Alchatek Blog

As the end of the year approaches, it feels appropriate to take a look back at some the most popular Alchemy Polymers blog posts.  A quick look at the stats on the day I write this article reveals the top posts to be Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?, Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane and Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils.

Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?

This is one of our earlier posts and it still proves to be immensely popular. It's not hard to figure why so many people look into an article on this particular subject. One of the first questions to come to mind for anyone new to this "foam" technology is - will it hold up? The answer, of course, is a resounding YES! In this post I explain why that is the case. If you're interested in the strengths of our various lifting foams, how they hold up compared to clay and bedrock, and what types of jobs you can do with them - you need to read Slab Jacking with Polyurethane Foam – How Strong is Strong Enough?

Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane

This post lays out the causes of seawall erosion, the costs of replacement, and the case for repair with polyurethane resin. More and more people are repairing seawalls with our environmentally safe polymers. We have a great deal of literature and information regarding this process if you're interested. In the meantime, for a basic overview, check out Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane.

Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils

This article compares two different types of soil stabilization techniques for sandy soils: permeation grouting and compaction grouting (aka fracture grouting). Permeation grouting is done using a one component, low viscosity resin that slowly soaks into the soils with minimal disruption. Compaction/fracture grouting is done using a plural component, high viscosity resin that pushes the soil together in a more forceful manner. For more on this subject, read Permeation vs. Compaction Grouting in Sandy Soils.

Want more in-depth info on slab jacking, seawall repair and soil stabilization?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Alchemy Polymers team!

Single component, water activated, hydrophobic, low viscosity, closed cell polyurethane injection resin. As the ideal leak seal for cutting off high-flow, underground leaks, AP Fill 700 is a proven polyurethane leak stopper and void filler for all types of concrete structures. Also see our AP Seal 500 Concrete Crack Sealant.

Applications

• Cutting off high flow leaks.
• Concrete void filling for all types of structures.
• Cutting off underground water flows.
• Consolidating loose soil.
• Filling voids under concrete slabs.

Advantages

• Very low viscosity.
• Water impermeable polyurethane resin.
• Adjustable set time – as fast as 20 seconds.
• Injected as a single component.
• Phthalate free available (more environmentally friendly).
• Certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Check out the AP Fill 700 sample demo! 

Want in-depth info on cutting off high flow leaks?

As one of the most impenetrable permeation grouting products on the market, the AP Soil 600 is a single component, moisture activated, hydrophobic, low viscosity, polyurethane soil grout. This permeation grout is ideal for stabilizing loose sand and soil around all types of concrete structures, as well as sinkhole remediation. Also see our AP Lift 475 for Compaction Grouting.

Applications

• Permeation grouting.
• Stabilizing loose sand and soil.
• Sinkhole remediation.

Advantages

• Encapsulates and strengthens loose soil.
• Very low viscosity for good soil penetration.
• Watertight.
• Adjustable set time.
• Pumped as single component.
• Phthalate free (more environmentally friendly).
• Certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Check out the AP Soil 600 sample demo!

Want in-depth info on soil stabilization?

AP Seal 500 is a single component, low viscosity, flexible hydrophilic polyurethane injection resin. AP Seal 500 is the proven industrial concrete crack sealant. A powerful polyurethane resin that is optimal for sealing hairline cracks, pipe penetrations, joints and larger defects in concrete structures. Also see our AP Fill 700 Concrete Void Filling Resin.

Applications

• Sealing cracks in concrete structures through pressure injection.
• Sealing hairline cracks, expansion joints, wide cracks, pipe joints, pipe penetrations.
• Saturating dry oakum to create a flexible gasket for sealing pipe penetrations, joints and larger defects in concrete structures.

Advantages

• Polyurethane injection with no catalyst required.
• Tenacious bond to wet concrete.
• High elongation polyurethane concrete crack sealant.
• Thin enough to penetrate tight cracks.
• Moderately hydrophilic.
• Phthalate free (more environmentally friendly).
• Certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Watch the AP Seal 500 sample demo! 

Want in-depth info on sealing leaks?

Among the leading high density polyurethane foam products available, AP Lift 475 offers a powerful solution that is traffic ready in 15 minutes. This two-component, high-strength, high-density, hydro-insensitive structural polyurethane foam supports 14,000 lbs per square foot. Also see our AP Soil 600 for Permeation Grouting. 

Applications

• Lifting and filling voids under concrete slabs.
  
• Stabilizing soil.
• Compaction grouting and fracture grouting.
• Sinkhole remediation.
• Wet compaction grouting and void filling.

Advantages

• High strength.
• Low viscosity.
• Works in wet environments - displaces water.
• Bonds with soil and concrete.
• Traffic ready in 15 minutes.
• Closed cell compaction grout.
• Certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Check out the AP Lift 475 sample demo!

Want in-depth info on slab lifting?

We're happy to announce that Alchemy Polymers has been profiled in a feature article on SprayFoamInsider.com. This is a good match, since we get a lot of interest from spray foam professionals looking to expand their skill set into slab lifting and other forms of concrete repair. After doing a fair amount of background research, Editor Jay Davidson has written an overview of our company's mission and the solutions we offer for critical concrete infrastructure issues.

The article opens as follows...

Alchemy Polymers, LLC is comprised of combat veterans when it comes to battling the elements and saving valuable infrastructures with their polyurethane resins. Contractors can even “sign up” for “boot camp” training to learn the valuable secrets of polyurethane applications from those who have literally been in the trenches. Their winning polymer injection solutions have a highly successful track record for repairing and restoring sea walls, retaining walls, tunnels, bridges, dams, concrete slabs, highways, pipelines, railways, sink holes, homes, buildings, subways and other below ground structures.

