When parts of a concrete surface sink due to erosion and poor compaction, the resulting trip hazard can be dangerous. If left unrepaired, liability and safety issues linger. Although concrete is tough and durable, unstable soil can cause it to crack and sink. Fortunately, a reliable solution for lifting concrete has been developed and proven over the past few decades. High-strength expansive polyurethane foam is injected underneath the slab to bring it back to level. This method has been used in a wide variety of commercial and residential applications with long-lasting results.

Despite consistently reliable results, some myths about polyurethane slab lifting have cropped up over the years.

Myth #1: Polyurethane Foam is a Temporary Fix

People who assume that polyurethane slab lifting is a temporary fix typically have a general lack of knowledge, understanding, and experience with the process. Common misperceptions supporting this myth include:

• The incorrect assumption that foam will be susceptible to moisture and degrade under the concrete.
• The incorrect assumption that the process typically leaves large voids underneath the slab, leading to resettlement.

Water does not cause lifting foams to degrade underneath the slab. In addition, a factory-trained contractor will not leave gaps underneath the slab that would lead to resettlement.

Myth #2: Polyurethane Foam Cannot Support Heavy Loads

Another common misconception is that polyurethane foam is weak and does not have the load-bearing capacity to support slabs with heavy traffic or large structures.

Common misperceptions supporting this myth include:

• The incorrect assumption that lifting foam is the same stuff used by the insulation guys.
• The incorrect assumption that because it expands easily, it must collapse easily.
• The incorrect assumption that the expansion rate is uncontrollable and leads to unpredictable results.

All lifting and stabilization polyurethane foams formulated and manufactured by Alchemy-Spetec are designed specifically for Geotechnical applications. Once cured, Alchemy-Spetec lifting foams are incredibly strong and durable. Easy expansion does not equal easy collapse. Factory-trained contractors can control the final lift level of a slab to within 1/8th of an inch.

Myth #3: Polyurethane Foam is too Expensive

When faced with the dilemma of a sunken slab, you have three options aside from polyurethane slab lifting:

1. Doing Nothing: If you do nothing, the problem will grow. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repair.
2. Replacing the Slab: This process will take several days, is often messy, and is typically more expensive than lifting with polyurethane.
3. Lifting with Cement Grout: This procedure (known as “mudjacking”) requires heavy equipment, large drill holes, and the use of weighty cement grout which often sinks over time. When the cement grout sinks over time, you have to get it lifted again. Eventually, even this process becomes more expensive.

Want more information about polyurethane slab lifting?

Many spray foam insulation installers are interested in adding slab lifting capability to their rig setup. If you're a spray foam installer considering slab lifting, we have all the info you need right here. With just four additional pieces of equipment and one set of material, you can add slab lifting to your service offerings. Let’s take a look at exactly what additional equipment and material are required to get started...

Slab Lifting Equipment

MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun
The MixMaster Pro is a two-component resin injection gun manufactured specifically for lifting concrete slabs, designed to handle back-pressure. 

Titan Impact 440 (Modified) Pump with Flush Hose
The Titan Impact 440 (Modified) pump is used for flushing the MixMaster Pro gun in between foam injections. (It's also used for pumping one-component material in soil stabilization and seawall repair applications.)

3/8” MixMaster Ports
These heavy-duty ports create an airtight seal for injecting foam into drill holes. 

Dial Indicator Crane
This precision tool is used to measure the lift of the slab within 1/10” of an inch.

Polyurethane Slab Lifting Material

AP Lift 430, AP Lift 440, or AP Lift 475 (100 Gallon Unit)
Sunken concrete slabs can be lifted back into place with these two-component polymer foams designed to work in wet or dry conditions. The expansion force of these concrete leveling foams coupled with the pressure of a specialized pump generate enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into position with 1/8” precision.

AP Flush 125 (5 Gallon Unit)
Water-based gun flush specifically used for flushing out the MixMaster Pro impingement gun. Also used to protect concrete from resin stains.

AS Pump Flush (5 Gallon Unit)
High-performance pump flush that is friendly to the environment and does an excellent job flushing out injection pumps.

Want to talk to a spray foam to slab lift conversion expert?

Alchemy-Spetec customers Matt Chittick and Travis Germick of Lift It Rite LLC were recently featured in a Spray Foam Magazine article. SprayFoam Magazine is an industry-leading publication in the spray foam insulation sector. Because so many spray foam insulation professionals are adding slab lifting to their service offerings, the magazine is now covering this technology as well. The article featuring Lift It Rite is a profile of a sidewalk lifting job that was done in order to save an old tree in Winder, Georgia. The roots were disrupting the pavement. Here's an excerpt from the article...

