Hydrobloc: An Adequate Roof Sealant from Mud

Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Mud, is indeed very abundant not just here in the Philippines but also all over the world. It can be anywhere to be found, just wet the soil and here it is the mud. When it is raining, mud is more available, it is all over the place and once you step on the ground full of mud, it is so dirty! But besides its dirty characteristics, it is very useful in the construction industry. Mud as we know, is just everywhere to be found but we dont know its useful benefits. We can use the mud as extenders for the cement or be the cement itself. We can test its validity just by looking at the Great Wall of China or on our very own Banaue Rice Terraces. They were made during those primitive times but they are still standing until today. So, we can conclude from there, that mud is sufficient and effective. Mud can be used as a roof sealant also based on the study of Ms. Nicka Gracia that we have read. As for this research, we havent read yet much more about roof sealant making but as we go on, we are sure that we can discover a product (roof sealant) that will be very effective from the mud. Several studies have been made on creating roof sealants but all of them cost a lot, unaffordable and expensive. This study, however, is the first of its kind to develop a product that is cheap but very useful and effective. A brief review of related studies presented hereunder:

Hydrobloc: An Adequate Roof Sealant from Mud

In the construction industry, mud refers to a fluid material used to coat or adhere together items that dries hard such as plaster, stucco, concrete or other similar substances. Mud that is mostly clay, or a mixture of clay and sand may be used for ceramics, of which one form is the common fired brick, or dried with the inclusion of straw reinforcing to form an unfired adobe brick. Adobe walls are frequently finished with a mud plaster, seen at right. Such buildings must be protected from groundwater, usually by building upon a masonry, fired brick, rock or rubble foundation, and also from wind-driven rain in damp climates, usually by deep roof overhangs. In extremely dry climates a well drained flat roof may be protected with a well-prepared and properly maintained dried mud coating, viable as the mud will expand when moistened and so become more water resistant. In ceramics, the making of liquid mud (called slip) is a stage in the process of refinement of the materials, since larger particles will settle from the liquid. Mud is similar to muck, but lacking significant quantities of humus, and often containing higher proportions of sand. (Source: http://www.cookadvice.com/recipes/magic_mud-36597-recipe.htm) No matter what the application, a corking sealant has three basic functions. 1. 2. It fills a gap between two or more substrates. It forms a barrier through the physical properties of the sealant itself

and by adhesion to the substrate.

Hydrobloc: An Adequate Roof Sealant from Mud

3.

It maintains sealing properties for the expected lifetime, service

conditions and environments. The sealant performs these functions by way of correct formulation to achieve specific application and performance properties. Unlike adhesives, however, there are not many functional alternatives to the sealing process. Soldering or welding can perhaps be used as a sealant in certain instances, depending on the substrates and the relative movement that the substrates will see in service. However, the simplicity and reliability offered by organic elastomers usually make them the clear choice for performing these functions. Silicone is an example of a sealant. (Source: http://www.chirienterprise.com/Roof-It/Roof-It.html) Roof sealant is a product which can be applied to roofs to seal them against the weather. This product is commonly used on flat roofs, because standing water on the roof can eventually lead to leaks during the

winter. Roof sealants for sloped roofs are also available, along with specialty products which are designed to go with roofing products such as shingles. Using aroof sealant can extend the life of a roof and confer other benefits. On a roof which is designed to be used with a sealant product, periodic reapplications of roof sealant will protect the roof. The sealant can prevent leaks in addition to minimizing damage caused by UV exposure. Being in the hot sun can cause a roof to bleach, crack, or develop other problems which may manifest during the rainy months. Roof sealants can also improve efficiency; just applying a white coating to a roof can cut down on heating costs substantially, in addition

Hydrobloc: An Adequate Roof Sealant from Mud

to making the surrounding environment cool. In urban areas, people are sometimes encouraged to use white or light roofing materials to bring temperatures down. When selecting a roof sealant, it is important to choose a product which will be safe for use on a given roof. If people are not sure about whether sealant is appropriate or which product to use, they should consult a contractor or experienced roofing advisor at a home supply store. It is also a good idea to buy all of the needed sealant at once, as this will make it more likely that the sealant came from the same batch and is therefore consistent. Many hardware stores have very forgiving return policies, so it's ok to buy a few extra containers and return them if they are not needed. Roof sealants should not be applied to roofs which need repair. Sealant enough cannot resolve problems such as major leaks, missing shingles, and so forth. The roof should also be cleaned before the sealant is applied, and it helps to apply the sealant on a cool, dry day. Roof sealants get messy, and many people find that it helps to wear overalls or old clothing so that they do not need to worry about spills. Shoes can be covered to protect them from spilled or sloppedsealant. (Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-roof-sealant.htm)