Task at Hand
Quality Block is a leading Concrete Masonry Unit manufacturer designing and building various types of concrete blocks — construction, fence, and decorative blocks — in a full range of designs and colors with unique texture and appearance, with an indoor showroom for contractors, home builders, and their clients.
Consistent color and texture is a must for both display and final products. Quality Block was facing multiple issues with block quality, requiring a redesigned mix and an admixture providing an appealing texture while minimizing corner cracking and improving ultimate strength.
KingKrete Solution
A premium-quality plasticizing admixture based on polycarboxylic polymers with selective additives, specially formulated for machine-made (dry-cast) concrete products — designed to significantly assist in producing more uniform and consistent quality.
Achieving the optimal slump, workability, and setting time for casting blocks requires careful selection of plasticizing admixtures. After adding KingMix 505ES to the block mix design, an improved surface-profile finish was noted in blocks of all sizes while using less manufactured sand — contractors using the new blocks on a large municipal project commented that the block was noticeably smoother.
- »Cement reduced by 15 lbs per yard while compressive strength increased by around 70% versus the former mix design.
- »Reduced corner cracking and stress cracking when strapping blocks down for transport.
- »Enabled a more cost-effective sand source — river sand from Quality Block’s own quarry.
- »Same-day shipping after kiln removal, when necessary.