David Rinehimer works very hard to keep his life very simple.
With all the projects on his plate, you can’t blame him. His company, Black Stone Development, builds $3 million to $15 million homes in a master planned community called Desert Mountain, just north of Scottsdale, Az. The 8,000-acre private community features not one but six Jack Nicklaus-signature golf courses and is provisioned for 2,665 homesites “… exceptionally well-spaced apart.” In a typical year, Rinehimer will deliver up to eight homes. His project dance card is booked through 2026.
The very last thing he needs are callbacks over efflorescence on retaining walls. The chalky white alkaline residue is not something his wealthy clientele expect to see … ever.
Always Dry
“I build a lot of retaining walls in cliffsides and elsewhere on my properties,” Rinehimer explains. “Anytime we have a wall with dirt against it, we have to waterproof it. We don’t get a lot of rain. But when it comes, it’s a torrent. That puts tremendous hydrostatic pressure on the wall. We can’t afford to have any moisture seep in.”
This must-not-fail requirement has led the 20-year industry veteran to try just about everything to keep his walls dry, from closed-cell urethane foam (“expensive and too uneven for stone applications”) to thick gooey tar (“it’s a mess and not good for the stucco if it’s above the dirt line”).
Easy Does It
So what does a reputation-minded builder do? For the last 12 years, Rinehimer happily relies on a single product some in the trade may associate with weekend do-it-yourselfers.
“DRYLOK is best,” Rinehimer reports. “There’s no wicking. No seeping. No efflorescence. In my world, no news is good news.”
Time and experience have led Rinehimer to insist on five guidelines in keeping walls dry, including:
- Keep It Smooth. “My guys know the first coat of DRYLOK has to finish thick and smooth. If it’s rough, they know they have to put more on,” he says.
- 5-and-1 Rule. If a certain wall section takes five gallons of coverage, Rinehimer says the second coat may require just 20 percent of that, say a gallon for the same area. The first coat does the heavy lifting.
- Roll It. “I know there are companies that will spray it on with a $5,000 machine. My team is more than happy to slather it on with a roller and a hard-bristle brush,” he reports.
- No Pinholes. “Don’t leave any opening, even a pinhole. Water will find a way in. It has to be a 100 percent barrier.”
- Simplicity is Key. “If something works, go for it. I use hundreds and hundreds of gallons of the stuff every year,” he says.
Rinehimer isn’t the only one, according to Zonda, the residential construction data people. Its 2021 Builder Brand Use Study declares DRYLOK #1 for exterior foundation waterproofing in brand familiarity, most used brand for the past two years, and most used brand overall.
In a world of increasing complexity, it’s good to learn simple can work just fine.
Learn more about all the ways DRYLOK can preserve and protect your properties from moisture damage.
