Alchatek Blog

How a Texas Slab Lifting Contractor Built the Capability to Take on Larger, More Complex Projects

The Challenge

This company was was built by an experienced operator with a background in construction and a clear vision for growth.

Serving the Houston, Texas market, they were already helping customers—but saw a bigger opportunity.

Property owners were dealing with:

• Settlement and structural issues

• Soil-related movement

• Problems that required more than a basic fix

These weren’t small jobs.

They required a contractor who could properly evaluate the problem, plan the solution, and execute it correctly the first time.

They made the decision to step into that role.

What They Discovered

As they expanded into more complex work, one thing became clear:

The difference between a quick fix and a long-term solution is how the job is approached from the start.

Larger projects require:

• Accurate job layout

• A clear understanding of subsurface conditions

• A structured plan for execution

Without that, problems don’t get solved—they come back.

They focused on building a process that ensures projects are done right the first time.

The Shift

Through their partnership with Alchatek, they strengthened their technical approach.

They:

• Completed application and product training

• Developed a structured process for evaluating and planning projects

• Received ongoing support in laying out and executing jobs (“gridding out” work)

This allowed them to approach each project with precision—not guesswork.

Instead of reacting to issues on site—

They arrive with a plan.

The Impact

As they began taking on larger, more complex projects:

Their income doubled.

But more importantly for their customers—

They became a contractor capable of delivering higher-quality, longer-lasting solutions.

They moved into projects where:

• The scope is larger

• The stakes are higher

• And the solution has to be right

What Changed

They didn’t just grow—they became more capable.

They expanded their ability to:

• Diagnose problems correctly

• Plan solutions before work begins

• Execute complex projects with confidence

For property owners in the Houston area, that means working with a contractor who:

• Doesn’t guess at the problem

• Doesn’t rely on one-size-fits-all solutions

• Takes the time to plan and execute the job properly

The Takeaway

When you’re dealing with structural or soil-related issues, the contractor you choose matters.

They built the capability to:

• Evaluate the problem correctly

• Design the right solution

• Execute it with precision

This isn’t about doing more work.

It’s about doing the work right.

For property owners in Houston, that means choosing a contractor who is equipped to handle complex problems—and deliver solutions that last. 

Break YOUR revenue ceiling. Consult with an Alchatek business growth expert.

Key Details

• June 30th

• 12 Noon Eastern

Generate Better Leads

Not all marketing creates profitable customers.

Gene McNaughton learned that lesson firsthand as a contractor. Some of the most expensive marketing he ever bought produced some of the worst results.

Google Ads. SEO. Facebook. Trade shows. Lead generation companies. Direct mail.

Contractors spend money on all of it. The real question is whether any of it brings in the kind of customers worth pursuing.

Learn What Works Now

The fastest-growing contractors are not always the best contractors.

They are often the best marketers.

This upcoming webinar with Gene McNaughton focuses on what is working now to help contractors generate stronger leads, attract better opportunities, and grow with more confidence.

Build Systems That Make the Phone Ring

One great marketing idea can change the trajectory of an entire business.

One strong lead source can create serious future revenue. One mistake avoided can save thousands in wasted marketing spend.

Gene will share practical insight contractors can use to sharpen lead generation, avoid bad marketing decisions, and build systems that make the phone ring.

Save Your Spot Today!

How a Spray Foam Contractor Expanded into Higher-Margin Seawall and Stabilization Work

The Challenge

A spray foam contractor in the northeastern United States had an established service offering and a steady pipeline of work.

But their business had limitations.

They were facing:

• Margin pressure 

• Over-reliance on slab lifting 

• Inconsistent lead flow

Too much of their revenue depended on a narrow set of services.

And when leads slowed or margins tightened, growth stalled.

They needed a way to expand—

Without relying on the same types of work.

What They Discovered

The issue wasn’t just volume.

It was diversification.

By focusing too heavily on slab lifting and foam-based work, they were exposed to:

• Fluctuations in demand 

• Limited pricing flexibility 

• Missed opportunities in adjacent markets

There were higher-value applications available—

But they weren’t part of their offering.

