Specialty Store Gets a Special Mortar

Words: Dan Kamys

Case Study: Moisture Management

Trader Joe’s uses Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc in all Colorado locations.

Trader Joe’s uses Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc Trader Joe’s, a specialty grocery store chain, has expanded nationally due to its success. Its growth has included the construction of new stores in Colorado. For moisture management, the mason contractor, Ammex Masonry, chose Amerimix Core Fill Grout and Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc for the exterior of all Colorado Trader Joe’s locations. The RainBloc Integral Water Repellent System is described as a patented additive incorporated in the concrete masonry unit (CMU). It is factory blended into the Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar. The polymeric-based water-repellent admixture resists wind-driven rain, mold, mildew and efflorescence staining – seemingly perfect for us in Colorado weather. RainBloc has been proven to have no impact on the bond strength and board life of the mortar, making it perform no differently than current mortars.

Added efficiency

On past projects, Ammex Masonry mixed RainBloc into the mortar on site, which proved to be difficult and time consuming. By switching to Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc, Ammex was able to quickly make consistent batches. The time savings enabled the mason contractor to complete the Trader Joe’s construction on schedule. Amerimix says the mason has been satisfied with the products as well as the workability, ease of troweling and secure attachment to the head/vertical joints. Trader Joe’s uses Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc Ammex Masonry used Amerimix silos to help the job run efficiently and on schedule. Masons simply had to pull the silo handle to drop material into the mixer, and then add water. The silos allowed masons to make a batch of mortar in half the time of conventional mixing, increasing productivity. The silos also eliminated labor expenses associated with bag handling, loading and sand shoveling. Plus, the silos were easily moved around the jobsite and kept the product dry, due to their weather resistance. Just as Trader Joe’s has proven itself successful in the grocery industry, Amerimix Core Fill Grout and Amerimix Water Repellent Mortar with RainBloc have proven successful in building a water-resistant wall system. As a testament to its effectiveness, all Colorado Trader Joe’s have been constructed using Amerimix products.
For more information, visit www.amerimix.com.  

Product to Watch

Concrete Gel Injection for Eliminating Moisture Damage
[caption id="attachment_9689" align="alignright" width="325"]Concrete Gel Injection for Eliminating Moisture Damage Concrete Gel Injection for Eliminating Moisture Damage[/caption] Concrete Gel Injection (CGI) is a specially developed system from CGI Northeast Inc. that prevents and repairs underground water leakage and damage by working from the interior side of a building wall, eliminating the need for any external excavation. CGI drills holes from the interior and injects a two-component hydrophilic resin that reacts chemically to form a flexible water-sealing gel through the process of polymerization. When the CGI chemical reaction takes place, the gel doesn’t expand like urethane foam; it simply occupies the volume of the crack or cold joint full depth to the exterior. The gel, unlike grout, will not break down in the presence of water. It can mix and coexist with water containing oil, salt and/or sewage. And, since, it doesn’t drill all the way to the exterior, it won’t compromise any previously installed waterproofing membrane. The CGI system can be used for any below-ground concrete, brick or stone structure, including basements and sub-basements; underground parking garages; structural vaults; and elevator pits. The CGI system is highly elastic and flexible to vibrations. It is less costly than methods requiring major overhauls, and is easy to clean with water as no cleaning solvents are required. It produces little to no odor; will not promote the growth of fungi, mold, or bacteria; and is environmentally safe and non-toxic, non-flammable and non-hazardous. For more information visit www.cginortheast.com
Properties and Advantages of Brick Cavity Walls
June 2026

Many compound words are self-explanatory "descriptive names." Sunglasses are glasses that block the sun. A fireplace is a place to build a fire. A cavity wall is exactly that: a wall assembly that contains a cavity. Previously, this concept was used prim

Technical Talks
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

David Biggs
Bonding with Masonry
Read More