Cities often hire a third party to take care of sidewalks, potholes, and wastewater management issues and it was this third party who contacted Travis Germick and Matt Chittick. They are the owners of Lift it Right LLC, and they were asked if they could help save Winder’s sidewalks.

Germick and Chittick went to Winder to review the situation and noted that several of the sidewalks around the town were obviously sunken. One of them was next to a very old tree and the roots were impacting the sidewalk. This had happened to another tree in the area, and the town took out the concrete and cut some of the roots of the tree. Once a tree’s roots are cut the tree will eventually die so they cut down the entire tree. After the tree was cut down, the residents of the town clubbed together and had a memorial for the tree. After that unhappiness, cutting down more trees in the future was not an option. There had to be another solution to save the additional old tree. Read more at SprayFoam.com!

Want more info on slab lifting with polyurethane?

This post is part of the Alchemy-Spetec Contractor Lens series, featuring views, news & case studies written by our customers.  This article, written by Morgan Helms of Helms Polyfoam, is an overview of void filling with polyurethane foam.  If you're an Alchemy-Spetec customer and you'd like to discuss writing content for our blog, please send an email to marketing@alchemy-spetec.com today!

Water and wastewater treatment facilities are essential for communities and municipalities. They supply drinking water to communities and treat wastewater before it is discharged into lakes or rivers. Many water and wastewater treatment facilities are aging and badly in need of repairs and maintenance.

Concrete is one of the most common building materials for water treatment facilities. Whether part of new construction or an older structure, concrete can be susceptible to leaks. Leaks through concrete are generally going to be through cracks, joints, and honeycomb (areas in poured concrete of mainly coarse aggregate with voids in between). Depending on water volume and pressure, and the size of the joint or crack, you may encounter weeping leaks, steady leaks, and gushing leaks.

What’s the solution? Helms Polyfoam! With any aging concrete structure in which moisture is present, the need for maintenance is inevitable. When it comes down to dollars spent on water treatment, maintaining water leaks is paramount. Helms Polyfoam can repair and effectively seal leaks in water treatment facilities also while staying within budget.

The Alchemy-Spetec polyurethane leak seal resins we use are pumped into cracks in walls and water holding tanks to fill and seal them, both now and in the future. Anywhere water can go, these polyurethane resins can follow. Polyurethane crack injection repairs and prevents leaks by filling cracks in concrete tanks and pipes. Polyurethane concrete crack injection repair is waterproof and non-toxic. There is no need to worry about dangerous chemicals seeping into the ground or contaminating the water.

Helms is your Mississippi area expert on all structural, polyurethane resin repairs. Our repairs can be completed quickly without shutting down operations or taking anything offline for long periods. Plus, our repairs are much more affordable than other alternatives, such as replacing pipes or tanks altogether.

We implement a repair plan that doesn’t require you to shut down operations or leave you with a big mess. It requires no excavation. This means a smaller footprint on your job site or facility and minimum downtime.

And you know what is even better? ARPA!

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) includes in the Fiscal Recovery Funds (FRF) one of the largest fiscal advances to state and local government budgets in recent history. ARPA federal funding now makes it possible to address infrastructure and structural repairs – just like these water and wastewater treatment facility repairs – that are an ongoing challenge in our state.

Helms Polyfoam has water treatment facility repair experience using polyurethane concrete crack injections to seal off leaks. And now, you can use ARPA funds to help you cover these costs! Call us at 601-966-7821 or click here to fill out our contact form.

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec leak seal products?

Municipalities across the country have widespread problems with water infiltration undermining the integrity of manholes, pipes, lift stations, water collection systems, etc. High-flow leaks in these structures add millions of dollars to maintenance and water treatment expenses every year.

Limitless Leak Seal Market

We believe every qualified leak seal contractor should be prepared to take advantage of this type of job opportunity. Alchemy-Spetec offers environmentally-friendly leak seal resins for applications ranging from hairline cracks to gushing high-flow leaks. Our industry-leading technical support team (with decades of experience) assists infrastructure repair contractors on a wide variety of projects every day.   

Spetec PUR H200 is a one-component, water-activated, hydrophobic, low viscosity, closed-cell polyurethane injection resin. When used with Gen ACC Fast, it is the fastest one-component Alchemy-Spetec grout. So it’s an ideal solution for quickly cutting off high-flow leaks.

