Author: Form and Build Admin

It is not a surprise to anyone that supply chains globally have been an issue since the beginning of the pandemic. Industries everywhere around the world have faced numerous additional challenges in managing supply chains and combatting the increased demand while having less supply on hand. We have not been exempt from these. However, Form & Build has taken these challenges head on and have taken all the steps possible to ensure that we are the most equipped to deal with the issues.

What Happened?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a variety of supply chain issues. Now, what has caused these issues? When the pandemic first began, citizens globally (we’ll focus on Canada) stopped buying many goods in store locally. There are various reasons for this. One being that many local stores were shut down during the pandemic and could not be open for business to the public, while another reason is that many citizens did not want to leave their house if they didn’t have to, because again, a global pandemic was happening and there was a virus spreading rapidly throughout the world, and people simply didn’t want to take their chances.

Effect on the Supply Chain

There was a drastically significant increase in online spending, with the majority of the purchases happening from manufacturers and businesses overseas. One example of the issues faced would be that ordering from overseas now takes around 75 days, while that number used to be halved. Paired with the many new rules and regulations for businesses globally that were COVID driven, these businesses were manufacturing and shipping out more than ever before, and at a slower rate than before. This created massive log jams for every industry, and definitely the construction materials industry. Even manufacturers based in Canada, selling in Canada, faced “log jams” because of the increased demand and slower rate of shipping out. Paired with the large decrease in the workforce in Canada, again slowing down the production in various industries. This has never really settled down, and many people have found that ordering online is now simply the way to go. This has been a definite cause of the “log jams” going on with supply chains. An unfortunate side effect of this has been that prices were required to go up to combat the increased cost from manufacturers, due to less supply being created.

What We Have Done

Form & Build has taken every measure to ensure we are working as efficiently with the supply chain woes as possible. We have taken the steps to get as much inventory as we can right now, currently meaning our inventory supply is very high with many products. There are still some products with longer wait times than others. For best results for large orders, please order them at your earliest availability. Please reach out to a sales representative, and they will work diligently with you to ensure that we can all succeed in ordering in a timely manner. One important thing to note is for larger orders such as forms, the sooner you order the higher there is a chance its ready for you in the spring. One optimistic point on the supply chain woes is that inventory management precision is at an all time high. We can ensure you that there will be no issues at all when it comes to inventory mismanagement, not that there were any before.

Continuing with the previous post’s theme, the winter season is upon us! Meaning we are in the fall season as we speak. Many love the fall season and it is easily seen why. The leaves changing, the many holidays celebrated, and the happy feeling that it still is not winter. Speaking of winter, there are many pros and cons to the winter season. One major con being the harsh Southern Ontario winter weather’s effect on driveways. As a homeowner, there’s a good chance that you have some sense of pride when it comes to your driveway, and rightfully so. We have you covered because today we’re discussing why fall is the ideal time to seal your driveway to protect it from the inevitable crazy winter weather that is incoming.

Winters Effect on Your Driveway

With every Southern Ontario winter, you’re going to be dealing with snow, ice, hail, rain, and freezing temperatures; all of this can be harmful to the well-being of your driveway. These weather conditions can lead to water seeping into the small cracks in your driveway, which will then expand and contract, damaging the driveway. This creates large cracks in the driveway meaning you will have to repair it come the springtime, and on top of that, it’s a definite eye sore. This will cost money in repairs as well as the labour involved, however, there are preventative measures that can be taken to severely lessen any chance of this happening to your driveway. The best measure that can be taken is without a doubt, sealing your driveway. Now, this is a very tough task to pull off in the winter, and often times when attempted, the job is not well done, and you do not receive the protection that your driveway needs. You’re going to spend the money on a sealer and will put in the work (most likely), so the job should at least be done right. The question is then “so when is the right time to seal your driveway?”, in which the answer is simple, that being the fall season.

