Alchatek Blog

As I mentioned in this blog post a few months ago, Alchemy-Spetec's injection tube system kit (a.k.a. the I.T.S. Kit) is a reliable and cost effective way to seal floor to wall joints.  For quick reference, here's an overview of the kit description, applications and contents:

The Alchemy-Spetec I.T.S. Kit is a complete system for post-injection sealing of construction joints in concrete.

Applications:

• Primary waterstop system.
• Cold joints.
• Expansion joints.
• Seal pipe penetrations.
• Seal tunnel segment joints.

Contents:

• 100 lf of injection tube.
• 20 lf of 3/8" reinforced PVC tube.
• 1/4" clips (100), 12 3/8" elbow hose barbs.

Want more information on waterstop products?

As my colleague Andy Powell wrote in his blog post The Benefits of Buying Through Distribution:

1. A distributor can serve as a one-stop shop.
 
2. Local distributors serve as experts in their area. (They often have the scoop on new projects, change orders, supplemental materials, and emergency repair needs.)
 
3. Having a distributor on hand is extremely convenient. Nothing is worse than having to call the factory again to have more product shipped after a mis-calculated estimate.
 
4. Many distributors actively work to get products specified for local jobs. That in itself can be a huge benefit. The distributor in a sense can sometimes be an extended part of your sales force.

With those benefits in mind, we're starting a Distributor Profile Series to provide more information on Alchemy-Spetec's distribution network.

In this article, we feature Metro Sealant & Waterproofing Supply.

They are family owned and have been in business since 1989. They currently operate in Washington, Richmond, and Baltimore. They stock a full line of waterproofing products and their motto is: “We deliver more than material”.

Not only do they offer competitive pricing to their customers, they also offer unparalleled technical support.

A few Alchemy-Spetec items you'll find at Metro Sealant & Waterproofing Supply:

• Spetec H100
• Spetec F400
• Packers
• Pump Cleaner

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Infiltration of ground water into storm and waste water systems is a huge issue for many municipalities. This earlier blog article on the subject is an excellent resource.

As Andy Powell states in his post:

Aging sewer and storm water systems across the country are plagued by infiltration and inflow; especially in areas with high water tables and sandy soils. Over time, compacted soils around catch basins, manholes, and culverts relax and result in deflection of joints and pipe connections. The end result is infiltration of ground water into the storm and waste water systems. This infiltration erodes the soils surrounding below grade drainage structures resulting in sinkholes, settling roadways, and property damage; not to mention the extra cost of treating that uninvited ground water.

But luckily there is a solution:

The solution is a combination of sealing leaking joints both from within the drainage structures and through point grouting from street level. Expansive polyurethanes such as Spetec F400, Spetec F1000, AP Seal 500, Spetec H100 and AP Fill 700 produced by Alchemy-Spetec can be injected directly into pipe and manhole connections where they react with infiltrating water and expand to seal off leaking joints. Additional point grouting from street level fills voids and permeates loose soils. This relieves hydrostatic pressure from the structures and strengthens the ground to support the above roadways and sidewalks.

Want more information on infrastructure leak seal & void fill?

I recently had the opportunity to train a crew on a very interesting job inside an underwater utility tunnel beneath a lock and dam in the St. Lawrence Seaway. This seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. This tunnel is underneath a giant concrete deck, so the walls have taken a lot of pressure over time. The soil also shifts and settles underneath the tunnel as the years go by. Those factors, in addition to freeze/thaw cycles have caused cracks to appear in the walls.

One particularly large crack was 20 feet long and up to 2 inches wide in some places. The water leaking through created an especially dangerous situation considering the 480 volt electrical box you can see in the photo above. There is also plenty of valuable equipment in the tunnel that is susceptible to water damage.

I suggested to the customer that they buy about four 5 gallon pails of Spetec F400. I recommended this material because it works very well in wet joints and cracks. It also remains somewhat flexible after installation, so if the walls settle or shift a little more, the cured grout will not break. When I showed up we got to work immediately with our on-the-job training, using modified airless sprayers to pump the material.  Overall, it took about 2.5 hours for the crew to get the job done while learning the leak seal process at the same time.

Want more info on sealing leaks with chemical grouts?

Curtain wall grouting is a leak seal method that is often required when cracks cannot be identified, when walls are made of material that does not respond well to crack injection (such as masonry, stone and CMU), and when previous leak seal methods have failed.  

Curtain wall grouting is the process of injecting water reactive resin behind the leaking wall in a widespread grid pattern. The water on the other side mixes with the grout and cures to a solid mass covering the surface of the wall on the other side. In addition, you don’t have water pressure dislodging external “patches” over time, as can be the case with other methods. This procedure is best done with either AP Fill 700, Spetec H100 or one of the Spetec AG100 - 300 series of acrylate grouts.

