This post is part of the Alchemy-Spetec Contractor Lens series, featuring views, news & case studies written by our customers. This article was written by Casey Messer of Camrock Foundations. 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!

Everyone has seen a sidewalk disrupted by heaving tree roots. Similar issues occur when tree roots disrupt other structures such as foundations, garage floor slabs, swimming pools, parking lots, etc. When this occurs, trees are usually removed and the stumps ground down to the surface. But what happens to the root systems, which can be up to 10 feet deep and 50 feet wide? As all that organic material starts to break down, it leaves voids in the soil, destabilizing any nearby structures or just leaving unsightly depressions in the soil.

When Camrock Foundations is called in for a free inspection on a case like this, we thoroughly probe the soil to determine the extent of the problem. Based on our findings, we then calculate injection spacing and depths. We typically drive the injection rods in a grid pattern, four to five feet apart. We then perform a multi-tiered injection at each injection point, from up to 10 feet deep. During the process, we may adjust injection depths and locations as needed as the decaying roots are encapsulated and the soil is stabilized at all levels.

If you're looking for a soil stabilization or concrete leveling contractor near Tampa / St. Petersburg, Florida - click here to contact us today for a free inspection!

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A major culvert restoration project was recently completed by Geotech Services Inc. in Ohio. The Este Ave culvert is a concrete storm sewer that runs about 1000 feet from 4861 Este Ave to Mill Creek. The culvert includes 200 pipe joints, the majority of which are not watertight, and is 108 inches in diameter. A few of the sealed joints in the culvert have failed, leading to enhanced infiltration at downstream joints. The groundwater infiltration ranges from modest seepage to major leaks. Although there aren't any voids easily seen at the surface, it's expected that some channeling has happened along the pipe's bottom. In 2008, grout was injected to seal several joints near the intake and to fill voids around the outside of the pipe. Controlled density fill was then used to fill voids at the surface around the wing wall. Since that time, the wing wall has remained stable. Unfortunately, the culvert's sealed joints have degraded, leading to more infiltration at downstream junctions.

Powerful Polymer

Geotech Services used Spetec PUR GT500 to seal all the pipe joints in the culvert and to fill voids around the outside of the structure. Spetec PUR GT500 is NSF/ANSI 61 approved for contact with drinking water. This single-component polyurethane resin is designed to penetrate and seal off leaks in cracks, joints, and pipe penetrations. As a hydrophilic polyurethane, it chases down water and gets into the microstructure of the concrete, forming a flexible seal and a mechanical bond with the wet concrete.

Painless Procedure

Every joint in the culvert's bottom half was leaking and allowing groundwater to seep in. Geotech Services drilled one injection hole in the middle of the culvert joint at the bottom and injected the GT500 until the joint was completely sealed. Additional holes were drilled, based on how the material was traveling. About 3500 gallons were injected overall.

Rapid Result

The entire 1000-foot culvert was sealed in just under 30 days.

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Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA

May 2nd - May 4th
$745 Registration Fee
$665 for each additional participant from
the same company.

Get ready for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Deep Lock® process, Crack Injection, and Curtain Grouting. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Agenda Items

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun
• Slab Lift Rig Demonstration
• Pump Demos & Training
• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization
• Deep Lock® 
• Ground Penetrating Radar
• PolyBadger® Mobile Slab Lifting System
• Crack Injection
• Curtain Grouting
• Estimating Material for Jobs

Tony Gomes brings over 20 years of scaling company growth while ensuring organizational excellence. Tony has a deep passion for people, building teams, and leading them to success. With over 12 years of construction experience under his belt, he has become adept at most facets of the construction space. The client is put at the center of everything he does and although he loves to win, helping the team achieve its goals gives him his greatest joy and satisfaction.

Throughout his career, Tony has served as an Account Executive for FNBA, Sales Manager at Zurix Construction, National Account Director at InnoDraw, Regional Sales Manager at Harben Inc., and then Vice President of Sales at Harben Inc. Tony’s commitment to excellence and his ability to drive results make him an invaluable asset to Alchemy-Spetec and its customer base.

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Ryan Reavis is an experienced professional with over 20 years in the geotech industry. Prior to joining Alchemy-Spetec, Ryan held various leadership positions in the industry, including Project Manager with Keller, Operations Manager for McKinney Drilling Company, Project Development Manager for Rail at GeoStabilization International, and Operations Manager for Eclipse Foundation Group.

Ryan's diverse experience in sales, operations, management, logistics, and project management has equipped him with a unique skill set that he applies to his current role. Ryan has a proven track record of delivering outstanding results and driving success in both B2B and B2C environments.

Ryan is a results-driven professional with a passion for driving business growth and profitability. He is a strategic thinker who excels at helping his customers identify and capitalize on opportunities.

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Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to announce the promotion of Brian Oeder to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. Previously the VP of Sales & Marketing, we congratulate Brian on his new executive position in recognition of his extensive experience and contributions to the company's growth since joining us two years ago.

With over 25 years of experience working for manufacturing and growth-oriented businesses, Brian has held several senior positions in multinational corporations, with locations spanning more than 30 countries and 6 continents. Brian holds a Master of Business Administration specializing in marketing from Xavier University, consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in the nation. With his knowledge and experience, Brian is well-equipped to succeed in his new position as Chief Marketing Officer.

