TOPCOR has the capability to provide our clients with acid brick and tile. Often called “the Cadillac of floors,” acid brick and tile have been utilized by industry when a high degree of performance and longevity is required that far surpasses the capabilities of monolithic lining systems
Although acid brick and tile are the most costly of the floor systems, no other system will outperform a properly designed and installed acid brick system.
The advantages of acid brick and tile include:
- excellent resistance to severe and harsh chemicals
- superior thermal shock resistance,
- durability against impact and abrasion and
- pleasing aesthetics.
The disadvantages would include:
- slow installation process,
- increased dead load when weight is a factor and
- higher initial cost.
There are actually two distinct types of brick and tile systems. They include direct bond and brick and membrane. Direct bond is when the brick is bonded directly to the substrate. Direct bond floors are most commonly used in food preparation areas with high floor loading requirements. Brick and membrane is where the brick is installed over a chemically resistant impervious membrane. Brick and membrane systems are most commonly utilized in chemical plants where containment is the biggest issue.
In general, brick floors are characterized by bricks with a thickness of 2 ¼ inch while pavers are generally considered to be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches thick and tile are usually less than 1 inch thick.
In the majority of brick and membrane systems, the brick serves as the wearing surface and protection for the membrane. The membrane provides the chemical resistance and waterproofing characteristics.
Just like the shapes and sizes of brick and tile, membranes come in a large variety. The most common would be the asphalt membrane which is composed of an asphalt primer, one layer of hot melt asphalt, fiberglass cloth and a final layer of hot melt asphalt. Other types of membranes would include furan laminates, asphalt/urethane roll on systems, and even mylar sheet membranes.
Mortars vary depending on application. There are probably 50 or better makes and types of polymer mortars of which the majority fit into five categories; epoxies, furans, phenolics, vinyl esters and silicates.
TOPCOR is affiliated with most of the quality producers of acid brick floor system producers of both mortars and membranes.
TOPCOR representatives can help you decide the right system for your industry.
