Alchatek Blog

Every once in a while, we will get a call from a frustrated contractor who has had a few jobs in a row where they used more foam than estimated.  Extra foam also means extra time on the job site so it's a serious concern with financial consequences.  

Although it's easy to think it might be the polyurethane not working right, that's usually not the case because formulations generally remain unchanged year after year.  Once a certain formula is dialed in and has gone through various approvals; it is unlikely to be changed.  So, what could be happening?

Site Evaluation Issues

I have been on more than a few jobs where the operator runs into a problem because the salesperson has missed something.  In cases where more foam than predicted is used it is usually because there is a big void that was not initially identified or there is very poor soil compaction.

When doing a proper site evaluation, you should start with bringing the right tools.  Bring a golf club or a piece of rebar to tap on the concrete and listen for voids.  Concrete makes a distinctly different "hollow" sound when there is a void beneath it.  Tap around the area to determine the extent of the void and then take measurements.  

I also like to have a cordless hammer drill with a 3/8" bit and a 1/2" bit.  If the customer will give you permission, ask to drill a small hole through the slab to check the void.  Make a mark on your drill bit when you break through the slab so you can determine the thickness of the slab.  Then I like to use a fiberglass driveway marker to stick through the hole and measure the amount of void.  If my drill bit is breaking through at 4" and my driveway marker goes in 7" before contacting the ground, then I know I have a 3" void.  When in contact with the ground, try to push the probe further into the ground to get an idea of compaction. If you can bury the probe by hand, then you know the ground is super soft or saturated and you need to account for more foam being used.

If you bring a borescope camera, you can drill a 1/2" hole in the slab and then insert the camera to have a look.  A good borescope will allow you to turn the camera head 90 degrees to have a look under the slab in a horizontal position.  These cameras plug into your smart phone or tablet so you can record video or take still shots.  This can be very compelling evidence to show a property owner and it also indicates that you know what you're doing.

So, what if you have all the cameras and probes, and you know how to sound out a piece of concrete with your piece of rebar; does that guarantee you won't go over on foam usage?  The answer to that is "No" because you may know how to check for a void, but you may not know where to check.  

Take, for example, a driveway slab that is down 2" from the garage slab.  It's easy for a salesperson to come out and measure the driveway slab, check for voids, and put together an estimate.  The experienced salesperson will also ask to go in the garage or carport to check for voids under that slab.  Polyurethane foam always tries to find the easiest path to travel when it is expanding.  If there is a washout under the driveway caused by a misplaced downspout; there is a good chance the void continues up under the garage as well.  Check the garage slab for cracking and tap on it with steel to listen for voids.  The point is to not get so focused on the obvious and take a look at the bigger picture.

Foam Issues

As I mentioned earlier, it's typically not going to be an issue with the foam unless you are using the wrong foam or sub-par foam in the first place.  However, you can still make a poor-quality finished foam with perfectly good raw materials and that will definitely affect the yield and the amount of foam that you will use on a job.  

Because Alchemy-Spetec does not use recycled materials in our formulations, the B-side is almost clear in color and the A side is always the color of weak coffee.  A quick test shot of our foam will let you know right away if it's on ratio because it will be a nice off-white color with a smooth skin forming as it expands.  If there is too much A side the foam will look more yellow and the texture will be crunchy.  If there is too much B side the foam will be pale white and soft.  It will take longer to cure and, in both cases, it will take more product to get the job done.

Besides doing an occasional test shot to check for color and foam curing speed, it's also important to watch the pressure gauges on the machine to make sure they are equal.  Also make note if you are going through a drum set and you consistently have too much A or too much B left over while the other drum is empty.  It could be an adjustment needs to be made at the machine itself.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec slab lifting solutions?

In what is becoming an annual tradition, we are re-posting this classic Christmas blog from our Southeast Regional Manager, Andy Powell.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us here at Alchemy-Spetec.

This time of year, most people will spend a little extra time with their loved ones.  It is also a time to reflect on the loved ones we miss that are no longer with us.  Like most of us, I know people who have either been lost or have suffered through a loss.  In those cases there was nothing that could have been done to stop it.  However, there are things that we can do to guard against job related safety hazards.

I've been fortunate enough to spend time in an OSHA safety training class.  It was required in order to be present supervising a project at a chemical facility.  Signing in at 6 AM, I’ll admit I was not looking forward to spending all day there.  By the end of the day I was glad that I went.

In an intro video, the narrator said that every morning when you kiss your loved one goodbye before you go to work, keep in mind that someone, somewhere will not come home from work that day.  Workplace accidents are almost entirely preventable.  Investigations typically find the cause quite easily. 

The class I attended contained a dozen or so modules, each one with a video case study followed by the teaching.  Every case study module covered a different accident where people didn’t come home from work that day.  All of them could have been prevented.  I learned about fire, electrical and chemical safety; as well as confined space, ladders, scaffolds, and working in trenches.  I have worked in the construction industry since my teenage years, so it was sobering to look back and think about some of the close calls I had.

