16 on Bree Street - Sika South Africa

August 17, 2021  695  695   

16 on Bree is a structure of high-quality build, so Sika South Africa was honoured to be appointed as the product supplier to its revamp and protection project. Having a limited time frame to complete the task, it was started on the 23 October 2019, and completed by the end of February 2021. Concor, the main contractor, together with subcontractors, Skysite, and engineers Aurecon/Ekcon, coordinated efforts to ensure a well-planned and executed project. Simon Hareb of Skysite, played a critical role in the quality control and application of Sikagard®-550 W Elastic.

The aim of the main project was to give the building façade a raw concrete look - known as off-shutter concrete, which is suited to modern contemporary design – whilst still providing an aesthetic protective coating for durability purposes. To achieve this, and to ensure the off-shutter remains in good condition year-round, required a crack-bridging and concrete repair strategy, along with structural strengthening.   

Crack Bridging

As exposure to the outdoor elements can lead to a high risk of concrete cracking, a crack-bridging protective coating was applied, in conjunction with the Sika concrete repair system. Sikagard®- 550 W Elastic not only offers weathering protection but also caters for the aesthetic enhancement to the concrete structures, as per the project spec requirements. To begin with, Sikagard®-550 W Primer was applied evenly onto the concrete, and after a 5-hour drying period, was followed by an application of Sikagard®-550 W Elastic. This process was repeated two to three times, with an 8-hour waiting period between each coat. The project utilised 800 litres of primer and a total of 4880 litres Sikagard®-550 W Elastic. In the endeavour for continued perfection, a wide range of RAL colour samples were supplied with over 10 RAL colour requests submitted. Finally, with credit to Sika’s technical manager, Wayne Smithers, the ideal colours were selected, and the desired finish of the building was achieved.

Concrete Repair

A range of Sika MonoTop® mortars were used to repair damaged concrete, which also served to give the building a refined, new look. This range, based on their application thickness specifications, allowed for strategic application on different areas of the building, both indoors and out. Needing only water to be added prior to use, a benefit of Sika’s mortars is that they are all compatible, thus facilitating the varying circumstances. Areas that required extensive repairs, were treated with Sika MonoTop®-615 HB, a high build repair and reprofiling mortar. It is designed for thick layer concrete repairs, especially for overhead and vertical applications. Its excellent workability and adjustable consistency make it a very easy to use the product. For the minor defects, such as restoring edges and joints, Sika MonoTop®-620 was used. Sika MonoTop®-610, a bonding primer, was applied for protection against corrosion, and finally, Sikagard®-550 W Elastic was over-coated on all the MonoTop® products to ensure no future cracks occur.  

Structural strengthening

When an existing concrete structure deteriorates, or alteration to the structure is made, due diligence must be given to structural strengthening. The durability of the building can be better-ensured post-repair, such was the case on this project. Parts of the building, like the lift shafts and machine base plates, required recasting with Sika’s high strength grout, SikaGrout®-212. For the actual structural strengthening, Sika® CarboDur® S-512 carbon fibre plates were bonded onto the external structure using Sikadur®-30 epoxy as its structural adhesive. Sika® CarboDur® S-512 carbon fibre plates are non-corroding, has a tensile strength of 10 times that of mild steel, all of which will ensure the building to stand the test of time.

As with any project, this one was not free of challenges. Two key factors to deal with were the high moisture content, and the Covid-19 lockdown delays, implemented in March 2020. However, delay does not equate to denial, so the project was still completed in good time. Anthony Webster, Sika’s technical sales consultant, was responsible for this project and he exceeded the call of duty. By communicating constantly with Sika’s clients, and providing regular on-site training, he ensured a high calibre of customer service to back the products.

Sika has more than 100 years of experience on both large and small concrete projects, all over the world. With our wide range of innovative and job-specific products, and a dedicated team to back them, this project was not too difficult to execute. This combination of experience, product, and support, simply elevates Sika above the rest, as the go-to supplier. The heritage value of this building façade at 16 on Bree Street was retained, and it blends seamlessly with its surrounds. Any visitor to Cape Town would not be disappointed with a quick stop to admire 16 on Bree.  

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SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 100 countries around the world and manufactures in over 300 factories. Its 25,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 7.88 billion in 2020.