Alchatek Blog

When you set out to work on a leak seal injection project, it's important to be prepared. 

Let's imagine you have a big polyurethane grout injection job today. Great, let’s go!

Everything starts going into the truck and you’re off. You get to the job, start pulling material, equipment, tools and a lot of other stuff out of the truck - then someone asks, “Where is the______? And where is the _______? And what happened to the _______?"

Suddenly it’s time to find the nearest hardware store, so you can get what you need, so you can get your job started and finished and cleaned up after you’re done. When you're not prepared, one trip to the hardware store is usually only the beginning. Sometimes multiple trips are necessary to get the project done.

The Boy Scouts always talk about the importance of being prepared. Here is a little help. Make a checklist to be sure you have what you need, so you can get to the job…..get started……..and get it done (without holding up work because someone needs to go to the hardware store).

Here is a suggested starter list. Add to it whatever else you think you may need:

Before you pack up for a job, it's critical to make a checklist of what you need. Check it twice (like Santa does) to make sure you have everything squared away up front. 

Want more information on leak seal crack injection?

In this post I'll provide a brief overview of four different ways to fix leaking wall joints with Alchemy-Spetec polyurethane chemical grouts.

• Drill at a 45 degree angle, injecting on alternating sides of the joint. Drill deep into the wall, but don't drill through the wall and into the soil. Instead the drill holes should penetrate the crack itself, allowing for resin to seal the crack in the wall.
  
  
• Drill straight through the wall and into the soil. Inject through either side of the joint every 8 to 10 inches.  Curtain grout behind the joint and into the soil, creating a leak barrier behind the wall.
  
  
• Soak AP Oakum in our resin, then dip it in water and shove it into the joint.  Pack oakum to the back of the joint, working your way towards the front of the joint.  Now you have a tight seal.
  
  
• Pack AP Oakum into the front half of the joint, leaving the back of the joint oakum-free.  Then push an injection needle through the oakum, and pump grout to back side of joint. This will fill the void with foam and make a very good reinforced seal.

• Spetec PUR F400
• AP Seal 500

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec leak seal products?

The Deep Lift™ process is different from common slab lifting in that it requires polyurethane foam to be injected deep into the soil beneath the structure. Deep Lift™ is often appropriate for certain larger structures and more flexible pavements that may not be ideal candidates for conventional slab lifting. It can also be used in conjunction with conventional slab lifting. In this post, I'll provide a quick overview of the Deep Lift™ process and its many applications.

The Process:

1. Complete a thorough site evaluation including – soil borings, DCP testing, and GPR as necessary
2. Address any potential binding with saw cutting, clearing of joints, and removal of old grout
3. Based upon soils data, calculate grid spacing and injection depths
4. Drive injection tubes to the correct depths and locations
5. Inject the appropriate AP Lift series polymer(s) in the predetermined sequence while monitoring for lift
6. Follow the grout plan, adjusting the injection depths and locations as the structure raises into place

The Applications:

• Bridge abutments
• Highway approach slabs
• Rigid and flexible pavements
• Ports and airports
• Settled buildings
• Soil densification and encapsulation
• Lift stations
• Pipe and tunnel segments
• Equipment pads

Want more info on the Deep Lift™ process?

Continuing on from the previous overview of Mechanical Packers and Ports, let's take a closer look at all of the required mechanical ports and accessories you could possibly need for your next chemical injection project.

The product line is comprised almost entirely of the most versatile steel mechanical packers compatible with practically all of the chemical injection grouts supplied on the market. These steel packers are offered in bottom-zerk and top-zerk style, allowing for customization and familiarity on site for all contractor preferences of technique and clean-up. All top-zerk configurations are interchangeable with button head clutch-couplings that prohibit excessive leakage which is ideal for finished or pristine spaces, or overhead applications. Alchemy-Spetec also supplies the required couplers that connect the anti-return valve to most standard industry hoses. For custom fittings, please consult your local pneumatic or hydraulic parts supplier.

Other common industry offerings are also available in zinc and aluminum designs, which offer variances in weight, price point, and chemical resistances. Plastic bang-in types are available in 3/8” and 5’8” diameters, and are most commonly used on concrete slab-lifting and soil stabilization projects allowing for higher volumes of material to be pumped prior to reaction.

Alchemy-Spetec is also very pleased to bring back the high-pressure blue and red 5/8” and 1/2" diameter mechanical packers with a large washer on the top. An industry go-to packer for many years, these packers feature a specialty rubber allowing for even higher tolerances for pressure hold. Rounding out the accessory items offered by Alchemy-Spetec are flush wands to clear drill holes of debris, injection needles to point-inject behind oakum or existing sealants, and F-assemblies that permit the ultra-effective twin-streaming technique of pre-mixing water and hydro-active chemical grout.

Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the Alchemy-Spetec Mechanical Packer and Accessories brochure (see download button below). Call us directly at 404-618-0438 for samples, pricing, and/or local distributor contact information.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec mechanical packers?