Why Seal Your Driveway in the Fall

The fall season is a perfect time to seal your driveway and there are many reasons why that make it the ideal time. One is that the fall temperatures are the optimal temperature for sealing. This is because it is not incredibly hot like the summer temperatures, and not incredibly cold like the winter temperatures. Both weather extreme’s make for less effective sealing to take place, in some cases rendering it completely ineffective. With cool consistent temperatures for the most part, fall is the perfect season for driveway sealing. Having the temperature be more consistent is a major factor in the effectiveness of your driveway being sealed. The sporadic weather ranges that the winter and summer seasons have make driveway sealing incredibly tough to do effectively. In a perfect driveway sealing world, the temperature would never change for the duration of the sealing, which would ensure maximum protection for the longest period of time. One last major reason why the fall season is the perfect time to seal your driveway is that the weather overall is dry relative to the other seasons. As outlined earlier, the weather conditions that provide moisture are the ones most harmful to your driveway, and the same is applied when you’re in the process of sealing your driveway. The liquid that comes into contact with your driveway makes the sealing less effective and shortens its life span, by preventing the sealer from doing its job. Fall has the odd rainfall but for the most part, it’s a dry season so there are many opportunities for the sealing process to be done perfectly, ensuring maximum protection and duration.

Where Can You Find Some Effective Sealers

Why at Form and Build of course! We have a wide variety of products that can seal your driveway, and given your newfound knowledge on the subject, ensure that the sealing is effective too. Do you have exposed concrete? What about exposed aggregate? Then we’d definitely recommend the W.R. Meadows Expo-Gloss. This sealer is recommended for exposed aggregate and concrete, and is a transparent, high solids, film-forming, curing, sealing, and dust-proofing compound that improves resistance to staining and wear. It will enhance the beauty of natural stone in exposed aggregate concrete, while providing maximum surface protection, and when finished it provides a glossy-wet look. Is your driveway a stamped concrete driveway? Then look no further than the Formex Decorative Concrete Sealer. It is a non-yellowing, acrylic-based, high solids, liquid curing and sealing compound for decorative concrete. It is clear, transparent, and easy-to-apply while offering improved resistance to water, alkalis, mild acids, and petroleum spirits. It has been formulated to seal and protect decorative coloured concrete by producing a hard, breathable, clear film. Both of these amazing products are available at Form and Build, and you can look more into them by clicking the links, by visiting www.formandbuild.com, or by giving us a call and speaking with a sales representative.

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The winter season is upon us, meaning the well-being of concrete jobs is on everyone’s mind. What waterproofing measures have you used to combat the harsh Southern Ontario winter’s effect on concrete? Hopefully one that is incredibly durable. This means there is no better time to discuss the wonderful product that is the Kryton Krystal Internal Membrane, frequently known simply as KIM.

What is KIM and What Makes it Different?

Kryton’s Krystal Internal Membrane (KIM) is a hydrophilic crystalline admixture used for essentially permanently waterproofing concrete. KIM is not your regular admixture, it is a crystalline admixture, meaning it provides improved concrete durability while also stimulating the healing of cracks in concrete.

How Does KIM work?

The specific Crystalline materials used, in principle, work so that the chemical components chemically react with a cementitious matrix in the process of hydration. When added to concrete, KIM chemically reacts with water and un-hydrated cement particles to form insoluble needle-shaped crystals that fill capillary pores and micro-cracks in the concrete and block the pathways for water and waterborne contaminants. Any moisture introduced over the lifespan of the concrete will initiate crystallization, ensuring permanent waterproofing protection. For more information on the science involved with KIM visit https://www.kryton.com/technical-info/technical-data-sheets/TDS-Krystol-Internal-Membrane-KIM.pdf. The product simply works and is one of our most popular items because of this. It is no surprise that KIM was the winner of the Most Innovative Product Award at World of Concrete in 2003. See here at https://www.kryton.com/media-releases/2003/03/13/kim-admixture-wins-most-innovative/.

Why Use KIM?

KIM provides an incredible added value for your concrete, as an admixture because the protection of buildings against subsurface water and moisture is one of the most frequent jobs. These jobs are incredibly common and definitely add up in money spent on products as well as the labour involved, and as everyone knows, repeating jobs is never a good option financially. KIM eliminates these problems from the start. KIM comes at a slightly higher price-tag than other admixtures for this reason, however, the worth is definitely evident. KIM removes the process of frequently repairing water and moisture damage to concrete/buildings giving you the freedom to not worry about having to repair jobs in the near future and focus can be shifted elsewhere.

