ACW, Inc.
Our Services
Our suite of services is not just a representation of the work we provide to our clients but a reflection of the years we have spent practicing and perfecting our trade. We simplify and streamline the construction process by offering sustainable solutions that perform, services that quantify sustainability, and knowledgeable partners to help solve our customers’ challenges.
Air
Barriers
Commercial Caulking & Waterproofing
Concrete & Masonry Repair
Floor & Deck
Coating
24-hour Leak Remediation
Leaders in Waterproofing
& Restoration
Our qualified technicians have been providing commercial & residential waterproofing and restoration solutions in the greater Baltimore and Washington D.C. metropolitan area since 2002.
We know that all waterproofing & restoration projects require a high level of expertise, innovative solutions, and attention to detail.
We consider ourselves to be craftsmen, and as such, we strive to perform the highest quality installations we can achieve.
Commercial Waterproofing Services
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Our commercial waterproofing services include a variety of professional waterproofing services, which our commercial clients expect from a professional commercial waterproofing company.
We provide competitive pricing and superior workmanship warranties that have helped our commercial waterproofing business grow over the years to one of the most trusted commercial waterproofing businesses in the city.
Our experience and commercial waterproofing service offerings have permitted us to be one of the trusted commercial waterproofing companies of choice for some of the most prestigious clients in our region.
We can perform a variety of exterior commercial waterproofing services such as removing and replacing control joint caulking on a building or removing old failed gaskets and replacing with wet glazing caulking. We can also install breathable elastomeric coatings to a building's surfaces that will be esthetically pleasing to the eye as well as a durable barrier against the weathering elements.
COVID Notice
During this time, ACW Inc. is classified as an essential service and we remain open for business. We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our team and our customers:
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Inspections are free and 100% non-contact
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Exterior, crawl space, and attic services are all contactless
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Interior services and inspections are optional and available upon request, following social distancing best practices
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Our technicians are trained to carry and use all necessary safety equipment, including masks and gloves
Waterproofing and Corrosion Protection Systems.
ACW, Inc. understands that each water containment application comes with its own unique set of challenges, whether it be access or location, the size of the project or installation restrictions ACW, Inc. has a system designed to meet those requirements.
Typical applications include water features, reflecting pools, retention vaults, primary and secondary containment. Qontain speeds up the construction program, and requires no protection. Its instant setting, spray membrane allows for seamless protection. Qontain is VOC compliant and has no odor.
Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings
Inappropriate cleaning and coating treatments are a major cause of damage to historic masonry buildings. While either or both treatments may be appropriate in some cases, they can be very destructive to historic masonry if they are not selected carefully. Historic masonry, as considered here, includes stone, brick, architectural terra cotta, cast stone, concrete and concrete block. Cleaning is often followed by the application of a water-repellent coating.
Reasons for Cleaning
First, it is important to determine whether it is appropriate to clean the masonry. The objective of cleaning a historic masonry building must be considered carefully before arriving at a decision to clean. There are several major reasons for cleaning a historic masonry building: improve the appearance of the building by removing unattractive dirt or soiling materials, or non-historic paint from the masonry; retard deterioration by removing soiling materials that may be damaging the masonry; or provide a clean surface to accurately match repointing mortars or patching compounds, or to conduct a condition survey of the masonry.
Identify What is to be Removed
The general nature and source of dirt or soiling material on a building must be identified to remove it in the gentlest means possible--that is, in the most effective, yet least harmful, manner. Soot and smoke, for example, require a different cleaning agent to remove than oil stains or metallic stains. Other common cleaning problems include biological growth such as mold or mildew, and organic matter such as the tendrils left on masonry after removal of ivy.
Consider the Historic Appearance of the Building
If the proposed cleaning is to remove paint, it is important in each case to learn whether or not unpainted masonry is historically appropriate. And, it is necessary to consider why the building was painted. Was it to cover bad repointing or unmatched repairs? Was the building painted to protect soft brick or to conceal deteriorating stone? Or, was painted masonry simply a fashionable treatment in a particular historic period? Many buildings were painted at the time of construction or shortly thereafter; retention of the paint, therefore, may be more appropriate historically than removing it. And, if the building appears to have been painted for a long time, it is also important to think about whether the paint is part of the character of the historic building and if it has acquired significance over time.
Consider the Practicalities of Cleaning or Paint Removal
Some gypsum or sulfate crusts may have become integral with the stone and, if cleaning could result in removing some of the stone surface, it may be preferable not to clean. Even where unpainted masonry is appropriate, the retention of the paint may be more practical than removal in terms of long range preservation of the masonry. In some cases, however, removal of the paint may be desirable. For example, the old paint layers may have built up to such an extent that removal is necessary to ensure a sound surface to which the new paint will adhere.
Study the Masonry
Although not always necessary, in some instances it can be beneficial to have the coating or paint type, color, and layering on the masonry researched before attempting its removal. Analysis of the nature of the soiling or of the paint to be removed from the masonry, as well as guidance on the appropriate cleaning method, may be provided by professional consultants, including architectural conservators, conservation scientists, and preservation architects. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), local historic district commissions, architectural review boards, and preservation-oriented websites may also be able to supply useful information on masonry cleaning techniques.