Alchemy-Spetec Chief Executive Officer Stephen Barton comments on the promotion, "Brian has been a leader in our organization from his first day on the job and we are looking forward to his continued leadership in his role as Chief Marketing Officer.  Brian will be the primary driver of our bold new strategy as we expand our product and service offerings in the coming years."

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA

May 2nd - May 4th
$745 Registration Fee
$665 for each additional participant from
the same company.

Get ready for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Deep Lock® process, Crack Injection, and Curtain Grouting. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Agenda Items

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• MixMaster Pro Slab Lifting Gun
• Slab Lift Rig Demonstration
• Pump Demos & Training
• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization
• Deep Lock® 
• Ground Penetrating Radar
• PolyBadger® Mobile Slab Lifting System
• Crack Injection
• Curtain Grouting
• Estimating Material for Jobs

Join an Alchemy-Spetec Specialist to Present to Local Organizations

The Alchemy-Spetec team routinely joins geotech and leak seal contractors to deliver lunch and learn lectures on applications for polyurethane concrete repair products to engineers, municipalities, and general contractors. These events offer a chance to highlight polyurethane in a particular application and a forum for investigating potential future applications.

It's not uncommon for an engineer to inquire after a discussion of polyurethane soil permeation, "Hey, could that be used in this other situation that I am dealing with?" These discussions at the very least a chance to lay the groundwork for future projects.

How to Get Scheduled

Contact us, and we'll send one of our regional managers your way to arrange a meeting. Please let us know which application(s) you are interested in presenting. We'll work with you to create a custom presentation. 

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Using social media to market yourself and your contracting firm is essential as the world becomes more connected. Consider a LinkedIn profile to be your very own personal branding page. LinkedIn can play a significant role in your strategy for locating new clients and contacts in your field. Your name, photo, and headline are frequently the first things visitors see before even clicking on your profile. A professional headshot photo is essential for your profile page.

Headline

One of the most crucial elements of your profile on LinkedIn is your headline, the section found under your name. It spans the top of your page and can be seen everywhere, including in "People You May Know" sections, job applications, postings, messages, recommendations, and even connection requests on LinkedIn.

The LinkedIn character limit for headlines is 220 for desktop and 240 for mobile. Although there are two options, be sure to optimize for 220 characters or less. Don't simply list your title; but include what you can offer, such as "President at ACME Foundations: Concrete Leveling and Soil Stabilization."

Summary

The text box that reads "Summary" at the top of your LinkedIn profile is also known as the "About" section. It's directly below your picture. You can briefly describe your career history in this extra space which has a character limit of 2,000. This is a crucial area in which LinkedIn scans the keywords to decide whether or not to include your profile in search results. Use keywords and information that potential customers might be searching for. In the end, your LinkedIn summary should act as a spotlight, framing your individual story and assisting readers in learning more about you, your motivations, the types of work that excite you, and (if applicable) your accomplishments.

Experience

You have the choice to import your resume here, but there's more to do than just that. Take advantage of including one or more media items. Customers might spend more time browsing your profile if it includes interesting media. This could result in more business opportunities.

Recommendations

Get at least two recommendations from people who have hired you for jobs or who are influential in your industry, if at all possible. Make sure to provide talking points that highlight your character and strengths.

Endorsements

Endorsements are essentially testimonials from individuals who confirm the skills you listed on your profile. List these skills from most applicable to least relevant, starting at the top. You could recommend others and hope they will recommend you in return to increase those endorsements (or email associates to specifically endorse you for a certain skill).

Connections

Create as many connections on LinkedIn as you can. This increases the visibility of your profile. Connect with everyone you know, including your friends, family, alumni, coworkers, clients, and industry leaders.

Contact Information

A straightforward email would be sufficient for this section. You will always be accessible in this manner, ensuring that you never miss a crucial business opportunity.

LinkedIn Account Address (URL)

Your first and last names can be added to the LinkedIn account address. If your name is already taken, you can change it by adding a middle initial, a number, etc.

Updates

Updates are essentially what you share with your connections, similar to a Facebook "post" or a "tweet" on Twitter. It is the ideal way to interact with your contacts on a regular basis and maintain visibility. It allows you to update your status with recent achievements and business-related news.

Conclusion

With the help of this guide, you should be able to use LinkedIn effectively and draw in the audience you desire. Don't forget to follow the Alchemy-Spetec LinkedIn company page as well! 

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Premier On-The-Job Technical Support

Alchemy-Spetec offers onsite training for qualified geotech and leak seal customers. Starting up a contracting business, tackling a larger job than you're used to, getting new personnel trained, or adding a new service to your arsenal can be daunting. Our industry-leading technical support team specializes in training contractors on the job site. 

Always Be Prepared for Lucrative Jobs

With the backing of Alchemy-Spetec's technical support team, you'll never have to worry about your crew's ability to take on the next opportunity - whether it be a first-time geotech or leak seal job, or a bigger job than they are used to. Qualified customers can schedule an onsite visit from an Alchemy-Spetec specialist in order to ensure that the process goes as planned.

Estimation and Job Planning Assistance

Speaking of planning, your technical support specialist can also work with you in the estimation and preparation stages of your project as well.

Call 404-618-0438 for more information on Alchemy-Spetec technical support.

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