Wintertime IS the Time for Northern Contractors to Grow a Polyurethane Injection Business

So, you think because it’s cold and the ground is frozen, it’s time to hang it up and winterize all your polyurethane injection equipment? Time to start bowling, shooting pool, ice fishing, hunting, drinking, etc.? Okay, maybe that is not the way to start a blog; a guy who has never lived north of Atlanta, telling contractors in the northern USA what they could be doing in the winter. But I implore you; please read on and consider the other fun stuff you could be doing and getting paid for.

Specialty chemical grouting contractors that operate in the northern USA face a more limited window of time to get outdoor soil stabilization and slab lifting work done. They have earned the right to take it easy in the winter because they typically work twice as hard as everyone else when the weather cooperates. With proper planning though, northern poly contractors can stay busy in the cold months as well. In this two-part blog series, we will cover what those wintertime opportunities are and how to make them happen.

What Geotechnical Work Can Be Done in the Winter?

When I talk about geotechnical work, I am primarily referring to concrete slab lifting and soil stabilization/ground improvement.  Here are some winter targets to consider:

1. Warehouses and Distribution Centers – Interior slab lifting and void filling behind loading dock walls.
2. Office and Retail – Interior slab lifting and tripping hazard mitigation.
3. Infrastructure – Below the frost line, groundwater infiltration into stormwater and sewer pipes causes loss of soil density and settling of pavement. Infiltration can be halted, voids filled, and soil density restored through a chemical grouting program.
4. Agricultural Facilities – Leveling slabs in grain-drying bunkers.
5. Commercial / Industrial – Filling voids and leveling slabs in plants and factories.

What about other polyurethane injection work? Winter is a great time to learn some new skills like crack injection, slab undersealing, and curtain grouting. When it gets cold, concrete shrinks, and cracks and joints open up and can start leaking. They are actually easier to inject when it’s cold. The market for this kind of work is practically unlimited. Consider these areas where waterproofing work needs to be done:

1. Below-grade parking structures – Every underground parking structure leaks through cracks, expansion joints, and cold joints. These can be injected with Alchemy-Spetec leak seal resins. If the concrete is in bad condition, a curtain wall grouting program can be implemented to basically create a membrane between the groundwater and the concrete.
2. Elevator pits – Any below-grade concrete structure can potentially leak. Elevator pits, especially in areas with high water tables, routinely leak. How many elevators do you think are in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago? These are all cities basically at sea level.
3. Tunnels (Pedestrian, Vehicle, Mass Transit) - These all suffer from water intrusion and can be injected with polyurethane resins.
4. Dams – It’s kind of scary to think about huge concrete dams leaking but it is indeed the case. A lot of crack injection work is done in dam galleries during the winter.
5. Residential and Commercial Building Basement Waterproofing – Cracks and joints leak year-round but when it’s cold they are easier to inject.
6. Slab Undersealing – This is the same as curtain wall grouting. The difference is that it’s done through the floor instead of through a wall.

Alchemy-Spetec’s Technical Service Team and Regional Managers provide training to get contractors started with these new skills and opportunities. You’re probably wondering how to find these projects though.  Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog series where I cover the leg work that must be done to line up this wintertime work.  

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Alchemy-Spetec will appear at the following tradeshows in January and February...

6th International Conference on Grouting & Deep Mixing

January 15-18, 2023 – New Orleans, Louisiana

Visit Alchemy-Spetec at Booth #236

Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and International Conference Organization for Grouting (ICOG) with support from Geo-Institute’s Grouting Committee are presenting the 6th International Conference on Grouting and Deep Mixing, January 2023, at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana. Be updated on the latest grouting practices, network with industry professionals, and view the latest technology and services in the Exhibit Hall … all while enjoying the excitement and diversity of the Big Easy!

2023 Sprayfoam Convention & Expo

February 12-15, 2023 - Daytona Beach, Florida

Visit Alchemy-Spetec at Booth #818

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, or the “SPFA”, is an educational and technical resource for the spray polyurethane foam industry. A national 501(c)6 trade association, the SPFA was founded in 1987. The SPFA’s core mission is to support the health of the industry and to serve its participants, promoting best practices and growth through a number of core initiatives, educational resources, events, and much more. The 2023 Sprayfoam Convention & Expo will be held at the Ocean Center located at 101 N. Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, Florida 32118. SPFA has all the pieces in place for another successful event!

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Alchemy-Spetec is proud to present The Injection Connection podcast. In-depth discussions with thought leaders and professionals in the infrastructure repair industry. If you've missed any of these episodes, we invite you to review the guide below...

Episode 1- Introduction

Episode 1 is a brief intro about the intended content of the show. The Injection Connection is produced for contractors, distributors, and design professionals in the infrastructure repair segment, or broader construction industry. The podcast aims to provide unique insights through the lens of the chemical grouting industry.

