Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to welcome Jacob Bryant to our technical support team. Jacob joins the company as Geotech Services Technician. He'll be working with Cult Hullander (Director of Technical Services - Geotech).

Jacob has worked in various forms of construction for the last 8 years. He spent several years working as a technician applying chemical grouts, servicing and maintaining equipment, training new hires, and managing rigs/warehouse stock. He has worked across the United States with a wide variety of polymers and soil types.

Before entering the geotech industry, Jacob worked in roofing, managing crews, installing product, and making repairs. Effective communication was essential in this position. He has extensive experience working with customers and addressing their needs throughout his career.

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Newcomers to urethane grouts often cut their teeth on these two terms, but the industry in general struggles with the understanding of what they are, and when to use hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic polyurethane grouts. So, I will cover the differences and then point out what I feel is a much more important conversation about polyurethane chemical grouts.

Hydrophobic

• Cured States: Rigid, Semi-Rigid, Flexible Foam
• Reaction: Requires Water
• Requires Accelerator: Yes
• Elongation: None to 100%
• Wet/Dry Cycling: Unaffected
• Adhesive Bond: Good
• Pumped and Handles as: Single Component

Hydrophilic

• Cured States: Flexible Foam or Gel
• Reaction: Requires Water
• Requires Accelerator: No
• Elongation: None to 300%
• Wet/Dry Cycling: Can Dry Out
• Adhesive Bond: Superior
• Pumped and Handles as: Single Component

Somehow, the industry has erroneously assumed hydrophobic means: "fears water and pushes it away". While at the same time assuming hydrophilic means: "loves water and draws it in". There are some truths in these statements but they are only the core and are wrapped in misconceptions.

Misconception One: Water Loving and Water Fearing

Both grouts require water to activate and yes, the hydrophilic grout can incorporate more of the water into its cell structure, but both grouts will push water away when they have reacted with enough water to polymerize.

Misconception Two: Hydrophilic Grouts Dry Out and Shrink Without Water

A more accurate statement would be that cured hydrophilic urethane grouts can dry out and shrink in an arid environment. Concrete normally has a relative humidity of around 60% which will keep a hydrophilic foam hydrated. Soils can vary in their relative humidity but most often have enough moisture not only to keep a hydrophilic grout hydrated but also enough to polymerize a hydrophobic grout without the need for added water.

Misconception Three: Hydrophilic Grouts Have Better Adhesion

It is 100% true hydrophilic grouts have better adhesion in ASTM lab testing, and I did just list them as having superior adhesion. But, in my twenty-plus years in construction, I have never seen a grout job performed under laboratory conditions. Adhesion requires a clean surface for bonding. During crack injection, surface prep is a water flush in a crack we cannot see. So clearly it would be silly to believe we have a pristine surface inside the crack to adhere to. So yes, in a lab, hydrophilic grouts adhere to concrete better than hydrophobic grouts. In situ, both have a weak adhesive bond and both rely on their compressive and mechanical bonds much more than on an adhesive bond.

So, it's important to understand there is much more to grout selection than just hydrophilic and hydrophobic. I would estimate around 60% of chemical grouters only chemical grout a few times year. This can make product and methodology selection very difficult. That is why I am here with the Alchemy-Spetec team to help navigate you through these critical nuances. Call us at 404-618-0438 for technical assistance!

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A retaining wall at a Georgia-based luxury residence was failing due to the pressure of the surrounding soil. A general contractor excavated the site around the wall and planned to install lightweight foam blocks as a replacement for the heavy soil that was removed. After doing a little more research, the contractor discovered that, due to the cost of shipping the blocks, liquid polyurethane foam installation by a local specialized contractor was a lot less expensive. Liquid polyurethane foam takes the shape of the void before curing to form a high-strength solid mass.

Powerful Polymer

The contactor used AP Fill 420 to fill the void. AP Fill 420 is a two-component, high expansion, hydro-insensitive polyurethane foam. It’s the top slab solution for polyurethane void fill. AP Fill 420 weighs 1.8 to 2.2 pounds per cubic foot.

Painless Procedure

The contractor filled the entire void with AP Fill 420 foam. This material was faster to install, less expensive, and provided a more waterproof solution than the foam blocks.

Rapid Result

The entire void was filled with lightweight and extremely durable polyurethane foam. This material placed minimal pressure on the retaining wall, eliminating the danger of future damage. The property owner was extremely pleased with the results.

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Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 1st

$695 Registration Fee
$615 for each additional participant from
the same company.

