Alchatek Blog

This article is an excerpt from Episode 4 of The Injection Connection, featuring Adam Tracy of A-1 Foundation Crack Repair. The Injection Connection is hosted by Jim Spiegel: Vice President of Alchemy-Spetec and Board Member at the International Concrete Repair Institute.  (If you'd rather listen, an audio version of this exchange is posted at the bottom of the article.)

Jim: In a more general sense with the chemical grouting industry, what do you think, and I may be putting you on the spot here a little bit, but what do you think is lacking or what could be improved in the industry? Do you have opinions on that? Maybe from a product standpoint, maybe from a service standpoint, from the manufacturer’s side? Do you have any thoughts on that?

Adam: I’ve had a pretty unique entry into this industry because I’m from totally outside of the industry. Even though this is a family business, I actually spent the first ten plus years of my career as a manufacturer rep in the fire protection space. So, I’m coming at this industry as a very different set of eyes. I’m actually an engineer in civil engineering and I would definitely say that it’s a niche industry in a lot of ways, which prevents its usage I think because I don’t think it’s well taught on an educational level and I don’t think the awareness is very high amongst a lot of engineering firms as well. 

It’s a process that is unique in a lot of ways but it’s not revolutionary. I think while it’s one tool in the tool belt as we discussed, I think having that in an engineer’s hands is very important because a lot of times solutions that are tried more often or may have a higher success rate on the positive side are just cost prohibitive. And the building is not set up to be able to do that kind of stuff post construction and where chemical grouting is really just the best, most cost-effective, high result solution for that particular application.

I would definitely say that on a commercial level the grouting process needs to have a little bit higher expansion in educational areas to make sure that kids coming out of schools and going in for their PEs and trying to get their feet under them and provide solutions to their clients know that this is a proper solution that is tried and true and is very successful.

In my world, where it’s a lot of residential, that’s half of what my job is on a day to day conversation with a customer is explaining what we’re doing because it’s a lot of black magic in their eyes because it’s something totally different. They were looking for the black spray in the can that you used to spray in the bottom of your screen door boat there, off the shelf as a solution and they‘re trying to figure out why it didn’t work. And really, we’re trying to just educate them a little bit as well.

We’ve had projects in the past where they’ve spent a tremendous amount of time on the specifications and the procedures on how to address an issue. We had a project at a wastewater treatment plant where it’s 24-inch walls, thick walls with rebar everywhere, and they were tall. And they’re just trying, there’s not a lot of experience, there wasn’t a lot of manufacturer help in terms of how to really identify the process to do this successfully. So, when we get in there and we look at the specifications, it’s hobbled together by somebody who’s never seen this process in the real world. It was essentially set up for failure in a lot of ways because the process was wrong for this particular application, and trying to go through change orders of the process was a very difficult situation - just because we knew as a contractor doing it for as long as we have that the amount of time and effort that they were going to be focused on their particular process was going to be set up incorrectly and set up for failure mostly because, again, they had a set of people on this thing who have read about it and were very unaware of the infield techniques that are required to be successful in it, and really just tried to be by the book on it without any sort of experience.

I think that in the industry, there would be a huge benefit across the board in my eyes to really start at the educational level, civil engineering programs, construction management programs, to really focus on that. I think manufacturers have some responsibility as well as contractors to give a two-pronged approach so that people are educated both on the technology itself and the actual application and how it gets done.

Jim: I couldn’t agree more.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec leak seal products?

I'd like to share a case study from a recent job that I consulted on with one of our contractor customers.

A two-story residential house in North Carolina was built on poorly compacted fill dirt. After about 20 years, it began showing evidence of settling. Interior cracks appeared in the sheetrock and some of the floors were no longer level (indicating that the footings were slowly sinking). These symptoms of unstable soil were caused by about 1 inch of settling. The engineer on the project determined that the problem was not severe enough to require helical piers. The contractor was called in to stop the sinking and reinforce the soil via deep soil polyurethane injection.

Powerful Polymer

Among the most dependable products for geotech applications, AP Lift 440 structural foam provides an exceptional DOT grade solution for these types of situations. This 4 lb. density, high-strength, hydro-insensitive structural polyurethane foam is perfect for densifying soil and stabilizing foundations (as well as lifting).

Painless Procedure

I worked with the contractor to draw up a plan, indicating exactly where the injection points would be located. The engineer reviewed the plan for feasibility. The contractor installed 18 injection tubes to a depth of 7 feet. 50 lbs of foam were administered through each tube, split between two different depths: 7 feet and 3.5 feet below grade. First, they injected from outside the house, installing foam beneath the exterior footings. Next, they injected from inside the house, installing foam beneath the load bearing interior walls. Spacing between injection points was approximately 5 feet.

Rapid Result

The deep soil stabilization process densified the soil and stopped the settlement. In addition, the contractors achieved a half inch lift from the exterior injections and another half inch lift from the interior injection sequence. The customer was extremely happy with the results. The engineer was impressed as well and said he would recommend this procedure in similar future scenarios.