These expansive one-component polyurethane resins can be injected through the wall to cut off large flow and high pressure water leaks. The resins react with the water on the other side to form a long lasting, durable seal. AP Fill 700 has a high rate of expansion and a little flexibility. Spetec H100 has a lower rate of expansion but a bit more flexibility. The Spetec AG 100 - 300 series has a very low rate of expansion (only a slight swelling) but a lot of flexibility. 

Want more info on curtain wall grouting?

In this post I'd like focus on residential seawall repair. If you love the ocean, then living near the water can be an ideal situation most of the time. You can enjoy scenic views of the sea, easy access to the water, and gentle ocean breezes as you sit out on your deck.

But one challenge many oceanfront home owners eventually find themselves facing is leaking seawalls. You depend on seawalls to keep water on the outside and the the soil that supports your property on the inside. The seawall protecting your property is vulnerable to many degrading factors. As my colleague Andy Powell wrote in his excellent blog post Stop Erosion through Your Seawall with Polyurethane, "salt corrosion, tidal action, currents, boat wakes, storm surges and sometimes hurricanes all deliver a constant beating on the seawall."

Sometimes seawall leaks become evident through the telltale sign of unstable soil (basically, small mini-sinkholes) just inside the seawall. Observable symptoms along these lines can also be an indicator of further, unseen damage, as Andy explains in his article, "...these voids can extend below an adjacent patio, dock, or pool deck, eventually causing those structures to sink and crack."

Fortunately there's a solution! AP Fill 700 and Spetec H100 are semi-rigid hydrophobic polyurethane foams that react with moisture in the soil and expand to fill voids while they permeate the soil to form a solid, strong, watertight mass. They have been used extensively in seawall applications to seal cracks and defects, as well as fill voids and stabilize soil.

Want more information on polyurethane seawall repair?

When it comes to floor and wall joint leak repairs, there are usually two scenarios to consider. These repair jobs usually come about because of leakage where the floor and wall typically meet. Each scenario determines where drill points should be placed for repair procedures using polyurethane.

Scenario 1:

In this scenario the floor has been poured first before a wall is made to confine a space. To fix leaks that occur in this type of joint, a hole is drilled at the bottom of the wall. This is usually about 6-8 inches above the floor and at a 45 degree angle. Once drilled, soaked oakum is then placed in the hole. Once cured, the oakum serves as a gasket and initial leak seal. Polyurethane grout is then pumped into the hole for a deeper seal, while the oakum gasket prevents it from spilling back out.

Scenario 2:

In this scenario the wall has been poured first before the floor. The hole is drilled on the floor about 6-8 inches from the wall and at a 45 degree angle. Soaked oakum is placed into the hole to create an initial seal and gasket. Polyurethane grout then injected behind it for a thorough leak seal solution.

Materials often used for these applications:

AP Oakum: for creating gaskets

AP Fill 700: for drilled holes that are about 2 inches wide

Spetec F400: for drilled holes that are between ½ and 1 inch wide

AP Seal 500: for tight joints with multiple hairline cracks

Spetec F1000: works well if curtain grouting is needed to drill through brick walls

Want more information on sealing leaks?

Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to assist on a concrete leveling job involving a sunken garage slab.  This particular slab had a massive void underneath that needed to be filled before the slab would lift.  In just a few hours, we had the void filled and the slab level again.

Quick recap for those who are new to polyurethane slab lifting: Concrete slabs settle due to voids or unstable soil below. By pumping a polyurethane foam through the concrete, you essentially push the concrete slab back up from below. Using polyurethane foam is very cost effective, environmentally friendly, and causes very little downtime.

Check out this incredible time lapse footage our marketing team captured!

Want more information on concrete leveling with polyurethane foam?

I recently assisted on a job in which a large void underneath a homeowner’s garage had caused the slab to sink. Our marketing team got some GREAT time lapse footage of the slab lift.

Quick recap for those who are new to polyurethane slab lifting: Concrete slabs settle due to voids or unstable soil below. By pumping a polyurethane foam through the concrete, you essentially push the concrete slab back up from below. Using polyurethane foam is very cost effective, environmentally friendly, and causes very little downtime.

Check out this awesome time lapse footage! 

Sunken concrete slabs can be lifted back into place with two-component polyurethane foams designed to work in wet or dry conditions. The expansion force of the concrete leveling foam coupled with the pressure of a specialized pump generate enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into position with 1/8” precision. 

Alchemy-Spetec's AP Lift 430, AP Lift 440 and AP Lift 475 are the most dependable foams for jacking and leveling concrete slabs.

Watch this animation for an explanation of the the slab lifting process...

 Want more information on lifting slabs?