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The Death of a Concrete Building
This story of the deterioration of my barn should NOT be construed as a rant or “bashing” of the Jigstone product. I want to make it absolutely clear that the fault of deterioration is not in the molds that are sold as Jigstone. The problem IS the “so called” anchoring cement. This story is similar to the “I wish I would have known” series at the back page of Garden Railways magazine. More discussion on cement at the end of this story. Yes, this building was constructed using Jigstones.
As the building began to deteriorate, I ask myself “How old is this buildings? Well, I built it about 10 years ago….. WRONG! It was in the year 1767. How do I know? …because of the time machine. The one determined by scale. (I know some of you have “fast clocks to determine the speed of your trains). So… say I work at 1:24; well that means there are 24 days in one real day? Do I have that right? Then that means in 10 real years there are 240 scale years. 2007-240= 1767. I never really thought about it that way.
Well here are some photos of the barn that I built in 1997 using Jigstones and Quikrete Anchoring Cement in the little yellow buckets. This barn won Best In Show at a SouthEastern Garden Railroad regional convention in 1998. It is featured in the Jigstone Newsletter from 1998. It was a combination of Jigstones and sheets poured on Precision Products plastic sheets. The roof, doors, shutters, louvers, and wood siding are all poured on Precision Products sheets. These did not seem to fail.
http://www.jigstones.com/newsletters/newsletter-pages/v1n03.html
In the eventual collapse on or about July 20th, the faithful horse which waited patiently at the stable door, died under the debris. The adjacent shed for equipment deteriorated many years ago. Railroad equipment will be brought in next week on the adjacent right of way to remove the debris before it becomes a fire and safety hazard.
The first photo is from 1815 (1999) when the Pennsylvania Stone Bank Barn was established on the farm prior to the railroads existence.
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The second is a closer shot showing the stable in the lower portion.
![]()
The third shot shows the front and the beginning of the railroad in 1839 (2000). Shortly, thereafter the stone walls of equipment shed collapsed.
![]()
The fourth shot shows the detail of the side with surveyor tape in the background for the railroad.
![]()
The walls below grade were completely waterproofed with commercial 40 mil peel & stick fully adhered membrane. By 1869 (2001), the foundation had completely deteriorated. The rotten part was cut away sealed and replaced with 2 x 2 pressure treated wood.
![]()
The barn served many fruitful (no pun intended) years providing agricultural products to the community. Here it is shown at its peak in circa.1935 (2004).
![]()
Several major blizzards hit the farm in 1940's and 1950's. (2005).
![]()
![]()
By the 1960's and 1970's (2006) cracks formed in the end walls.
![]()
![]()
Somewhere in the 1980's and 1990's the walls began to fall out.
![]()
![]()
Finally, in the new millennium as they called it, the entire structure collapsed and killed the horse. Farmer Joe escaped and managed to save his tractor.
![]()
![]()
The general deterioration shown on my barn is IMHO caused by the gypsum contained in anchoring cement. “Anchoring Cement” is a BAD term for the troubling cement product and must have been created by some marketing department. Little do they know the term does bring with it an implied warranty of “fitness for use intended.” Several years ago I questioned one of the major manufactures, which was selling an interior (anchoring cement) product to the big box stores. This anchoring cement indicated that it required a sealer in order to be used in areas subject to water or moisture, e.g. exterior use. This sealer wasn’t sold at the big box stores. I questioned the liability of someone using it for an exterior railing. Suddenly, it seemed that some big box stores no longer sold this product.
As you may be aware, cement shrinks as it cures. This is sometimes referred to as “creep.” When it comes to grouting or anchoring, there is a need to offset this shrinkage by creating a form of expansion. This is why they call some grouts “non-shrink” type. This is why many companies add gypsum. They may also contain chlorides, nitrates, sulfides, and sulfates. The problem is gypsum, re-hydrates after it is dry when it gets wet again or re-absorbs moisture. This is what causes the deterioration.
Thus, I have come to rely on more “professional” products known as “non-shrink grout,” for structural purposes. Meeting ASTM (formally known as American Society for Testing and Materials) C-1107, Standard Specification for Packaged Dry, Hydraulic Cement Grout (Non-Shrink). Some of the brand names are Bonsal American/ ProSpec/ Sakrete/ Old Castle F-77; Quikrete Precision Grout; or Degaussa/ Sonneborn. Most of these grouts have a compressive strength in excess of 6,000 pounds per square inch or better at 28 days. The standard only requires 5,000 psi. Also, Grade B, post hardening would be preferred if a “grade” is indicated.
These types of products have worked well on several other projects which have been outside for 6 or 7 years. I have grouted the rocks of my 16 foot waterfalls and made tunnel portals with this better “grout.”
As a side note; these grouts come in 50 pound bags as opposed to a cute 5 pound yellow bucket. The price of a 5 pound bucket used to be $6 or about $1.25 per pound; whereas the bag of grout runs about $15 to $20 or 40 cents per pound for better cement. I realize that 50 pounds of cement is a lot but it will fit in a 5 gallon plastic bucket to prevent it from absorbing moisture.
For casting purposes, I would not recommend other types of cements or pre-mixed concrete. Mortars and some premixed cements are cheaper ($3 to $5) because they contain significant amounts of sand and gravel. They also usually come in 60 to 80 pound bags.
I would recommend planning several projects together to utilize the cement. Try some tunnel portals, bridge abutments, a few building walls, and roofs. ½ inch square hardware cloth (mesh) is the perfect reinforcement.