The term ‘Mechanical Packer’ probably doesn’t mean much to those not in the concrete repair industry. But for those close to chemical grouting, this term certainly brings about thoughts of both form and function. Mechanical packers are also referred to as ports, or more simply, packers. But we would like to be very clear that a port is not a packer.  

Mechanical packers were designed to withstand high pressure injection applications by inserting them into pre-drilled holes in a concrete substrate at various diameters ranging most commonly from 1/4" – 5/8”. Mechanical packers feature a rubber base with a threaded shaft. As the threaded shaft is tightened, the rubber base is compressed, creating a compression seal inside the drill hole. The ultimate pressure tolerance is dependent upon the amount the rubber is expanded and the total surface area of the rubber base that is in contact with the drill hole. That is, a smaller diameter packer will have considerably less surface area of rubber compressed against the concrete side walls, and thus holding a lower amount of pressure when connected to high pressure equipment. Most job site and substrate conditions will permit successful injection results with a diameter of 3/8” – 1/2".  Of course, some contractors have personal preference of smaller or larger sizes.  

Concrete packers also come in various types. Suppliers will market benefits of steel, brass, zinc, or aluminum. All things considered, steel packers tend to be the most versatile packers as they are compatible with all chemical grout types, while the brass, aluminum, and zinc can exhibit signs of deterioration when using oxidizing agents such as the salt component in a polyacryate gel. However, some contractors insist that the breakdown is not as quick as marketed by suppliers, therefore utilizing brass and aluminum packers in these applications as well.  

Each packer features an anti-return ball valve that is opened under pressure, allowing the passage of chemical grouts. Upon depressurizing, the ball valve will close, prohibiting the return flow of the injection resin out of the drill hole. This ball valve can be located on the top of the packer, in the base of the packer, or even freely-floating in the packer shaft to allow for maximum flow. There are pros and cons to each ball valve location depending on job site condition and application and finishing techniques.  

Lastly, there are plastic alternatives commonly referred to as ‘bang-in’ or ‘hammer-in’. These packers do not have the threaded metal shaft, but as they are driven into the drill hole, the same compression seal theory takes hold as the tapered edges become lodged into the drill hole sides. Another form of plastic ports is a plastic, surface-mounted version that is commonly used in epoxy injection and/or in the event that drilling into the substrate would be considered harmful or ill-advised.  

For more detail on your specific project needs and packer or port recommendation, please contact a knowledgeable Alchemy-Spetec representative at 404-618-0438. Alchemy-Spetec offers all of the packers and ports listed above, as well as all of the chemical grouts and pumping systems required to make your next chemical grouting job a success!

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec mechanical packers?

"No matter how great the talent or effort, some things just take time.  You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.”
– Warren Buffet

In my career, I have never worked for the 800-pound gorilla. My 12 years have been spent pioneering brands and eating elephants one bite at a time, as a good friend of mine always says. In a lot of ways, my DNA is programmed for the daily grind required to promote a brand and climb the ladder to one day become industry-leading.  

When assuming a new role with Alchemy-Spetec, I was very intrigued by the amount of technical expertise that the team offered. Having longtime industry experience in every facet of the business is very appealing to all of us. We have all come from well-established industry brands, with many of our team members being a part of the industry-leading chemical grouting manufacturer for decades. Now two months in, it’s very clear that all of the experience in the world does not substitute for the daily grind process required to achieve company-wide goals.  

The partnership of Alchemy-Spetec will be celebrating its 1-year mark as of March, 2018. It has been an exciting time for everyone on both sides. However, a long road of specification work and project support lies ahead. One of the things I like most about the building materials industry is that it is very grounded and straight forward. There are no shortcuts in our world. The path is clearly paved for what needs to be done to create a well-known brand.

1. Develop and manufacture quality products
2. Clearly define performance benefits
3. Market products to design professionals and end-users
4. Deliver on supply chain
5. Provide top-notch on-site support
6. Repeat

There is no way to skip any of these steps other than to hustle more than the next company (who may be ahead of, or coming after, us). I’m confident that wherever you find an Alchemy-Spetec team member, you’ll find them hustling through the process outlined above. And in the event that you are unaware of our team's technical capabilities, not to worry, we are confident that you will soon work with us on a chemical grouting project. We welcome all constructive criticism to improve as we aim to be the industry-leader in chemical grouting solutions...but after all, some things just take time.   

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

“There’s always a better way to do it – find it.” – Thomas Edison

Our personal brand is an app that our network uses.

It’s professional human instinct to hide behind our product line. If we lose a deal, we tell ourselves it's due to a number of variables ranging from inability to deliver on timeframe or specification, pricing constraints, etc. etc. Ask yourself how often you critically observe perhaps your most impactful brand and product: Yourself. What if your interaction with your industry was analogous to a smart phone user’s interaction with their apps? How sticky is your experience, and how often do you fix bugs?

There’s always a better way to do it. I couldn’t agree with Thomas Edison more. In this technological age, downloading applications, and updates for them, is second nature. Again, consider yourself an app with your brand being your name. How often do you release updates?