If you're a contractor or industry related business owner looking for a good investment, send your employees to one of these classes.  It’s an excellent opportunity for them to learn safety principles that can protect you, your other employees, and your business from being lost.  It’s a gift that will keep on giving.  You don’t need Christmas as a reason to do this, but in the spirit of the season, you may want to make it the reason.  

Click here to find an OSHA safety class near you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Alchemy-Spetec's Geotechnical consultant Andy Powell and Bayset Specialist Trade Suppliers recently conducted Geotechnical concrete repair training programs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane Australia. 

The training agenda included:

• Geotech Product Line Overview
• Soil Stabilization
• Geotech Product Mixing
• Rig & Mobile System Overviews
• Geotechnical Accessories
• Slab Lifting Live Demo
• Deep Lift™ Overview
• Maintenance Discussions
• Pricing / Estimating / Cost Savings
• Open Discussions

We'd like to thank Bayset and Andy Powell for working together to get contractors down under trained in the use of polyurethane for slab lifting, soil stabilization and the Deep Lift™ process!

Want information on future Alchemy-Spetec training opportunities?

I just came off my first ever solo field service as a consultant for one of our contractor customers.  The story starts as all good ones do... 

I'm on a parking garage renovation project in Sacramento, California. It’s cold, it’s loud. This is my contractor's first time ever touching polyurethane injection resin.

I arrive with our regional distributor.  We have several pails of Spetec PUR H100 and Spetec PUR F400 (our rigid and flexible foams) in tow.  We begin the process of curatin wall grouting a part of the parking garage that will eventually be converted into an IT server room.

The injection process seemed to be going along just as planned, when suddenly...well...let's just say I’ll never forget the face of one of the crew as some injection resin shot out of the wall and 10 feet through the air!

The fun thing to take from this is that I very quickly remembered a crucial part of my safety training: I need to keep my arms covered. This is not a profession in which you want to walk around a job site with short sleeves. It turned out I had a very expensive wax treatment to go along with my field service!  Aside from this little mishap, the job went well and the customer was extremely happy due to the high-quality tech service provided.  (In addition to my extensive training, I have all the senior Alchemy-Spetec leak seal experts on speed dial).

I said during my Alchemy-Spetec job interview that some day I wanted to be like our Director of Technical Services - Leak Division, Charlie Lerman.  Well here I am, traveling, servicing, succeeding...and occasionallly scraping off the resin afterward.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec leak seal products?

Continuing with our tradition of hiring the most technically adept professionals in the industry, we're proud to announce the arrival of Tony Alfano as Regional Geotech Lead - Northeast. As a project engineer, Tony Alfano been very effective in a variety of industries including soil improvement, infrastructure/environmental remediation, renewable energy, small business consulting, co-generation, manufacturing and biomedical. Tony joins Alchemy-Spetec as an experienced ground improvement project engineer. Tony also has professional experience in installations of commercial and residential solar electric systems, and solar hot water systems, as a senior project engineer.

Tony began his career as a mechanical engineer for Ingersoll Rand, Inc. and managed installation projects for their Northeast territory. Tony’s background with highly technical RFQ and RFP response will help provide quick turnaround on project bids with the details required to ensure successful project completion. Tony holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, is OSHA 10 Certified, OSHA Confined Space Entry, SWAC Card Holder, a TWIC Card holder, and is MTA NYC Track Safety Certified.

An avid outdoorsman, Tony gives back to the Engineering Community by spearheading STEM outreach programs, contributing best practices to the coastal, ports, oceans, and river engineering community, and by serving as Chair of the North Jersey ASCE COPRI Institute. Jim Spiegel, VP Sales and Business Development, adds, "Tony's technical knowledge of, and experience in, geotechnical grouting will provide immense value to our own team as well as customers.  We're excited to add such a strong team member to our Geotech Division and are looking forward to not only working with, but also learning from Tony."

Tony will be covering the following states: PA, WV, MD, DE, NJ, NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, CT, RI, DC

He can be reached at 917-588-0832 or talfano@alchemy-spetec.com.

Unstable Loading Dock Slabs

The soil beneath a loading dock slab needs to be stable and strong on a consistent basis.  Sinking or rocking slabs can cause injury and litigation risk that no property owner should have to deal with.  The good news is that you have a choice, even if your slabs are not sinking or rocking yet!

Loading Dock Slab Repair with Polyurethane

As the premier manufacturer of polyurethane lifting and stabilization products, we sell to slab repair contractors all over North America.  Wherever your property is located, we likely know a contractor in your area who can provide an estimate for repairing your loading dock.

Alchemy-Spetec's network of factory-trained contractors can fill voids, stabilize soil and lift sunken slabs with high-strength polyurethane foam.

If you own or manage a building with loading docks, do NOT ignore the risk of injury and litigation that stems from unsupported, unstable or sinking slabs.  We can help you find a well-trained contractor, specializing in loading dock concrete repair.

Call Alchemy-Spetec now at 404-618-0438 or...

Click below, fill out a form for a slab lift brochure & we'll contact you ASAP.

World of Concrete 2020 is scheduled for February 4th - 7th, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV.  Alchemy-Spetec will feature the Leak Seal Division & Product Line in the South Hall at location S11307 and the Geotech Division & Product Line in the Silver Lots at location O40551.