Want more information on soil stabilization?

Adam Tracy, of A-1 Foundation Crack Repair, is the guest on Episode 4 of The Injection Connection.  Adam offers a unique perspective into the residential leak seal industry through his Civil Engineering education. Adam and Jim discuss differences in residential vs.commercial projects, as well as finding new talent, learning from contractors, and more.

Host Jim Spiegel is Vice President of Alchemy-Spetec and Board Member at the International Concrete Repair Institute.

Listen to the episode in its entirety below, or check it out on TheInjectionConnection.com and the following platforms:

• Spotify
• iTunes/Apple Podcasts
• SoundCloud
• TuneIn
• Google Podcasts
• YouTube

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

The Injection Connection podcast features in-depth discussions with thought leaders and professionals in the infrastructure repair industry. Host Jim Spiegel is Vice President of Alchemy-Spetec and Board Member at the International Concrete Repair Institute. With 15 years in the industry and experience on job sites around the world, Jim is uniquely qualified to bring you a wealth of informative infrastructure repair content on a regular basis.

This episode's guest Kevin Earles is a long-time friend of Jim, and the National Sales Director for EPMS Supplies based in Nottingham, UK. Topics covered include how they met one another, the future of online distribution, Brexit, and more. Kevin has been in the speciality construction distribution industry for almost 25 years.

Watch the episode in its entirety below, or check it out on TheInjectionConnection.com and the following platforms:

• Spotify
• iTunes/Apple Podcasts
• SoundCloud
• TuneIn
• Google Podcasts
• YouTube

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Why Do Seawalls Deteriorate?

The Elements
Salt corrosion, tidal action, currents, boat wakes, storm surges and heavy rain events all deliver a constant beating on the seawall. 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.

Structural Aging
Correct construction of a seawall includes a drainage system to handle the bulk of the water that comes from rain in addition to check valves, weep holes, or seams to handle the daily influx and outflow from tide and wave action. Over time the materials degrade or can be disturbed by settling. The result is a loss of soil and the inevitable sinkholes and / or low spots that will occur along the wall. Other times, the weep holes and vents become clogged and the water has no way to escape except to force its way down and out from underneath the base of the wall. When this occurs there will again be sinkholes and sometimes wall failure.

Why Use Polyurethane for Seawall Repair?

Non-Intrusive Application
Polyurethane can be injected through pipes directly into voids and loose sandy soil using small portable equipment.

Proven Solution
Seawall repair resins are used extensively seal cracks, voids and defects as well as for filling voids and stabilizing the soil.

Creates an Impermeable Mass
Polyurethane seals leaks along the wall, fills the voids that have occurred, and mixes with the soil to form a solid, impermeable mass.

What Are the Results of Polyurethane Seawall Repair?

Long Lasting Solution
Alchemy-Spetec seawall repair resins cure to a strength greater than crystalline bedrock. Combined with proper drainage, this method can greatly extend the life of your seawall.

Water Tight Seawall
The resin reacts with water or moisture in the soil and expands to fill voids while it permeates sandy soil to form a solid, strong, watertight mass.

Environmentally Safe
Alchemy-Spetec offers seawall repair resins that are approved for contact with drinking water (certified to NSF 61-5). That means they can be used anywhere without having an adverse effect on water quality.

Watch this brief overview of the polyurethane seawall repair process.

Want more information on seawall repair with polyurethane?

This blog post features Episode 2 of Alchemy-Spetec's The Injection Connection podcast.

This is a presentation given to an engineering firm regarding the new patented leak seal QA/QC system The QP Factor: the first patented method to quantify leak seal grouting and leak seal effectiveness.

As mentioned in our previous post on this system...

The method of testing requires additional drill holes to be placed at pre-determined locations along the crack, joint, or substrate being sealed. Prior to injection of chemical grouts such as Spetec PUR F400, Spetec PUR HighFoamer, or Spetec PUR GT500, the test hole is connected to a digital touch-screen device that is calibrated to provide water pressure, flow, and flow/pressure information that is extractable in excel format from a convenient USB port.  Following initial testing, the test port is then plugged during chemical grouting operations to avoid false-positive results after injection. 

The presentation was first unveiled at the International Concrete Repair Institute, National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2019. Due to the context, there may be some points that seem a little abstract to the average viewer. If you have questions or need more details, please call Alchemy-Spetec at 404-618-0438.

Want more information on The QP Factor?

We enjoyed meeting everyone who visited our Leak Seal and Geotech exhibits at World of Concrete 2020 last week!  It’s always an educational experience to catch up with so many infrastructure repair professionals from around the globe and hear about your projects, your goals, your concerns and your inspirations. 

If you were there, rest assured that you’ll be hearing from us soon to continue those conversations.  If you weren’t there, we highly recommend this key industry event and hope to see you at World of Concrete 2021.