Episode 2 - The QP Factor

This episode is an overview of the patented QP Factor system used to quantify chemical grout leak seal success. The presentation was originally given at the ICRI National Convention by Jim Spiegel and is being reproduced remotely for an engineering firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is the industry's first patented method for leak seal quantification.

Episode 3 - Interview with Kevin Earles

Guest Kevin Earles is a long-time friend of Jim Spiegel, 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 specialty construction distribution industry for almost 25 years.

Episode 4 - Interview with Adam Tracy

Guest Adam Tracy, of A-1 Foundation Crack Repair, 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.

Episode 5 - Helms Polyfoam

The Injection Connection welcomes two guests from Helms Polyfoam: JR Crowell, VP & COO, and Morgan Helms, President & CEO. In this episode, Jim Spiegel discusses the history of the Helms business, the future of customer support, and the importance of relationships.

Episode 6 - Jack Whitworth

Jim and guest Jack Whitworth, 26-year chemical grouting sales professional, discuss the importance of education, the mutual benefits of competitors working together, and driving our families crazy during the Covid-19 lockdown time.

Episode 7 - Ann Thaxton

In Episode 7 of The Injection Connection, Jim sits down with Ann Thaxton, from Concrete Titans, a marketing and advertising agency offering services to the concrete lifting, and residential foundation repair markets. Ann offers great insights into the most current lead capture strategies, trends in the industry, and how marketing dollars are actually worth more in the current Covid-19 crisis.

Episode 8 - Matt & Travis of Lift It Rite

In Episode 8 of The Injection Connection, Jim sits down with Matt Chittick and Travis Germick, co-owners of Lift It Rite, LLC., a residential slab-lifting business servicing the Greater Atlanta and surrounding markets. Matt and Travis offer valuable insights on how to start a lifting business, production considerations, and the under-appreciated value of showing up with a smile (and perhaps a hamburglar costume!).

Episode 9 - Charlie "The Grout Geek" Lerman

In this episode, Jim welcomes colleague Charlie Lerman "The Grout Geek".  Charlie and Jim do their best to take off their Alchemy-Spetec hats and to discuss the Leak Seal chemical grouting industry through the eyes of a Field Services Manager.  With over 16 years of field experience representing some of the most well-known brands in the industry, Charlie is a wealth of knowledge for any listener.  

Episode 10 - John Ziebell

In Episode 10, Charlie Lerman takes over as host and welcomes Alchemy-Spetec independent rep John Ziebell. Formerly the Vice President of Operations for Deneef Construction Chemicals, Inc., John has 36 years of experience in the chemical grout industry and is currently a member of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI).

Episode 11 - Paul Layman

Episode 11 of The Injection Connection features a landmark conversation between retired industry legend Captain Grout (aka Paul Layman) and his number one protégé and unofficial successor, The Grout Geek (podcast host Charlie Lerman).  Don't miss this info-packed discussion between these two chemical grouting heavyweights!

Episode 12 - Josh Van Hook

On Episode 12, host Charlie Lerman welcomes the Outside Sales Representative at All-Tex Supply, Inc. Josh Van Hook.  Josh has over 18 years of experience as a distributor in Austin, TX and one of his passions has been chemical grouts.

Episode 13 - Erin Rothman

Episode 13. Who budgets $188 million annually to treat groundwater? The state of Tennessee does, not that they want to. A 2014 study (Kurz I/I Survey) found that roughly 45% of the water treated from their collection system was from inflow. But the treatment costs are just part of the issue. Inflow can and often does wash fines into the collection system. This has many effects. One, reduced system capacity due to these soils sitting in the pipes. Two, potential sinkholes from the loss of soils over time. A third impact is the increased wear and tear on the system, especially lift station pumps. Lastly, and the easiest to see is sanitary overflows and backups that pollute the environment and can damage property. So, with such a clear issue that obviously needs addressing, why isn’t it being addressed?  In this episode, Charlie Lerman discusses these issues with Erin Rothman, the CEO & Founder of StormSensor.

Episode 14 - Murray Heywood

Episode 14 of The Injection Connection features Charlie "The Grout Geek" Lerman interviewing veteran coatings expert (and punk rock drummer) Murray Heywood. Don't miss this info-packed and entertaining discussion!

Check out the podcast on TheInjectionConnection.com and the following platforms:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• SoundCloud
• Google Podcasts
• YouTube

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About Alchemy-Spetec and the Geotechnical Division

Alchemy-Spetec is an international leader in the manufacture and supply of chemical grouts for Geotechnical, Seawall Repair, and Leak Seal applications. Geotech is the largest division of Alchemy-Spetec. Our focus: Controlling water movement through permeable soils and improving soil-bearing capacity for construction and remediation projects.