You can read more in Jay Davidson's piece Alchemy Polymers, LLC is Winning the Battle to Restore Infrastructures.  Needless to say, we're happy to see Alchemy Polymers featured on SprayFoamInsider.com.

Want additional in-depth info on Alchemy Polymers products and procedures?

As I mentioned in my blog post Use Social Media to Promote Your Contracting Business, LinkedIn isn’t only for job seekers and recruiters. LinkedIn can be an integral part of your business social media strategy. If you aren’t on LinkedIn yet, make sure you read that post. If you ARE on LinkedIn (or when you DO get on), make sure to follow the Alchemy Polymers page immediately! It’s important for you to build your network of companies and individuals in this industry. In addition, we post all of our educational blog articles to the Alchemy Polymers LinkedIn page. Following our page is one more way to make sure you don’t miss valuable content.

Follow us on LinkedIn NOW!

Click here:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alchemy-polymers

Want more info on marketing your contracting business?

As a Marketing Assistant at Alchemy-Spetec, I am constantly asked to come up with ideas for blog posts – especially from a marketing perspective. One subject I’ve noticed we haven’t covered yet is referral sites. As a contractor, I’m sure you’ve heard of sites such as HomeAdvisor, AngiesList and Thumbtack. If you’re new to the industry and haven’t heard of them, they’re basically sites that customers visit when they are looking for a contractor. You may have listed your business on some of them, or you may not have tried any of them yet. Either way, I hope you find this brief overview helpful. Some of these programs have been proven to work and are a great way to get reviews and word of mouth going about your contracting business. We’ll take a look at benefits, precautions and best practices for using referral sites.

Benefits of Using the Right Referral Site

Because you’re putting yourself in front of customers who are actively seeking your services, you can increase your marketing ROI compared to other methods such as cold calling, print advertising, etc. In addition, referred customers are typically less price sensitive than cold call prospects. Referral sites are also a great way to build your reputation by accumulating positive reviews from customers. Not to mention the fact that they can increase traffic to your website. As discussed in our blog post How to Promote Your Contracting Business with a Blog, increased web traffic sends positive signals to search engines and increases your SEO rankings.

Precautions

Before you do business with a referral site, it’s always a good idea to check them out on the Better Business Bureau website. Search the business name and then go to their listing and find the complaints section. You may also want to Google their name, plus the word “reviews” to see what you come up with.  A cursory search of the three sites I’ve mentioned by name revealed a mixture of opinions among contractors. You’ll also want to figure out what platforms are relevant to your niche for branding and outreach purposes. So make to do your homework and thoroughly research any referral site you are considering.

Best Practices for Using a Referral Site

First impressions are very important, especially with new customers and definitely when it comes to reviews of your company. Make sure that your profile on the referral site clearly defines who you are marketing to and how they will benefit from the services that you are offered. Once you start getting customers through these sites, resist the temptation to immediately pester them for reviews. Sometimes it is better to give them time to evaluate the job done so they can give an accurate and much more valuable testimonial. Do not forget to thank a customer for their business and positive reviews. You may want to send personalized letters/emails/or even a phone call to those who have given you a positive review.

Conclusion

I hope this article has provided you with a deeper understanding on how to market your contracting business with referral sites. These platforms are essentially doing the dirty work for you while keeping valuable advertising dollars in your pocket. Implementing a referral program on the right site can exponentially increase your customer base.

Want more information on marketing your contracting business?

In this post, I'd like to highlight a couple of our earlier articles on seawall repair.

I wrote the first one as an introduction to the causes of seawall erosion, the outward signs that erosion is taking place and the product we recommend for repair.  Read it for background on why damage occurs and how to spot it. 

Stephen Barton wrote the next one on the polyurethane seawall repair process. Read it for a good step by step overview.

Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane

When it comes to seawalls, there is a lot more to learn than meets the eye. A seawall is like a living, breathing thing: especially in the way that they are designed to function. But like all living breathing things, they have a finite lifespan. For many of them, it's a mere 20 – 30 years. Depending on where you live, replacing a seawall can cost anywhere from $150 to $500 per foot. That's enough for some homeowners to choose to move instead of rebuilding their seawalls. Today however, signs of seawall distress can be solved before they get too bad through the application of polyurethane grouts to seal leaks, fill voids, and stabilize the surrounding soils.

Although seawalls are found around lakes and rivers, it is around the ocean that they are put to the most difficult test. Salt corrosion, tidal action, currents, boat wakes, storm surges and sometimes hurricanes all deliver a constant beating on the seawall. But many of the forces are also coming from the landward side of the wall. Every time it rains or the irrigation system runs, and every time the tide goes out; all of the groundwater above the waterline has to vent or equalize. Tremendous pressures can build up if that water is trapped and cannot make its way into the sea or the storm water system.

Read more in the post Stop Erosion Through Your Seawall with Polyurethane.

Leaking Seawalls: Soil Loss Prevention and Remediation

As tidal flows rise and fall, water pushes its way in through cracks, joints, and defects in seawalls. The water pushes in on incoming tides and flows out on outgoing tides. As the water flows out, it carries sand and soil with it which causes undermining of the structure, voids to form, and deteriorates the structural integrity of the seawall. This cycle is exacerbated during periods of heavy rain which continue the outflow of soil.

Read more in the post Leaking Seawalls: Soil Loss Prevention and Remediation.

Want more in-depth info on polyurethane seawall repair?