The Shift

Through Alchatek training and support, they expanded into new applications.

They received:

• Application and product training

• Exposure to new service opportunities

• Support through outreach and project development

This allowed them to begin utilizing a broader range of Alchatek product offerings.

Instead of relying on a single service line, they could now pursue multiple types of stabilization work.

The Impact

The impact wasn’t tied to a single project.

It was broader than that.

By expanding their capabilities, they were able to:

• Diversify their revenue streams

• Improve overall profitability

• Reduce reliance on any one type of work

They were no longer dependent on slab lifting alone.

What Changed

The biggest shift was in how they approached their business.

They moved from:

• A narrow, single-service focus

• To a diversified stabilization contractor

They expanded into:

• Seawall stabilization

• Additional soil stabilization applications

• Broader use of chemical grout solutions

This gave them more ways to win work—and more ways to generate profit.

The Takeaway

This wasn’t about doing more of the same work.

It was about doing different work.

By expanding their service offering, they didn’t just grow—

They built a more resilient, higher-margin business with multiple paths to revenue. 

Break YOUR revenue ceiling. Consult with an Alchatek business growth expert.

How a Florida Contractor Turned Sporadic Grout Work into a Scalable Revenue Stream

The Challenge

One Florida contractor was a long-standing, family-owned business.

They were stable. Established. Financially sound.

But when it came to chemical grout work, growth had stalled.

For years, grout projects were:

• Sporadic 

• Inconsistent 

• A small portion of their overall business

Revenue in this category had plateaued.

They had the capability—

But not the consistency or scale to grow it.

What They Discovered

The issue wasn’t demand.

It was execution and access.

They were facing:

• Inconsistent lead flow 

• Inefficient project execution 

• Limitations in equipment and process

Projects were taking longer than they should.

Opportunities weren’t turning into repeatable work.

The potential for growth was there—

But the system around it wasn’t built to scale.

The Shift

Through partnership with Alchatek, that began to change.

They:

• Invested in a Polyshark system 

• Received application and product training 

• Gained ongoing technical support 

• Engaged in outreach that expanded visibility and opportunity

This wasn’t just an equipment upgrade.

It was an upgrade to how they approached and executed grout work.

The Impact

The results were measurable—and significant.

For over a decade, their chemical grout usage had remained relatively flat.

In 2025, that changed.

Chemical grout work grew 3–4x.

What had once been a small, inconsistent part of the business became a rapidly expanding revenue stream.

What Changed

The biggest shift wasn’t just the investment.

It was the system behind it.

They moved from:

• Sporadic, inconsistent grout work → To a repeatable, scalable service offering

With better equipment, training, and support, they were able to:

• Execute projects more efficiently 

• Pursue more opportunities 

• Build momentum in a previously stagnant category

The Takeaway

This wasn’t about adding more work.

It was about unlocking existing potential.

They already had the foundation—

But with the right equipment and support, they turned a plateau into 3–4x growth and built a scalable path forward in chemical grout work. 

Break YOUR revenue ceiling. Consult with an Alchatek business growth expert.

Key Details

• May 28th

• 12 Noon Eastern
  

• 50-Minute Online PDH Session

Evaluate Complex Distress Cases With More Repair Options

Forensic engineers are often called into difficult cases involving foundation movement, settlement, structural distress, seepage, voids, and loss of support.

In those situations, the repair recommendation has to be practical, defensible, and suited to the field conditions.

This upcoming Alchatek PDH session focuses on emerging chemical grouting applications that can support geotechnical and structural distress cases where excavation, replacement, or major disruption may not be the best path forward.

Understand Where Chemical Grouting Fits

Not every distress case calls for the same repair method.

This session will cover chemical grouting applications for soil improvement, structural stabilization, void filling, seepage-related subsurface issues, and loss-of-support remediation.

Attendees will review fit criteria, limitations, and practical considerations that help determine when chemical grouting should be considered as part of the repair strategy.

Apply Field Insight to Better Engineering Decisions

Forensic engineering requires more than theory. It requires judgment, context, and a clear understanding of how repair methods perform under real conditions.