About the Opportunity

Permanent full-time positions are available in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and South-Central United States.

We are expanding the Geotechnical Division. The Northeast/Mid-Atlantic/South Central regions are critical to our successful expansion. We are searching for a leader to facilitate this growth opportunity. You will report to the Geotech Division Manager and take responsibility for locating and converting selected prospective clients, expanding existing clients, and networking with established Regional Managers to grow the Geotech Business in your region.

Responsibilities

• Generating new sales opportunities by finding and developing new customers in key markets.
• Contacting prospective customers who have sent inquiries and converting them into customers.
• Establishing relationships with local governments and engineering firms to develop new opportunities.
• Delivering rapid growth and business revenue in the region through proactive sales activities.
• Working with existing Regional Managers and Technical Support to meet territory goals.
• Building Regional Networks of Referral Partners in support of our customers.
• Working closely with the marketing team to provide content and leverage existing opportunities.

Location & commitments

• Remote-based office with Travel throughout your region.
• Periodic Training and organizational meetings in Tucker, GA, and Reno, Nevada.
• Estimated travel: 50-70%

Candidate requirements

• Proven experience in business development and networking.
• Experience in this industry sector (Environmental, Geology, Civil, Foundations, Engineering).
• Strong business, communication, and budgeting skills.
• Professional, engaging, technical, and determined personality that is also comfortable learning geotech equipment.
• Goal-oriented self-starter who requires little supervision.
• The ability to track and achieve KPIs.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Contact us to apply

If you have a passion for business development and the geotechnical and environmental industry, then we would like to meet you. Consider becoming an important teammate of a growing organization that is dedicated to saving and developing property and infrastructure. Send your resume and cover letter to Andy Powell at apowell@alchemy-spetec.com.

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We are excited to welcome Jonathan Waite as V.P. of Operations, overseeing manufacturing and production in both Tucker, GA, and Reno, NV. Jonathan has been a leader in specialty chemical production for over 25 years. He has led sites and manufacturing networks for multinational companies such as Henkel/Loctite and Akzonobel, producing adhesives, coatings, and sealants for the consumer and industrial markets. He is a Georgia Tech alumni with a degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Hartford.

Using lean manufacturing tools, he has led continual improvement efforts, increasing capacity and throughput.  He has guided his sites to safely create high levels of customer and employee satisfaction by building world-class teams and implementing processes to ensure high standards and high levels of customer satisfaction. 

Alchemy-Spetec President and C.E.O. Stephen Barton adds, "We are proud to announce that Jonathan Waite is joining our executive team as Vice President of Operations.  Jonathan has the experience, organizational, and leadership skills to help us in our continued journey to safely create high levels of customer and employee satisfaction."

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A homeowner in Alaska reached out to contractor Ace Dragon about leaks in their basement. The basement was built with insulated concrete form walls that are typically installed in colder climates. Despite being an excellent solution, problems can arise if not installed properly during construction and the home was suffering from leaks due to poorly consolidated concrete within the walls. During construction, these specially designed walls provide insulation with concrete filling the hollow cavities. However, whenever concrete is poured it requires vibration to ensure it is properly consolidated. The walls in this home did not contain properly consolidated concrete and thus were leaking.

Powerful Polymer

After conducting a thorough inspection, the crew from Ace Dragon found issues with the membrane around the perimeter of the house and proposed injecting Alchemy-Spetec’s Spetec PUR Highfoamer into the walls to make up for the weakly consolidated concrete and seal the leaks. This durable polyurethane was perfect for this job due to its low cost and high expansion rate.

Painless Procedure

The job only required a small three-man crew and some light equipment. Starting their injection procedure from the bottom, the crew worked all the way around and up the entire basement wall to ensure all affected areas were sealed. The homeowner’s only other effective alternative would have been to excavate around the entire perimeter of the home and completely redo the membrane (something they wanted to avoid due to the high costs).

Rapid Result

The injection process took a fraction of the time a full membrane replacement would have taken. The homeowner was thrilled to have the leaks sealed and the basement walls fortified.

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A property owner reached out to a geotech contractor for help with a leaking retention pond. The pond feeds into a creek via a concrete spillway. Over the years water has worked its way through the earthen dam and under the spillway, causing large voids and soil loss under the concrete.

Powerful Polymer

The technicians selected AP Fill 720 as the repair material for this job. AP Fill 720 is a single-component, closed-cell, hydrophobic, water-reactive, phthalate-free, low-viscosity polyurethane injection resin for cutting off large water leaks and filling voids around structures. This high-strength durable material will react and expand quickly upon contact with water and is one of the top soil stabilizers on the market. 