Have fun casting in concrete, but be careful of what you use.
This story of the deterioration of my barn should NOT be construed as a rant or “bashing” of the Jigstone product. I want to make it absolutely clear that the fault of deterioration is not in the molds that are sold as Jigstone. The problem IS the “so called” anchoring cement. This story is similar to the “I wish I would have known” series at the back page of Garden Railways magazine. More discussion on cement at the end of this story. Yes, this building was constructed using Jigstones.
As the building began to deteriorate, I ask myself “How old is this buildings? Well, I built it about 10 years ago….. WRONG! It was in the year 1767. How do I know? …because of the time machine. The one determined by scale. (I know some of you have “fast clocks to determine the speed of your trains). So… say I work at 1:24; well that means there are 24 days in one real day? Do I have that right? Then that means in 10 real years there are 240 scale years. 2007-240= 1767. I never really thought about it that way.
Well here are some photos of the barn that I built in 1997 using Jigstones and Quikrete Anchoring Cement in the little yellow buckets. This barn won Best In Show at a SouthEastern Garden Railroad regional convention in 1998. It is featured in the Jigstone Newsletter from 1998. It was a combination of Jigstones and sheets poured on Precision Products plastic sheets. The roof, doors, shutters, louvers, and wood siding are all poured on Precision Products sheets. These did not seem to fail.
http://www.jigstones.com/newsletters/newsletter-pages/v1n03.html
In the eventual collapse on or about July 20th, the faithful horse which waited patiently at the stable door, died under the debris. The adjacent shed for equipment deteriorated many years ago. Railroad equipment will be brought in next week on the adjacent right of way to remove the debris before it becomes a fire and safety hazard.
The first photo is from 1815 (1999) when the Pennsylvania Stone Bank Barn was established on the farm prior to the railroads existence.
The second is a closer shot showing the stable in the lower portion.
The third shot shows the front and the beginning of the railroad in 1839 (2000). Shortly, thereafter the stone walls of equipment shed collapsed.
The fourth shot shows the detail of the side with surveyor tape in the background for the railroad.
The walls below grade were completely waterproofed with commercial 40 mil peel & stick fully adhered membrane. By 1869 (2001), the foundation had completely deteriorated. The rotten part was cut away sealed and replaced with 2 x 2 pressure treated wood.
The barn served many fruitful (no pun intended) years providing agricultural products to the community. Here it is shown at its peak in circa.1935 (2004).
Several major blizzards hit the farm in 1940's and 1950's. (2005).
By the 1960's and 1970's (2006) cracks formed in the end walls.
Somewhere in the 1980's and 1990's the walls began to fall out.
Finally, in the new millennium as they called it, the entire structure collapsed and killed the horse. Farmer Joe escaped and managed to save his tractor.
The general deterioration shown on my barn is IMHO caused by the gypsum contained in anchoring cement. “Anchoring Cement” is a BAD term for the troubling cement product and must have been created by some marketing department. Little do they know the term does bring with it an implied warranty of “fitness for use intended.” Several years ago I questioned one of the major manufactures, which was selling an interior (anchoring cement) product to the big box stores. This anchoring cement indicated that it required a sealer in order to be used in areas subject to water or moisture, e.g. exterior use. This sealer wasn’t sold at the big box stores. I questioned the liability of someone using it for an exterior railing. Suddenly, it seemed that some big box stores no longer sold this product.
As you may be aware, cement shrinks as it cures. This is sometimes referred to as “creep.” When it comes to grouting or anchoring, there is a need to offset this shrinkage by creating a form of expansion. This is why they call some grouts “non-shrink” type. This is why many companies add gypsum. They may also contain chlorides, nitrates, sulfides, and sulfates. The problem is gypsum, re-hydrates after it is dry when it gets wet again or re-absorbs moisture. This is what causes the deterioration.
Thus, I have come to rely on more “professional” products known as “non-shrink grout,” for structural purposes. Meeting ASTM (formally known as American Society for Testing and Materials) C-1107, Standard Specification for Packaged Dry, Hydraulic Cement Grout (Non-Shrink). Some of the brand names are Bonsal American/ ProSpec/ Sakrete/ Old Castle F-77; Quikrete Precision Grout; or Degaussa/ Sonneborn. Most of these grouts have a compressive strength in excess of 6,000 pounds per square inch or better at 28 days. The standard only requires 5,000 psi. Also, Grade B, post hardening would be preferred if a “grade” is indicated.
These types of products have worked well on several other projects which have been outside for 6 or 7 years. I have grouted the rocks of my 16 foot waterfalls and made tunnel portals with this better “grout.”
As a side note; these grouts come in 50 pound bags as opposed to a cute 5 pound yellow bucket. The price of a 5 pound bucket used to be $6 or about $1.25 per pound; whereas the bag of grout runs about $15 to $20 or 40 cents per pound for better cement. I realize that 50 pounds of cement is a lot but it will fit in a 5 gallon plastic bucket to prevent it from absorbing moisture.
For casting purposes, I would not recommend other types of cements or pre-mixed concrete. Mortars and some premixed cements are cheaper ($3 to $5) because they contain significant amounts of sand and gravel. They also usually come in 60 to 80 pound bags.
I would recommend planning several projects together to utilize the cement. Try some tunnel portals, bridge abutments, a few building walls, and roofs. ½ inch square hardware cloth (mesh) is the perfect reinforcement.
Have fun casting in concrete, but be careful of what you use.