Get ready for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Alchemy-Spetec Deep Lift® process, equipment, and applications. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Tuesday, March 29th

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• PolyBadger® Demo & Training
• Estimating & Quoting Jobs

Wednesday, March 30th

• PMC Pump Demo & Training
• Leak Seal Issues on Geotech Jobs
• Ground Penetrating Radar Demo & Training
• Slab Lift Rig Demo & Training
• Competing Geotech Techniques

Thursday, March 31st

• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization Demo & Training (On-Site)
• Deep Lift® Demo & Training (On-Site)

Your Instructors:

Andy Powell (Southeastern Regional Manager), Erik Prinzing (Midwest Regional Manager), Colt Hullander (Director of Technical Services - Geotech), Patrick Zito (Eastern Regional Manager), Joel Bryant (Western Regional Manager).

Sometimes lifting concrete slabs with polyurethane is about more than just making something structurally sound and level again. In every town, there are buildings sitting empty because the floors are not in sufficient shape for use by a business. Imagine the service a concrete leveling contractor can provide by bringing slabs back into tolerance and allowing an empty space to become a revenue stream for the building owner. This is what one of our contractors in Omaha, Nebraska did.

In downtown Omaha, there are a lot of historic buildings. Located on an old stockyard site, there is a building that was constructed in 1911. It had been used as a parts depot for many years; including parts for World War II-era Jeeps. The owners of the building have converted some of it into a commercial laundry equipment distribution facility, but there was a section with sagging floors that really couldn’t be used effectively.

Some research on the internet led them to one of our contractors. This particular lift was a little tricky because the concrete literally had a belly, or sag, down the center. The owner’s idea was to create an office space with partitions/cubicles for small businesses. However, the current floor condition would have everyone’s office chair rolling to the center of the building. Not good! How would the floor react as they tried to bring it up a couple of inches? I was onsite as a consultant to help them find out!

We gave ourselves a reward to shoot for if the lift was successful; a big slab of Omaha prime rib. With that as motivation, we slowly worked our way across the floor and back. Using zip levels, dial indicators, and instinct developed from other jobs, we gradually brought the old floor back into tolerance. The product we selected for this project was AP Lift 430 and it worked beautifully. The MixMaster Pro injection gun performed as advertised and allowed for an efficient installation of the lifting foam. Although we had to drill multiple holes for the targeted injections, we only used three total injection ports.

Now the final touches are being added to this soon-to-be office space. The owners will have multiple tenants paying rent and a once unusable space as a revenue-generating property. If you’re a property owner with a similar issue, call us to get hooked up with a contractor who can help. If you’re a contractor, keep your eyes peeled for similar opportunities. They are all over the place. Now, about that prime rib…

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Many of the contractors I’ve worked with over the years have had to give a presentation at one time or another. In some cases, they need to make a pitch to a potential client (for example at municipality or state agency contract meetings). In other cases, they have the opportunity to market their services by giving presentations at trade shows, “lunch and learn” seminars, webinars, homeowner association meetings, professional association events, etc.

Presentation opportunities can sometimes arise on short notice. This is why you can benefit from creating presentations ahead of time. If you’d like, you can ask our marketing team to critique your presentation. You can also inquire about getting a member of our sales team to co-present when an opportunity does come along.

Incorporate the following tips to create a powerful presentation for your contracting business. Some of these suggestions may seem contrary to everyday conventional practice, but who wants a run-of-the-mill presentation? We’ve tested this approach time and time again, with consistently positive results. It will be worth your while to at least give it a shot.

Fewer Words

As a detail-oriented professional, you may be inclined to pack your presentation slides with lots of text in order to get all your important points across. This is not the most effective way to give a presentation. It can lead to information overload and a drowsy, impatient audience. When creating a presentation, you want to condense the information and only include text that is absolutely essential.

Powerful Images

Now that you have seriously scaled back your text use, the next step is to make the presentation lively. The audience needs to be actively engaged rather than bombarded with data. If you associate a powerful image with each essential point, the audience is better able to visualize and remember the concept.

Engaging Stories

Once you have simplified your text and added visually striking images, you can add extra punch by incorporating stories to get your points across. As a contractor, you probably have many stories from the trenches. Telling a story is a surefire way to make sure a message sticks.

White Paper Instead of Note-Taking

One thing that dilutes the impact of even the most powerful presentations is audience note-taking. This habit guarantees that half their time is spent looking down at their desk rather than paying attention to you. That’s why it’s helpful to prepare a whitepaper (basically an essay with any essential graphics) that summarizes all the key points from your presentation. Inform the audience upfront that there is no need to take notes, as they will receive a written summary afterward. Explain to them that they’ll get a lot more out of the presentation if they provide their full attention.