This session will include project examples showing how chemical grouting has been used to address foundation movement, settlement-related issues, stabilization needs, subsurface water problems, and void-related support loss.

The goal is to help engineers evaluate where chemical grouting fits, where it does not, and how it can support repair planning with minimal disruption compared to excavation or replacement.

This 50-minute online PDH session is designed for forensic engineers involved in geotechnical and structural distress cases.

If you evaluate foundation movement, settlement, seepage, voids, or loss-of-support conditions, this session will provide practical insight into chemical grouting as a repair option.

Save Your Spot Today

How Small Operations Gained Access to Larger Opportunities and Scaled

The Challenge

These contractors were primarily focused on smaller, residential work.

Most of their projects were:

• Local 

• Limited in size 

• Concentrated around their home geography

While this provided steady work, it came with constraints.

They were facing:

• Margin pressure 

• Over-reliance on slab lifting 

• Limited access to larger commercial opportunities

The type of work they wanted—larger, multi-site projects—wasn’t accessible to them. They weren’t competing for those jobs. They weren’t even in the conversation.

What They Discovered

The limitation wasn’t capability. It was access.

Larger commercial opportunities—especially multi-location projects—required:

• Relationships with decision-makers 

• Trust at the engineering level 

• The ability to present solutions at scale

Without that access, contractors remained confined to smaller, local work.

The opportunity wasn’t missing.

It was just out of reach.

The Shift

Through Alchatek support, these contractors were introduced to engineer outreach and Lunch & Learn engagement.

They:

• Gained access to engineers and decision-makers 

• Learned how to present solutions in a commercial context 

• Built credibility beyond residential work

This wasn’t just training. It was opening doors. 

Doors to projects they previously had no visibility into.

The Impact

The results were substantial.

These contractors began:

• Bidding and winning multiple Church’s locations 

• Executing larger projects across multiple sites 

• Completing higher-value work in shorter timeframes

This created clear operational advantages:

• Reduced labor inefficiencies 

• Lower mobility costs 

• Greater revenue per project cycle

Instead of one job at a time—

They were now operating at scale.

What Changed

The biggest shift wasn’t technical.

It was access.

They moved from:

• Local, residential work...To multi-location commercial projects

They gained:

• Entry into larger opportunities 

• The ability to scale work across sites 

• A new level of visibility with decision-makers

The Takeaway

This wasn’t about doing bigger individual jobs.

It was about doing more jobs—at scale.

Through engineer outreach, these contractors didn’t just grow—

They expanded into a model where one opportunity could turn into 100+ locations, creating a completely new level of revenue and efficiency. 

Break YOUR revenue ceiling. Consult with an Alchatek business growth expert.

How Lift It Rite Expanded from Residential Slab Lifting to High-Value Commercial Soil Stabilization

The Challenge

Lift It Rite was primarily a residential contractor.
95% of their work was driveways, walkways, and steps.

Steady revenue. Proven process.
But growth was capped.

In Spring 2020, they were called to perform a routine $3,500 slab lift beneath a loading dock.

Before proceeding, they asked Alchatek to take a second look.

That decision changed everything.

What They Discovered

Working alongside their Alchatek advisors, they tested the soil with a Dynamic Cone Penetrometer, collected core soil samples and inspected a nearby manhole to investigate potential water leak issues.  Here is what they discovered:

• A failing 72" stormwater pipe 25 feet below grade
• Deflected joints
• Progressive soil failure
• Structural risk far beyond surface settlement

This wasn’t a slab lift.

It was a deep soil stabilization and infrastructure problem.

The Shift

Instead of selling foam, Lift It Rite presented an engineered solution:

• Chemical grout injection
• Deep stabilization with AP Fill 700
• Void fill and lift with AP Lift 475
• Facility remained operational

They competed against full pipe replacement.

They won.

The Impact

• Completed in ~1 month
• Equal to 6 months of normal residential revenue
• Comparable to their entire first year in business

More importantly:

They moved from residential slab lifting to commercial infrastructure stabilization.