When Should KIM Be Used?

KIM has been recommended for jobs such as:

– Below grade parking

– Basements

– Sewage plants

– Swimming pools

– Dams

– Foundation walls (See example here: https://formandbuild.com/projects/effort-trust-kryton-kim/)

– Footings

– Slabs

– Pits (See example here: https://formandbuild.com/projects/press-pit/) 

– Water containment tanks

– Canals

– Another example: https://formandbuild.com/projects/waterloo-memorial-recreation-complex/

Closing Thoughts

In the end, money is definitely saved by having a product that vastly improves the lifetime durability of projects undertaken. Everyone likes a job well done, and KIM provides exactly that, with long-standing use creating nothing but pleased customers and happy workers. There is no wonder why many are switching from traditional admixtures to the Kryton Krystal Internal Membrane. Make sure to get yourself a bag (or more) by getting a quote online at our website www.formandbuild.com or by calling today and speaking with a sales representative.

January 14, 2021

With the latest lockdown measures instituted in the province of Ontario, the team at Form & Build Supply would like to provide some guidance on our operations. Form & Build supplies construction materials to a number of the sectors in the construction industry deemed essential by the government. Therefore, we will continue to accept and fulfill orders throughout the duration of the lockdown. To ensure that our employees and customers remain safe, we ask our customers to abide by the following rules:

Ordering:

• Currently, we will remain open to fulfill orders. However, all our showrooms will be closed.
• To place an order, please call or email your local branch at the contact information at the bottom of this advisory. If ordering by email, please specify your anticipated pick-up date and time or whether you are placing an order for delivery.

Payment:

• If you have an account with Form and Build, you can apply your order against your available credit as normal.
• Credit card payments can be processed over the phone.

Order Fulfillment:

• For pick-up orders, please pull your vehicle to the yard/warehouse entrance at the branch. Our staff will load your vehicle with your order. Please stay inside your vehicle during this process. No signatures will be required at this time. We will take a picture of the order and write the receiving customers name on the packing slip.
• For delivery orders, our drivers will comply with all job-site specific precautions.
  o If the customer is able to unload the delivered merchandise, our drivers will not leave their truck during this process. Once unloaded, they will take a picture of the delivered order and write the receiving customer’s name on the delivery slip. This will then be emailed to the customer.
  o If you require our driver to unload the order, please have your staff vacate the area in which the unloading is to occur. Our driver will then take a picture of the delivered order and write the receiving customer’s name on the delivery slip. This will then be emailed to the customer.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding and please feel free to reach out to your local branch if you have any other questions.

Stay safe.

Mississauga: ordertoronto@formandbuild.com 1-800-563-2285
Kitchener: orderkitchener@formandbuild.com 1-800-265-8963
London: orderlondon@formandbuild.com 1-800-265-1075
Hamilton: orderhamilton@formandbuild.com 1-866-603-4480
Windsor: orderwindsor@formandbuild.com 1-800-451-5516

If you have ever driven under the elevated portions of the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto, you probably noticed the litany of rust stains and exposed rebar visible on many of the expressway’s concrete support columns. These are the product of a structurally damaging process called corrosion.

Corrosion occurs when chlorides – primarily from de-icing salts in colder climates – penetrate concrete and reach the steel reinforcement causing it to rust. The volume of rust exceeds that of steel and over time, causes the surrounding concrete to crack and become damaged.

The safety implications of this process are apparent. You can google ‘concrete falls from Gardiner’ and find stories about chunks of concrete breaking off and falling on the roadways below. It’s easy to understand that this continuing deterioration is slowly compromising the integrity of the structure. To combat this problem, the City of Toronto has allocated $2.2 billion to fund the elevated expressway’s repair cycle over the next 10 years. This means that this cycle of repairs will cost 20 times what it cost to actually build the Gardiner in the first place.

So if corrosion jeopardizes safety, deteriorates structural integrity, and costs structure owners exorbitant repair costs, what is the solution?