Either way, feel free to reach out to us at 404-618-0438 with your infrastructure repair questions.  We’re always here and ready to help!

For detailed info on Alchemy-Spetec products, download our catalogs.

Tomorrow is the last day of World of Concrete 2020.  We've enjoyed meeting and talking shop with a wide variety of infrastructure repair professionals from all over North American and beyond.  If you haven't dropped by the Leak Seal Division Exhibit in the South Hall at location S11307 and the Geotech Division Exhibit in the Silver Lots at location O40551, you still have time today and tomorrow!  We look forward to discussing your infrastructure repair business goals for this year and taking a look at how we can help you achieve them.

We've posted these exhibit overviews before, but they're worth repeating...

Leak Seal Division - South Hall

The Leak Seal booth features a presentation/demo stage with comfortable chairs for audience members and a separate meeting area for in-depth discussions with knowledgeable experts.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Polyurethane Leak Seal Overview Presentation
• Crack Injection Demos
• Crack Injection Presentations
• Curtain Grouting Demos
• Curtain Grouting Presentations
• Polyurethane Product Mixing Demos
• Acrylic Grout Presentation & Demo

Geotech Division - Silver Lots

The Geotech exhibit area features a fully equipped 20-foot lifting rig, a Polybadger compact slab lifting system, and a row of concrete slabs for live lifting.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Slab Lifting Demos
• Lifting Foam Product Mixing Demos
• MixMaster Gun Cleaning Demos
• Fully Equipped Rig Tours
• Polybadger Demos

We look forward to seeing you today or tomorrow!

Greetings from World of Concrete 2020!  Today marks the beginning of the show and we're going the extra mile this year to make sure both Leak Seal and Geotech interests are served to the fullest extent possible.  We have an entire booth dedicated to the Leak Seal Division & Product Line in the South Hall at location S11307.  We have entire outdoor exhibit space dedicated to the Geotech Division & Product Line in the Silver Lots at location O40551.  Each booth is staffed by product and application experts ready to talk to you about infrastructure repair!

The Leak Seal Division

The Alchemy-Spetec Leak Seal Product Line combines a full-system offering of polymer chemical grouts and equipment with the most experienced technical team in the industry. For any concrete leak seal application, lean on the Alchemy-Spetec team for phone, field, or engineering support. Our growing network of Regional Managers, Independent Representation, and Nationwide Distribution offers industry professionals many levels of opportunity worth discussing with our team. Consultants at Alchemy-Spetec pride themselves on rapid, powerful, and painless scheduling of field and technical support. We invite all attendees to inquire about our bi-annual factory training held at the Tucker, GA-based manufacturing facility where they can learn from the 20+ year average industry experience of our Regional Management and Technical Team.

The Geotech Division

The Alchemy-Spetec Geotech Product Line offers industry-leading quality, full chemical grout lifting rig training and support, and unmatched contractor support in the field and with sales and marketing. Stop by our outdoor booth to see live slab lifting demos and to learn about some of the tangible benefits of joining the Alchemy-Spetec network of geotech contractors. The Alchemy-Spetec MixMaster Pro Gun is a maintenance and production cost-saver for any lifting contractor, while the flagship lifting foams have helped many contractors reduce volume usage while eliminating call-backs. From the Polybadger machine that fits into a pickup truck, to custom boxtruck and trailer rig buildouts, Alchemy-Spetec has successfully positioned themselves as an industry-leading geotechnical chemical grout supplier. With the additions of ground penetrating radar and penetrometer equipment and support, Alchemy-Spetec is truly on the cutting-edge of the chemical grouting industry.

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

World of Concrete 2020 is next week - February 4th through 7th, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV. 

Consult with the industry's premier infrastructure repair experts at our Leak Seal Division Exhibit in the South Hall at location S11307 and our Geotech Division Exhibit in the Silver Lots at location O40551.  Each exhibit will be staffed by experienced professionals in each respective product line.  

Leak Seal Division Booth - South Hall

The Leak Seal exhibit features a presentation/demo stage with comfortable chairs for audience members and a separate meeting area for in-depth discussions with knowledgeable experts.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Polyurethane Leak Seal Overview Presentation
• Crack Injection Demos
• Crack Injection Presentations
• Curtain Grouting Demos
• Curtain Grouting Presentations
• Polyurethane Product Mixing Demos
• Acrylic Grout Presentation & Demo

Geotech Division Booth - Silver Lots

The Geotech exhibit features a fully equipped 20-foot lifting rig, a Polybadger compact slab lifting system, and a row of concrete slabs for live lifting.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Slab Lifting Demos
• Lifting Foam Product Mixing Demos
• MixMaster Gun Cleaning Demos
• Fully Equipped Rig Tours
• Polybadger Demos

We look forward to discussing infrastructure repair with you!  If you want, you can even schedule a consultation in advance.