What Changed

• Diagnosing root cause before prescribing solutions
• Positioning as risk-reduction specialists
• Gaining confidence to bid deeper commercial scopes

This wasn’t a bigger job.

It was a new revenue category.

The Takeaway

The difference between a $3,500 lift and a $377,000 commercial win isn’t luck.

It’s proper diagnostics, engineered solutions, and the right technical support behind you.

Break YOUR revenue ceiling. Consult with an Alchatek business growth expert.

Key Details

• May 21st

• 12 Noon Eastern

Win Bigger Jobs

For polyurethane infrastructure repair contractors, technical skill gets you in the game. Sales skill helps you win more high-quality work.

This upcoming webinar with Gene McNaughton focuses on the laws of influence and persuasion that help contractors communicate value, build trust, and guide better buying decisions.

Techniques for Communicating Value

Customers often choose the contractor who explains the problem, the solution, and the value most clearly.

Whether you work in soil stabilization, concrete repair, leak sealing, or other polyurethane repair applications, your ability to communicate value can directly affect the quality of work you win.

This session will show how stronger conversations can help reduce hesitation, overcome price pressure, and position your company more confidently.

Create Better Conversations to Win More Business

Winning more work is not only about chasing more leads. It is about making the most of the opportunities already in front of you.

Gene will share practical insights contractors can use to strengthen sales conversations, build customer confidence, and win more profitable work without sounding pushy or scripted.

This webinar is designed for contractors who want to grow their business, win better jobs, and communicate with more confidence.

Save Your Spot Today!

Water infiltrated beneath spillway slabs at a campground, eroding soil and creating voids that cracked concrete. Leaks surfaced through cracks, threatening structural integrity. SiteMix Pressure Grouting, LLC was called in to repair the damage.

Initial Assessment

Probing revealed extensive voids beneath spillway slabs where water removed supporting soil and destabilized the structure. Traditional tear-out and replacement demanded extended closure, heavy equipment access, and prohibitive costs for this operational facility.

Proposed Solution

AP Lift 440 proved the perfect solution, featuring an 18x expansion ratio, 11,520 psf compressive strength for slab stabilization, and hydrophobic properties to prevent water infiltration.

Procedures

1. Established 4-foot grid pattern at lowest spillway area.
2. Drilled injection points through slabs.
3. Injected AP Lift 440 systematically across grid.
4. Monitored foam spread between injection points.
5. Completed both spillway sides plus access ramps.

Results

Completed repair in two days with zero downtime.
Stabilized slabs and eliminated all water intrusion with visible concrete drying confirming effectiveness.
Achieved approximately 65% cost savings compared to traditional concrete replacement while avoiding weeks of disruptive demolition.

Want more information on polyurethane geotech products?

An interior elevator pit needed for ADA retrofit in a multi‑level building, inside an old stairwell beside a load‑bearing wall on sandy soils. Conventional shoring wasn’t feasible indoors with tight footprint and headroom limits.​ Stable Soils of Florida was called in to assess and remedy the situation.

Initial Assessment

• Sandy, below‑water‑table soils at a planned 7 ft pit depth.​

• Footing and slab at risk of undermining if excavated untreated.​

• No practical option for sheet piling, slurry wall, or trench box.​

Proposed Solution

Engineers designed a perimeter grout “box” using AP Soil 600, a low‑viscosity, single‑component permeation resin that bonds wet sands into a rock‑like, load‑bearing mass.

Procedures

1. Lay out pit and grout‑box perimeter around the planned excavation.​

2. Drill and set probes to depths below the final pit grade.​

3. Inject AP Soil 600 while slowly extracting probes to form overlapping treated columns.​

4. Allow cure, then excavate the pit inside the treated zone.​

5. Grind exposed treated face flat and use it as the outer form for the concrete pit.​

Results

Stable excavation adjacent to the load‑bearing wall with no observed soil loss.​
Interior elevator pit completed without conventional shoring or large equipment.​
Enabled ADA‑compliant vertical access using permeation‑stabilized in‑place soils.

Want more information on stabilizing soil with polyurethane?