Old Solutions versus New

For years, Calcium Nitrite-based admixtures have been the conventional concrete additive to accomplish this function. However, Calcium Nitrates have numerous drawbacks that forming contractors, ready-mix plants, and owners have worked around due to the simple fact that no viable alternative existed.

Here at Form and Build Supply, we constantly search for new, innovative products to bring to market. Products that perform better and solve problems. We’re proud to say that when it comes to corrosion-inhibiting technology we have found a superior alternative to Calcium Nitrites in the form of Cortec MCI® 2005 NS. This admixture product is integrated into concrete during the mixing stage and works to protect the embedded rebar from corrosive elements.

MCI® stands simply for Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors. This patented technology is incorporated into many of Cortec’s products and works by migrating through the concrete. When MCI® comes in contact with the embedded reinforcing steel, it has an ionic attraction and forms a protective molecular barrier around the steel. This barrier prevents corrosive elements from attacking the steel and greatly extends the concrete service life (see video for visual depiction of this process). Studies show that MCI® treated concretes have a corrosion rate that is 5 times lower than that of untreated concrete.

Benefits of Cortec MCI® 2005 NS versus Traditional Calcium Nitrites

For Calcium Nitrites to be effective, they require a large dosage rate to the concrete. This large dosage rate along with the nature of the product itself creates a number of problems for not only structure owners but concrete contractors as well. MCI® 2005 NS is the best solution to overcoming these challenges as illustrated below.

1. Calcium Nitrites are Accelerators, Lower Air Content, and Increase Shrinkage Cracking: Due to their exceptionally high-dosage rates, Calcium Nitrites adversely affect concrete’s physical properties. Setting acceleration is one of these drawbacks and greatly reduces the amount of working time of the concrete. Forming contractors often experience quick or flash sets when using Calcium Nitrite dosed concrete in warmer weather. Calcium Nitrites also lower the air content in concrete which ultimately affects its durability. To offset these challenges, one must spend more money to add retarder and air-entrainment agents into the concrete mix. Additionally, Calcium Nitrates cause more concrete shrinkage which results in more cracking. This necessitates repairs on brand new structures. These headaches are avoided by simply switching to Cortec’s MCI® 2005 NS. It provides enhanced corrosion protection without affecting the set time or air content of your concrete.
   
2. Calcium Nitrites require High Dosage Rates: For Calcium Nitrates to be effective they must be dosed at a substantially higher rate than Cortec MCI® 2005 NS. A lot of specifications provide for a Calcium Nitrate dosage rate of between 10 to 30 L/m3. In Ontario, there is a need for higher dose of Calcium Nitrites due to the above average presence of corrosive agents in the environment and extensive use of deicing salts in the winter. The higher dosage rate exacerbates problems previously mentioned. Cortec MCI® 2005 NS – on the other hand – is effective at a dosage rate as low as 1 L/m3 making it both more practical and cost effective.
   
3. Calcium Nitrites Provide Inferior Long-Term Protection: MCI® stands for Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor. This describes how Cortec’s MCI® 2005 NS works. Its particles ‘migrate’ through the concrete structure and form a protective shield around concrete-embedded rebar. This shield protects the rebar from contaminants and reduces the corrosion rate by as much as 5 times versus untreated concrete. This ultimately extends the service life of the structure and reduces the number of required concrete repair cycles due to corrosion.

Already Enhancing Structures Worldwide

While MCI® 2005 NS and indeed, Cortec’s entire MCI®line of products are relatively new to the Ontario construction market, these products have been used in a number of high-profile jobs internationally. For instance, MCI® 2005 NS was used most notably in the podium substructure of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – the tallest building in the world. The product was also used for a similar application in the Princess Towers also in Dubai.

MCI® 2005 NS’s use in this application represented 0.07% of the overall construction cost but effectively doubled the service life of the structure.
But the MCI® product line is effective in applications beyond towers and skyscrapers. Any civil application where the structural integrity of a concrete structure is vital can benefit from the use of the MCI® products. The Severn Bridge in the United Kingdom and the Cochrane Bridge in Alabama are two examples of where MCI® products were incorporated to protect the steel post-tensioned cables from corrosion.

