looking for the best concrete products and solutions for all your projects?

The ability to appreciate concrete as an aesthetically versatile construction material has led Sika to many innovations in architectural concrete. The flexibility of concrete in design enables the designer to create structures not possible with other construction materials. Combining this flexibility with Sika’s over one hundred years of experience and expertise in concrete formulation and optimization allows structures of true architectural value to be realized.

Successful sprayed concrete requires the combination of many aspects of modern concrete technology especially concrete admixture chemistry, together with modern materials handling technology. The increasing demands for cost-effectiveness and the protection of health and the environment mean that sprayed concrete has been in continuous development. Thanks to more than one hundred years of experience, expert knowledge and a focus on performance and economy, Sika is able to provide the newest generation of sprayed concrete solutions.

The SikaFiber® software for calculating fiber-reinforced concrete slabs on grade is a powerful tool for optimizing designs. The software has been developed in accordance with two globally recognized guidance documents and is free to download.

Grinding aids and strength enhancers are well known for their ability to increase cement mill productivity, and the mechanical strength of mortar and concrete. However, little information is available on the potential drawbacks of their usage. To close the gap, Sika Services addresses the possible impacts on health and safety and the environment, and on cement properties in production and use.

The task of wood floor adhesives is to firmly bond the organic wood floor elements to the generally inorganic screed. The adhesive must hold the wood in place, connect it to the underlying screed and transfer stress originating from the natural expansion and contraction of the wood to the generally rigid screed. The undesired but natural movement of the wood can become visible in cupping, joint formation, or in extreme situations failure of the adhesive or screed.

If the screed is even, strong and dry enough, then only mechanical surface preparation such as grinding and cleaning is required, before wood floor bonding is possible. However there are many situations where the existing or even new screeds are not suitable, and additional treatment is necessary before wood flooring can be installed. Sika has developed complete balanced system solutions for all of the different possibilities that may be found in these situations.

A well-crafted color palette can do wonders for a healthcare facility. The use of color and graphic images can align to the existing logo and symbolic color of the facility to achieve an overall visual aesthetic, while it can also elicit emotions and unique perceptions of space. It has an ability to calm or excite, can make a room appear smaller or more grandiose, or even trigger subconscious reactions. Color is the most vital, impactful and expressive design element in a designer’s toolbox.

Cool roofs are typically covered with white membrane or reflective coating which reflects sunlight. Their energy efficiency can be measured with three main indicators: solar reflectance, thermal emittance and solar reflectance index.

Many urban and suburban areas have higher temperatures than their rural surroundings. This temperature difference indicates that they are urban heat islands. The annual mean air temperature in a city of a million or more people can easily be 1 to 4°C warmer than in the rural surroundings. On a clear, calm night the difference can measure even 12°C or more. The main cause of urban heat island effect is the modification of the land surface in cities. Natural vegetation is replaced by the built environment. Most surfaces of new structures are characterized by low solar reflectance and high impermeability. Additionally, they are often built with high-density materials which absorb great amounts of thermal energy and release it as heat.

Watch a Series of Videos Showing How to Build Sika Tile Setting Systems

Passive fire protection is a vital component of any fire safety strategy for buildings. Built into the structure, it safeguards people’s lives and limit the financial impact of damage to buildings and their contents. Sika provides comprehensive solutions for fire resistant constructions such as tunnels, commercial and residential buildings and steel structures especially. Fire resistant coatings for load bearing structures enable to build secure buildings.

A prerequisite for a sustainable and beautiful wood floor is a strong and dry screed. Therefore this screed has to be carefully accessed. The first source of information is the architect, engineer, or main contractor who will have all of the information about the build-up and nature of the floor. The second source is the screed contractor who can provide the screed details and if appropriate, any subfloor heating protocols. If, as so often in renovation projects most of this information is not available, there are a few simple methods that can be used to evaluate the screed.

Sika provides comprehensive solutions where fire resistant construction is required such as commercial, public and residential buildings, steel structures and others. Fire resistant sealants, fillers and backing materials for linear seals as well as solutions for penetration seals enable safer buildings and infrastructure to be built. Passive fire protection applications for compartmentations can be divided into the following three main groups: linear joint seals, cavity barriers, penetration seals.

Leaks in concrete, masonry and natural stone structures can often be securely sealed and waterproofed by injection. However, to make leaking structures watertight for the long term, it’s essential to select the right injection material. On the basis of our extensive technical and practical experience, we have prepared a guide which will help you choose the optimal injection solution for your project requirements.