Spetec PUR H200 Applications

The primary application for Spetect PUR H200 is cutting off high flow leaks quickly and effectively in manholes, pipes, lift stations, tunnels, mines, water collection systems, parking garages, and more. It's also great for curtain grouting projects. In addition, it can be used for filling water voids in the soil around all types of structures, cutting off underground water flows, and consolidating loose soil.

Spetec PUR H200 Advantages

Spetec PUR H200 is certified for contact with drinking water. The low viscosity allows for very effective soil permeation. It's water impermeable. The set time is adjustable – as fast as 20 seconds. It's also phthalate-free.

Your 3-Step Action Plan

Eliminate the risk to your client’s property and call our team of experts now to partner with the industry's leading technical support team. With our assistance, you can save your client’s property, save them money, and save their peace of mind.

1. Start a conversation with one of our experts about your business and local market.
2. We will work with you to create an action plan custom-tailored to your market’s needs.
3. We will connect you with a local distributor and our technical service team to support you every step of the way.

One of the greatest threats to our nation's infrastructure is unseen water eroding away its structural integrity. Water is relentless and all types of structures and sewer collection systems are at risk. If left unchecked, uncontrolled water will end up causing massive rehabilitation and repair bills. The market for repairing and controlling water infiltration is limitless.

Contractors Should Be Prepared

We believe every contractor should have access to cost-effective and long-term solutions for their customers. Alchemy-Spetec offers a variety of environmentally-friendly polyurethane resins for sealing leaks in structures and water collection systems. Our dedicated technical support team has decades of experience on leak seal projects. 

Spetec PUR H100 is widely specified by engineers for the cut-off of large water leaks. It is a one-component, closed-cell, hydrophobic, water-reactive, solvent, and phthalate-free, low viscosity resin. Its low viscosity and hydrophobic properties make it ideal for both soil stabilization and cutting off large water leaks.

Spetec PUR H100 Applications

There are a plethora of applications for Spetec PUR H100. Some specific uses include cutting off sewer water leaks and soil stabilization around sewer structures. Other uses include water cut-off of leaks in foundations such as diaphragm walls, piling sheets, and secant piles. Spetec PUR H100 is also good for stabilization and water cut-off of large cracks, voids, and gravel layers. It has also been used to stabilize soil and anchors in porous geology and gravel layers in concrete structures. In addition, it is an ideal resin for probe grouting below-grade pipes and manhole injections. Last but not least, injections in combination with cement-based grout work very well with pre and post injections in mines, tunnels, pipe jacking, drill & blast, and TBM applications.

Spetec PUR H100 Advantages

The one component, closed-cell structure allows the cured polyurethane resin to seal large water leaks in cracks and joints permanently. It is also possible to alter the reaction times by adjusting the percentage of accelerator. When cured, it exhibits high strength and good chemical resistance. This in turn makes it harmless to the environment and resistant to biological attacks. Not to mention it is also certified for contact with drinking water.

Your 3-Step Action Plan

Eliminate the risk to your client’s property and call our team of experts now to partner with the industry's leading technical support team. With our assistance, you can save your client’s property, save them money, and save their peace of mind.

1. Start a conversation with one of our experts about your business and local market.
2. We will work with you to create an action plan custom-tailored to your market’s needs.
3. We will connect you with a local distributor and our technical service team to support you every step of the way.

We often assume that our homes, roadways, and buildings are resting on solid ground - until that support starts to give way. The same natural element that carved out the Grand Canyon causes unstable soil, voids, and even sinkholes. Water is relentless and your property is at risk if soil damage is left unchecked. Poor compaction, water erosion, broken pipes, and organic material in the soil can all lead to the settling of a foundation or a roadway. Ignoring soil erosion underneath your property can lead to disaster.

Outdated methods of addressing deep soil issues require heavy equipment, extended downtime, and collateral property damage. Alchemy-Spetec's factory-trained contractors offer a unique combination of high-quality structural lifting foams along with the equipment and training needed to address deep soil issues. Our polyurethane resin technology has been proven in use around the world and is certified to be environmentally friendly.

Solving Deep Soil Issues with the Deep LiftⓇ Process

Contractors trained in Alchemy-Spetec's Deep LiftⓇ process achieve deep soil densification and lift on large projects with the smallest footprint and the least amount of heavy equipment required. This process brings the structure back to level with minimal downtime for the property owner.

The Deep LiftⓇ Property Preservation Plan

With our support, we can help you save your property, save your money, and save your peace of mind.

1. Start a conversation with one of our experts.
2. We will connect you to a factory-trained contractor.
3. The contractor will create an action custom action plan for your property.

Alchemy-Spetec offers a wide variety of online resources for current and aspiring infrastructure repair contractors. Let's take a look at what's available...