Conclusion

Since I believe in giving credit where credit is due, I'd like to acknowledge that most of these ideas came from the book Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds.

For more tips on how to create a powerful presentation for your contracting business, or to inquire about co-presenting with one of our specialists, give us a call at 404-618-0438.

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Municipalities across North America have widespread problems with Inflow and infiltration (I&I). Inflow is in reference to stormwater that invades sewer systems. Infiltration is in reference to groundwater infiltrating manholes, lift stations, pipes, and other sanitary system components. While there are a few solutions on the market for mitigating inflow, this article is primarily focused on mitigating infiltration with polyurethane grout.

What are Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)?

According to EPA.gov, sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) can be found all over the country and pose many dangers to public health. They estimate there are at least 23,000 - 75,000 SSOs per year in the United States alone. Because SSOs contain raw sewage they carry bacteria, viruses, protozoa (parasitic organisms), helminths (intestinal worms), and inhaled molds and fungi. Because of this, they may cause diseases ranging in severity from mild gastroenteritis (causing stomach cramps and diarrhea) to life-threatening ailments such as cholera, dysentery, infections hepatitis, and severe gastroenteritis.

Massive Amount of Funds in Place for Sewer & Stormwater Infrastructure Repair

Thankfully, hundreds of billions of dollars are budgeted for addressing these issues according to EPA.gov. The CWSRF (Clean Water State Revolving Fund) was created by the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) as a financial assistance program for a wide range of water infrastructure projects. This program is a key relationship between the EPA and states that replaced EPA's Construction Grants program. States now have the ability to fund a range of projects that address their urgent water quality issues.

A Simple Plan for Mitigating Sanitary/Stormwater System Infiltration

The grouting plan shown below provides the highest return on investment:

1. Inspect lift stations and manholes.
2. Identify obvious and large leaks.
3. Point repair with polyurethane grout.

Typically, a two-person crew can quickly mitigate 10-30 gallons per hour in less than a day. Just this one day’s work will usually equate to $30,000 a year in savings depending on local treatment costs. For more information on mitigating infiltration with polyurethane grouts, call the Alchemy-Spetec technical support team at 404-618-0438 today.

Want more information on polyurethane Leak Seal solutions?

This post is part of the Alchemy-Spetec Contractor Lens series, featuring views, news & case studies written by our customers. This article, written by Brian Dalinghaus of Dalinghaus Construction, examines the following applications of polyurethane: void fill, slab leveling, and slab lifting. 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!

So, your sidewalk sunk into the muddy mire that used to be your backyard before Fifi dug it up. Or perhaps your cement patio has a new severe slant to it so that you shimmy folded-up pieces of paper underneath your picnic table to make it artificially level. Or maybe you have weak, non-loadbearing soil and your pool is starting to crack due to the strain. The question is: how do you lift and re-level large sections of concrete?

Polyurethane is a panacea, a cure-all, for a long list of soil-related issues. Polyurethane can lift, level, and densify weak soil. Dalinghaus Construction Inc. has been in the foundation repair industry for decades. We are here to educate you on everything to do with polyurethane, whether you choose to employ our services or go with another contractor.

In this article, you will learn the properties of polyurethane foam, how it is utilized for soil densification, slab lift & leveling, and void fill.

What is Polyurethane Foam?

Polyurethane foam is an injectable polyol and isocyanate resin sealant, insulation, grout which expands upon application providing void fill, structural support, and re-leveling properties. Polyurethane foam is waterproof, flame-retardant, noninvasive, and nonpolluting, weighing 3.5 to 5 pounds per cubic foot and reaching 90% compression strength after 15 minutes. Polyurethane can hold up to 7,200 pounds per square foot.

Polyurethane is injected as a liquid before it solidifies into its foam state. Due to the initial liquid form, polyurethane permeates into tight spaces, allowing it to penetrate weak soil and difficult to reach voids. This foam is environmentally inert, posing no danger to the environment or the evolutionarily finely tuned habitat that is your yard.

In other words, your children and your furry pets are safe. In fact, polyurethane itself is so safe it is used in pacemakers and other devices that can be safely implanted into the body.

At Dalinghaus Construction Inc., we utilize AP Lift 430, which is certified by Truesdail Labs to NSF / ANSI 61-5 (meaning it’s approved for contact with drinking water).

Fun Fact with Brian – Polyurethane has quickly usurped mudjacking due to its lighter weight and less invasive application system. Mudjacking slurry weighs up to 140 pounds per cubic foot (which just adds more weight to an already sinking slab). To find out why Polyurethane is a better option than mudjacking, read our article Polyurethane Injection vs Mudjacking (Weight, Application, & Cure Time).