Painless Procedure

The spillway was about 15 x 15 feet in size, with one 15-foot side bordering the pond. After soil probe testing it was decided that the crew would inject AP Fill 720 directly next to the spillway on the pond side and then directly underneath the spillway via 5/8 inch drill holes in the concrete along the border with the pond. All injections were completed to a depth of four to five feet.

Rapid Result

This project was completed within a day. The AP Fill 720 structural polymer was cured within a couple of hours after injection. The homeowners were thrilled to see their pond system, which they were heavily invested in, finally functioning as it was designed.

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The owner of a home in Montana contacted Yellowstone Structural, a geotechnical specialty contractor, about a distressing issue: one side of their house was starting to settle into the soil. This 1970s-era home did not have the proper drainage systems in place, allowing rainwater to accumulate and erode away at the soil underneath. Poor compaction of soil during the construction process was another likely cause of instability. This property owner needed a permanent solution quickly before the exterior, interior, and even the roof of the home were damaged beyond repair.

Powerful Polymer

The contractor chose to perform deep soil stabilization with Alchemy-Spetec’s AP Lift 430. This high-strength structural polymer is ideal for challenging soil compaction and void-fill jobs. AP Lift 430 also meets NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards for contact with drinking water, an important quality for any material to be installed around a residential dwelling. 

Painless Procedure

Contractors performing the Deep Lock® soil stabilization process strengthen the soil at all levels with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner. In this case, the crew installed a pair of injection tubes every three feet along the footing of the house on the side that was beginning to sink. Next, they stabilized the supporting soil with AP Lift 430, injecting the structural polymer to depths of eight feet, and then four feet at each injection point until full compaction was achieved.

Rapid Result

Two technicians completed this job within six hours. They permanently stabilized the soil underneath the sinking side of the house with minimal equipment and no collateral damage to the structure or surrounding property.

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A property owner in Montana contacted geotech contractor Yellowstone Structural regarding a garage that was recently converted into a bedroom. The garage lacked effective rainwater drainage, thoroughly compacted supporting soil, and a proper foundation with a footing like the rest of the house. For these reasons, it had sunken several inches. Alarmingly, the “new bedroom” was now beginning to break away from the rest of the house. The property owner found cracks in the siding and wanted to make sure there would be no further movement.

Powerful Polymer

The technicians planning this deep soil stabilization job chose AP Lift 430, a widely used favorite in the industry. This multi-use structural polymer is ideal for compacting soil, filling voids, and lifting slabs and structures.

Painless Procedure

Without the option of a structural polymer repair plan, a contractor would likely have had to dig around the garage, add a new foundation underneath, and then use helical piers to keep it in place. This would require the demolition of decking and surrounding structures. Heavy equipment (which often causes additional concrete surface and lawn damage) would be needed to get all of this done.

Fortunately, contractors like Yellowstone Structural can achieve soil stabilization and compaction on projects like this with the smallest footprint and the least amount of heavy equipment required. These technicians chose to implement the Deep Lock® process to stabilize the soil at all levels with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner. First, the crew identified the exact parameters of all the unstable soil. Next, they installed a pair of injection tubes every three feet along the footing of the house in the affected area. This job required 17 of these dual-tube injection points. Next, they created a high-strength durable polyurethane footer with AP Lift 430, injecting the structural polymer to depths of both eight and four feet at each injection point. The technicians performed these injections until significant backpressure was reached to confirm full soil compaction.

Rapid Result

This highly efficient “surgical strike” style job was executed by a crew of two within eight hours. No heavy equipment or messy excavation was needed. The structural polymer was cured in place within 30 minutes of injection. Water won’t erode it; insects cannot eat or bore into it. The property owner’s new bedroom is now sitting on stable soil.

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Recently Atlanta-based contractor Sitemix was called in for a highly urgent remedial project at a nearby university apartment building. A plumbing break quickly evolved into a bigger issue than just fixing some pipes. The breach resulted in large voids under the foundation slab that compromised the integrity of the entire structure. Sitemix answered the call and was immediately up to the challenge. 

Powerful Polymer

Alchemy-Spetec’s AP Lift 430 was chosen for the job due to its high density, high expansion rate, high yield, and cure strength. This two-component, high-strength, high-density, hydro-insensitive structural polyurethane foam is ideal for void fill and structural stabilization and void fill in situations like the one described above. AP Lift 430 weighs 2.75 – 3.25 pounds per cubic foot.

Painless Procedure

The structural polymer was injected through the slab to fill the voids and compact any compromised soil.

Rapid Result

The project was completed in a half day while most of the occupants were in class. The GC was ecstatic to have this emergency resolved quickly and painlessly.

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