Literature Downloads

Looking for polyurethane concrete repair product Tech Data Sheets, Safety Data Sheets, Application Procedures, Case Studies, Environmental Safety Info, or Specifications?  All of these documents are available on one convenient page at Alchemy-Spetec's Comprehensive Download Resource Center.

Educational Videos

Watch brief, info-packed videos on crack injection, curtain grouting, slab lifting, and soil stabilization on the Videos page.

Spray Foam to Slab Lift Conversion

With just four additional pieces of equipment and one set of material, you can quickly and easily add slab lifting to your service offerings. Take a look at exactly what additional equipment and material you’ll need to get started on the Spray Foam to Slab Lift Conversion page.

Training Center

The Alchemy-Spetec Training Center is a password-protected resource-packed page featuring video presentations and product/equipment demos. This page is only available to established customers who have requested access from their Regional Manager.

Injection Connection Podcast

The Injection Connection podcast features in-depth discussions with thought leaders and professionals in the infrastructure repair industry.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Most property owners and managers don’t realize that the greatest threat to their slabs and structures hides underneath the surface of the ground. Water is relentless, and your property is at risk if it is left unchecked. Uncontrolled water can lead to soil erosion, voids, and sometimes even sinkholes. Neglecting these types of soil issues can end up costing significant money, time, and stress.

We believe that every property owner and manager should understand how to prevent these problems from getting out of control. Water must be controlled properly, and with the right solutions. Alchemy-Spetec offers a variety of polyurethane resins for lifting sunken slabs, stabilizing soil, and filling voids underneath foundations and slabs. We are a global manufacturing company certified to ISO9001. Our polyurethane resin technology has been successfully used on a multitude of projects spanning the globe. It's also environmentally friendly (NSF certified for contact with drinking water).

Raising & Lifting Concrete

Sunken concrete slabs can be lifted back into place with our two-component polymer 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 generates enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into position with 1/8” precision. Polyjacking (a.k.a. slab lifting and concrete lifting) can be accomplished at a fraction of the cost and time required for replacement using our AP Lift series of resins. The Deep Lift® process may be necessary if deeper soil issues are undermining the slab or structure.

Polyurethane Slab Lifting Products

• AP Fill 420
• AP Deep Lift® 420
• AP Lift 428
• AP Lift 430
• AP Lift 435
• AP Lift 440
• AP Lift 475

Stabilizing Soil

Unstable, eroded, or loose soil around infrastructure can result in settlement and damage to the structure. Voids can be filled, seawalls remediated, soil consolidated, and water migration halted by permeating the soil with our ultra-low viscosity resins. 

Polyurethane Soil Stabilization Products

• AP Soil 600
• AP Fill 700
• AP Fill 720
• AP SoilGel 200
• AP Microfine 10

3-Step Property Preservation Plan

Eliminate the risk of a total loss to your property and contact our team of experts now to start your Property Preservation Plan. With our support, you can save your property, save your money, and save your peace of mind.

1. Start a conversation with one of our experts about your specific challenge/property.
2. We will work with you to create an action plan custom-tailored to your needs.
3. We will connect you to a factory-authorized contractor who will help you solve your problem.

Read through this list:

• Manholes
• Catch basins
• Drop inlets
• Wet wells
• The Grand Canyon

This is not a game of which one doesn't belong, as they all channel water and can cause erosion. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking. Likewise, washouts or sinkholes caused by leaking and neglected infrastructure are breathtaking - but in a completely different way. They're breathtaking in regard to the high costs of emergency repairs and the potential damage they cause.

This quote, from an article on KCCI.com, sums it up nicely...

“At first, crews resurfacing the pavement thought a large piece of machinery had fallen into a sinkhole 10 feet deep… It turns out an original clay storm sewer pipe had disconnected, leaking water for what appears to be a long time, eroding the earth around it.”

There is no downside to fixing these common infrastructure issues before they get out of control. Any repair costs are quickly offset by the reduction of sewer water requiring treatment. Who is not for lower sewer rates, a healthier environment, longer-lasting infrastructure, and fewer manmade washouts/sinkholes?

So why don’t we address infiltration more? It is as simple as the old adage "out of sight out of mind". Infiltration is a preventable and treatable sewage collection system problem. We have neglected our infrastructure for too long and we need to raise public awareness of the issue.

We at Alchemy-Spetec not only manufacture quality polyurethane chemical grouts for these types of repairs, but we also provide top-notch training and support for leak seal crews. Call 404-618-0438 and let us know how we can assist you in raising awareness about or repairing infiltration. We are all in this together.

Want more information on leak seal products and equipment?