Conclusion

Cortec’s line of MCI® products offer numerous benefits for anyone designing and building concrete structures. We’re proud at Form and Build to be the exclusive Ontario distributor for these products and look forward to talking with Engineers, structure owners, and concrete contractors about how this product line can enhance their structures and extend their service life.

To that end, we welcome anyone to reach out to us to schedule a lunch and learn or product demo. Please click here and enter your information and we will happily reach out to schedule a time to further discuss the benefits of our Cortec MCI® product line.

To our valued customers,
In our efforts to help protect yourselves and our employees amidst the COVID-19 situation, we are implementing the following protocols effective 10 am, March 24. We expect the Government of Ontario to release a list of businesses permitted to operate during the shut-down period. Once we have reviewed this list, we will adjust our plans to ensure we comply with province’s efforts to fight the virus.
Ordering:

• Currently, we will remain open to fulfill orders. However, our showroom will be closed to practice and encourage social distancing. NOBODY will be permitted in our showrooms other than staff until further notice.
• To place an order, please call or email your local branch at the contact information at the bottom of this advisory. If ordering by email, please specify your anticipated pick-up date and time or whether you are placing an order for delivery.
  Payment:
• If you have an account with Form and Build, you can apply your order against your available credit as normal.
• NO debit or cash will be accepted until further notice.
• Credit card payments can be processed over the phone.
  Order Fulfillment:
• For pick-up orders, please pull your vehicle to the yard/warehouse entrance at the branch. Our staff will load your vehicle with your order. Please stay inside your vehicle during this process. No signatures will be required at this time. We will take a picture of the order and write the receiving customers name on the packing slip.
• For delivery orders, our drivers will comply with all job-site specific precautions.
  o If the customer is able to unload the delivered merchandise, our drivers will not leave their truck during this process. Once unloaded, they will take a picture of the delivered order and write the receiving customer’s name on the delivery slip. This will then be emailed to the customer.
  o If you require our driver to unload the order, please have your staff vacate the area in which the unloading is to occur. Our driver will then take a picture of the delivered order and write the receiving customer’s name on the delivery slip. This will then be emailed to the customer.
  We appreciate your patience and understanding in this time of uncertainty. We endeavor to continue to provide exceptional service to you while keeping our staff safe and complying with all government issued directives and guidelines.
  If you have any questions, please contact your local branch.
  Thank you.

March 18, 2020

To our valued customers,

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to assure you that we are taking the necessary precautions to keep our staff and customers safe while continuing to serve you. Currently, in accordance with Premier Doug Ford’s statement today, all Form and Build locations remain open and are adhering to our standard hours.
Please understand that the health and safety of our staff and yourselves are our highest priority. For this reason, we have taken the following steps in an effort to do our part to help mitigate the spread of this virus:

1. Our employees have been instructed to employ the oft-cited common sense tactics to avoid virus transmission. This includes avoiding shaking hands, maintaining social distance, frequent hand-washing, and coughing and sneezing into their sleeves.
2. We have redoubled our efforts to clean and sanitize our showrooms and offices. All locations are using an anti-bacterial solution to wipe down all high traffic areas including order desks, shelves, and office desks multiple times each day.
3. We have made accommodations for any and all employees that are required to self-isolate. Our management staff has been instructed to immediately send home any employees exhibiting symptoms or who have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
4. We have required all travelling and outside sales staff to work remotely and avoid in-person meetings. Management has also identified other support functions that can be performed remotely and are currently putting in a plan to realize that remote work.
5. Our management team has inquired our staff about any recent international trips. Based on the current guidelines, those who have recently returned from international travel have been asked to self-isolate.
   Please also note at this time that our inventory levels are robust and we are working with our supply chain to mitigate any disruptions. We endeavor to do all that we can to ensure we deliver the same quality service you’ve come to expect from us while keeping our staff and customers safe.
   As you can appreciate, this is a developing situation. We will continue to follow the most up-to-date guidelines and directives of our government and health officials. We currently remain open and will advise you if that changes.
   Thank you for your understanding.
   Sincerely,

William Ross
General Manager, Form and Build Supply Inc.