Polyurethane Soil Densification

Polyurethane foam densifies weak, non-loadbearing, expansive soils, such as clays and lay stratum. The polyurethane is pumped deep into the soil (often at varying levels/intervals) and expands as a foam. The polyurethane foam fills gaps and underground pockets that compromise the structural integrity of the soil. This foam solidifies, strengthening the soil by adding light, water retardant support. Polyurethane soil densification can be used to mitigate landslides, for hillside stabilization, and deep injection.

Polyurethane Slab Lift & Leveling

Sidewalks, concrete patios, and backyard basketball courts can sink and become uneven. While it’s tempting to blame the slanted slab for your bad dribbling skills during a pick-up game, it’s always more fun and safer to walk across flat, level surfaces.

A flat working space is especially important in a warehouse environment. Polyurethane foam works beautifully at leveling warehouse slabs to ensure all the warehouse workers are safe. To learn more about warehouse safety, read our other Contractor Lens article on the Alchemy-Spetec blog, Warehouse Floor Repair.

Polyurethane is the perfect candidate to lift and re-level concrete surfaces, due to the expansive properties of the foam. As the foam expands, it pushes upwards, exerting a tremendous amount of force on the slab above, returning it to level.

Polyurethane Void Fill

Polyurethane foam is often utilized as a void fill after a slab lift during an underpinning project. When the affected section of the home is lifted, it leaves a void where the home had settled. Polyurethane is injected, the foam expands, and the void is filled with strong, durable, and supportive material.

*Note – The lifted section of the home always requires void fill (the last pier on each side is referred to as the void fill lifting point). The entire area beneath the slab doesn’t require void fill, only the affected area.

Polyurethane Projects

In this article, you learned about various applications of polyurethane foam in the construction world: soil densification, slab lift & leveling, and void fill.

If you want to learn how invasive polyurethane injection is, read our article 5 Steps to Polyurethane Foam Injection (From Drillholes to Cure).

We have over 100 years of combined experience in the foundation repair game. We are here to educate and assist, whether you ultimately choose us for your polyurethane services or not.

If you live in Southern California or Arizona and would like to book a free foundation inspection, click the link below...

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Andy Powell Promoted to Division Manager - Geotech

Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to announce the promotion of Andy Powell to the position of Division Manager - Geotech. Andy Powell has been with Alchemy-Spetec since the inception of the company in 2013. His experience includes manufacturing, application, equipment, estimating, field service, and training for the entire product line. While he specialized in geotech products and applications, his experience also includes crack injection and curtain grouting. In his new position, Andy will be responsible for overseeing the entire Geotech Division at the national level. In this capacity, he will still be able to assist customers in the Southeast who know him well.

Steve Taylor is Now Southeast Regional Manager

Alchemy-Spetec is pleased to announce the hiring of Steve Taylor as Southeast Regional Manager. Steve Taylor’s experience includes material installation, equipment operation, estimating, and field service training. Applications include slab lifting, soil stabilization, crack injection, curtain grouting, and seawall repair. Before joining Alchemy-Spetec, Steve was General Manager at the geotech contracting firm Ground Consolidation Services. At GCS he supervised crew members and managed customer relations for all of metro Atlanta. He has worked in the construction industry for many years. Before GCS, Steve was a supervisor for a major home remodeling contractor. Steve is known for his responsive and considerate approach when working with customers. Early in his career, Steve spent time as an audio engineer in the film industry. He’s also a talented drummer. He lives in Marietta, GA with his wife, son, and daughter.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Alchemy-Spetec HQ in Tucker, GA
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, March 1st

$695 Registration Fee
$615 for each additional participant from
the same company.

Get ready for a thorough education in Slab Lifting, Soil Stabilization, the Alchemy-Spetec Deep Lift® process, equipment, and applications. You’ll get hands-on training from a technical staff with decades of on-the-job experience.

Tuesday, March 29th

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Geotech Applications & Case Studies
• PolyBadger® Demo & Training
• Estimating & Quoting Jobs

Wednesday, March 30th

• PMC Pump Demo & Training
• Leak Seal Issues on Geotech Jobs
• Ground Penetrating Radar Demo & Training
• Slab Lift Rig Demo & Training
• Competing Geotech Techniques

Thursday, March 31st

• PolyShark® / Soil Stabilization Demo & Training (On-Site)
• Deep Lift® Demo & Training (On-Site)

Your Instructors:

Andy Powell (Southeastern Regional Manager), Erik Prinzing (Midwest Regional Manager), Colt Hullander (Director of Technical Services - Geotech), Patrick Zito (Eastern Regional Manager), Joel Bryant (Western Regional Manager).