Leak Seal Division Booth - South Hall

The Leak Seal booth features a presentation/demo stage with comfortable chairs for audience members and a separate meeting area for in-depth discussions with knowledgeable experts.  Look for the following educational activities:

• Polyurethane Leak Seal Overview Presentation
• Crack Injection Demos
• Crack Injection Presentations
• Curtain Grouting Demos
• Curtain Grouting Presentations
• Polyurethane Product Mixing Demos
• Acrylic Grout Presentation & Demo

Geotech Division Booth - Silver Lots

The Geotech exhhibit area features a fully equipped 20-foot lifting rig, a Polybadger compact slab lifting system, and a row of concrete slabs for live lifting.  Look for the following educational activities:

• Slab Lifting Demos
• Lifting Foam Product Mixing Demos
• MixMaster Gun Cleaning Demos
• Fully Equipped Rig Tours
• Polybadger Demos

Respecting YOUR time is important to us.  So, in addition to the action-packed lists above, you can schedule a one-on-one consultation with your regional rep for personalized product or equipment demos, tips and advice on building your business, etc.

Want a personlized one-on-one meeting at World of Concrete? 

Georgia led the nation with nearly 200 high-hazard dams in unsatisfactory or poor condition, according to the AP's analysis.

Among them is Reservoir No. 1 in Atlanta, a 180 million-gallon water supply dating to the late 1800s that has been out of service much of the past few decades. The city made repairs and brought it back online in 2017, only to shut it down again after leaks were noticed.

If the dam were to catastrophically fail, the water could inundate more than 1,000 homes, dozens of businesses, a railroad and a portion of Interstate 75, according to an emergency action plan.

Excerpted from AP: At least 1,680 dams across the US pose potential risk
By David A. Lieb, Michael Casey And Michelle Minkoff

Warnings and stories similar in tone can be found in countless articles all over the web.  Just Google "infrastructure problems North America" and see for yourself.  This excerpt above describes a situation in Georgia - the home state of our headquarters and main office.  Needless to say, we can relate to communities everywhere who take this issue very personally.  The good news is that countless repair professionals across the land are tirelessly working to improve the condition of our infrastructure.

In the tradition of Thanksgiving, we would like to express our profound gratitude toward the hardworking crews on job sites all over this continent.  If you are one of those repair professionals, THANK YOU!  You consistently put yourself on the front lines of the infrastructure battle - repairing roads, railway beds, bridges, tunnels, water treatment plants, sewer systems, and countless other essential concrete structures.  Our deep belief in this cause is what motivates us to work so hard in support of your efforts.

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

The Alchemy-Spetec PolyBadger mobile slab lifting system (named in honor of the mighty honey badger) is tough and compact. 

The Polybadger is Tough

The PolyBadger slab lifting system is built to last:

• The cabinet is constructed from powder coated carbon steel and the frame is constructed from carbon steel box tubing. 
• The durable hose is constructed with a Teflon core and a stainless-steel braid. (The system can operate with up to 200 feet of hose.)
• Essential elements (heaters, electronics, auto calibrator) are self-contained and protected in a metal cabinet.

The PolyBadger is Compact

The PolyBadger slab lifting system is durably built and designed to go where other lifting systems simply cannot venture:

• The PolyBadger is smaller in size than most of the competition, at 30" wide and 48" long. Now that's what you call portable!
• This is one of the few systems powered through a common 120-volt wall outlet (vs the usual 240-volt requirement). Compatibility with common wall outlets exponentially increases your location possibilities.
• The entire system is very maneuverable, resting on two swivel and two fixed 6-inch pneumatic castor wheels.  The wheels are are filled with light weight polyurethane instead of air, so they don't go flat. 

The Auto Calibrator

Another essential feature 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 info on the PolyBadger?

World of Concrete 2020 is right around the corner - February 4th through 7th, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV. 

Alchemy-Spetec is going the extra mile to make sure your Leak Seal and Geotech interests are served to the fullest extent possible.  We'll be dedicating an entire booth to the Leak Seal Division & Product Line in the South Hall at location S11307 while retaining our usual outside exhibit area for the Geotech Division & Product Line in the Silver Lots at location O40551.  Each booth will be staffed by experts in each respective product line.

Leak Seal Division Booth - South Hall

The Leak Seal booth features a presentation/demo stage with comfortable chairs for audience members and a separate meeting area for in-depth discussions with knowledgeable experts.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Polyurethane Leak Seal Overview Presentation
• Crack Injection Demos
• Crack Injection Presentations
• Curtain Grouting Demos
• Curtain Grouting Presentations
• Polyurethane Product Mixing Demos
• Acrylic Grout Presentation & Demo

Geotech Division Booth - Silver Lots

The Geotech exhibit area features a fully equipped 20-foot lifting rig, a Polybadger compact slab lifting system, and a row of concrete slabs for live lifting.  You can look forward to the following educational activities:

• Slab Lifting Demos
• Lifting Foam Product Mixing Demos
• MixMaster Gun Cleaning Demos
• Fully Equipped Rig Tours
• Polybadger Demos

We look forward to seeing you there!