According to SaavyApps.com:

- Most successful apps release 1-4 updates a month.

- Update frequency will depend on user feedback, data, and team size.

- Most feature updates should be scoped to be no more than two weeks.

- Balance faster bug fixing updates with longer feature releases.

- Plan 2-4 updates in advance but keep attuned to market demands.

Why App Updates Matter

Although most don't know it, app updates are one of the best marketing tools app developers have at their disposal. With the number of apps people have installed on their devices today, regular updates can help an app get more mindshare relative to other apps on a device. Releasing regular updates keeps an app top of mind because it will show up in the updates list like the App Store or Google Play Store. Apple and Google also like to see app updates, especially with their major OS releases, which is why we recommend to have your app updated on major OS launch days.

Now read the paragraph above thinking of yourself as the app and updates being how you improve yourself. What updates can you share with your network (users)? Did you get your MBA, gain an industry accreditation, support a milestone project, get a promotion, or lead a successful product launch? Share these updates with your network. In my opinion, humility is one of the greatest skills one can harness to achieve goals, but it can also be detrimental if you’re hesitant to share accomplishments or self-improvements with those around you. View each accomplishment and improvement as one of your app updates. And always ask yourself when you released the last one.

In this day and age, our own personal brand is everywhere in social and professional media. People are interacting with our personal app every day. Remember that your personal brand can, and does, win and lose opportunities. Be sure to update frequently, and to share those with your end-users openly. There’s always a way to improve – find it!

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Poor compaction, water erosion, broken pipes, and organic material in the soil can all lead to settling of a foundation or a roadway. Traditional slab lifting can bring concrete and structures back into place but it doesn’t necessarily address the underlying issue or guarantee a long term fix. Other methods of addressing deep soil issues require heavy equipment, extended down time, and collateral property damage. These situations create problems for property owners as well as opportunities for the elite contractors that know how to fix them.

Introducing the Deep Lift™ process! Alchemy-Spetec offers a unique combination of high quality structural lifting foams along with the equipment and training needed to address deep soil issues. Now you can achieve soil densification and lifting on large projects with the smallest footprint and least amount of heavy equipment required. The Deep Lift™ process is powerful, painless, and rapid. Deep Lift™ gets to the root of the problems in the soil, it brings the structure back to level, and accomplishes this with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner.

Want more info on the Deep Lift™ process?

The Alchemy-Spetec PolyBadger lifting system is tough and compact. This system is an affordable entry-level slab lifting option for new contractors, as well as an extremely portable addition to the experienced contractor’s arsenal. The PolyBadger is a lot less expensive than your standard 20 foot trailer rig. The set up is simple and requires minimal equipment. The entire system can easily fit in the back of a pickup truck!

The genius of the PolyBadger is the auto calibrator. It keeps the flow of A-side and B-side slab lifting material on ratio, eliminating the possibility of crossover clogging in the gun or the whip hose. The two low-pressure transfer pumps and auto calibrator are literally the only moving parts in the whole system. That means less downtime, less maintenance, and more productivity on the job. This system is easier to use and a more affordable than many options on the market.

Want more photos and a detailed breakdown vs. other systems?

A week removed from my 12^th consecutive World of Concrete, I’m finally getting my head above water.  We all know that overwhelming feeling following a week-long tradeshow as you cut through your follow ups while juggling that full-time job you had before you went.  It can certainly be a bit stressful, but in many ways, it’s the exact jolt in the arm we need to shake us out of any year-end lull that may still be lingering.  It’s definitely 2018, and the reality of new goals is upon us all.

My 12^th show was a bit different this year.  It was my first year with a new company, and in a new role.  It was met with a bit of nervous anxiety about the conversations and interactions that lie ahead as I gel with my new colleagues and catch up with familiar faces.  The week came and went, and another week has passed, and I have now been able to reflect on my experience at the show with a clear mind.  And the only thing I can come up with is a feeling of appreciation for the industry and people we surround ourselves with in our concrete world (how fitting to coin the show World of Concrete). 

The quote below rings truer than I perhaps have ever given it credit:

“Your network is the people who want to help you, and you want to help them, and that’s really powerful.” – Reid Hoffman

All week, I was met with open hands and genuine well-wishes for myself and my new role.  Many people commenting on how small of a world it is, and how you never know where you will end up.  And after a few minutes catching up, the conversations led seamlessly into, ‘so tell me what about your products.’  I owe a big thank you to my partners from all sides of the business, including customers, distributors, and vendors, for making the industry we work in perhaps one of the best out there. 

The construction industry is for a certain type of person.  It’s a bit raw, can be rough around the edges, and certainly doesn’t require a designer suit to achieve excellence.  It’s a real industry, with real people, trying to make a decent living for their own families as well as for those with whom they partner.  So, I salute those partners who wished me, and our company, well at the show.  It is great to know that my partners want to help me, and that only makes me want to help them more, and that’s really powerful. 

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?