One of my favorite segments on TV is when the sports analysts stand around and watch film of the previous week’s boneheaded plays.  These are the “C’mon man” awards.  See a guy fumbling or running the wrong way and these analysts are like, “Come on man, what are you thinking!”  It’s a really funny segment.

As someone in the concrete lifting industry, it’s impossible not to miss obvious tripping hazards and the methods different municipalities and businesses use to address them.  I have frustrated contractors talk to me regularly, letting me know about this job or that job where they didn’t get the sale and some other method was used (or NO method was used) to deal with the problem.  So in honor of those methods, here are a few of my How NOT to Repair a Tripping Hazard “Come on Man!” Awards.  Names of the perpetrators will be withheld cause I'm a nice guy.

1. Look at these before and after pictures...

A certain city had their tripping hazard painted with orange spray paint. Our slab lifting contractor offered to do this for free as a demo for the city.  What did they do?  They sent a crew of four guys out and an asphalt truck and slapped a makeshift asphalt ramp together to bridge the slabs.  This is certainly not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and it’s also ugly as hell. Most importantly - it will NOT last.  COME ON MAN!

2. Look below how tripping hazards were addressed at a rest area...

These slab transitions were ground down to remove the tripping hazards.  At least they didn’t just slap some asphalt on it.  Grinding the concrete exposes the aggregates, and it leaves ugly patterns that will stay visible for years.  Not to mention the fact that it doesn't address the underlying sinking problem, so a tripping hazard is likely to appear again.  Last time I drove by there the rest area was closed.  COME ON MAN!  They should have had those slabs adjusted with polyurethane technology.

3. Some places just opt for the paint job...

Maybe if they paint this tripping hazard yellow, people will see it and not trip and fall down.  How well does that work at night (or if someone is distracted while walking)?  This was on a hotel property and there is certainly pedestrian traffic in the evenings along these walkways (not to mention millennials walking around staring at their phones).  COME ON MAN!  Do they realize that by painting the tripping hazard they are proving prior knowledge of an the issue they didn’t do anything about?  Prior knowledge is a key component in tripping hazard lawsuits.

4. Then of course, there are property owners that don’t do anything at all...

COME ON MAN!!!!!

That’s it for this special edition awards blog. And remember, if you’re a property owner faced with a tripping hazard…COME ON MAN!  Repair it correctly.  Don’t be that guy!

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Everyone claims their lifting foam is "the best" on the market (unless they're claiming theirs is the cheapest - which is a red flag to look into the quality ASAP).  As a quality leader in the industry, we provide more than vague statements and marketing slogans on this issue.

Here's a detailed list of the advantages you'll enjoy with Alchemy-Spetec's AP Lift 430 and AP Lift 475 lifting foams:

No Recycled Materials

The products are made of virgin raw materials only. They are consistent and clean, with no particulates floating around.

Water Blown Formula

Your drum set of material will be consistent from top to bottom. Whether you pump it all in one day or all in one month. No mixing will be required.

Lower Exotherm

You'll be able to fill voids, stabilize soil and lift slabs faster.  In addition, unlike some other foams out there, these foams have no history of smoke or charring.

Cured Foam is Safe for Contact with Drinking Water

These foams are certified To NSF 61-5.  That means that the cured foam is safe for contact with potable water.  Most of the time your foam won't ever come into contact with drinking water, but this certification assures your customers that once the foam cures it will not pose any kind of environmental or health hazard.

Consistent Quality

You won't have to worry about your foam setting up one way this month and another way next month.  The NSF certification and the ISO 9001 certification require the exact same formula for every single drum set.  We have both certifications.

DOT Grade Polyurethane Foam

DOT grade foams cure faster, work in wet conditions, and are traffic ready in 45 minutes.  Use less material and get less call-backs with foams that meet the standards for Department of Transportation work.  

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The Quick Answer

One question we get from both property owners and potential new slab lifters is about the difference between polyurethane vs. cement grout. The quick answer is that our AP Lift Foam weighs less, has a quicker set time, doesn't shrink, requires less equipment, and can be installed in any climate.

The table included in this post provides further specifics for each claim.

More Details

If you want even more details on this subject, check out one of my earlier blog posts Polyurethane vs. Cement for Slab Jacking. In that article, I delve a little deeper into the importance of using a lightweight yet strong material, why polyurethane creates less mess than concrete grout, and the importance of using a material with a quicker set time (or cure time) than cement grout.

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Today I'd like to discuss a little "foam 101" info that addresses some commonly asked questions I get from slab lifting customers:

Density and Expansion

Technical Data for Each AP Lift Foam

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A large part of the market is still using old sprayfoam insulation guns to do heavy concrete lifting work. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of using a gun that's custom designed for slab lifting...

The Problem with Sprayfoam Insulation Guns Adapted for Slab Lifting

Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight! Sprayfoam insulation guns are made for the simple process of spraying foam at constant pressures. Slab lifting requires a gun that is designed to deal with changing pressures and back pressure without backing up or crossing over. Issues like leaky port connections, constant cleaning, and constant fumbling around with a clamp can drastically reduce production - adding a lot of man hours to each project. Not to mention long nights spent rebuilding and cleaning the gun after EVERY job. Did we mention that feeling in the pit of your stomach every time you have to call in yet another expensive replacement parts order? 

The Solution: A Gun Designed by Slab Lifting Experts for Slab Lifting Contractors

The MixMaster Pro was designed based on years of feedback from slab lifting contractors working in the field. Every known point of frustration and difficulty has been addressed in this sturdy, single-purpose gun. Further benefits include a lower cost of consumables (you can reuse ports with this gun), beefy check valves designed to handle the back pressure, and a short 10-minute breakdown/cleaning session at the end of each day. Not to mention the fact that this gun is a production BEAST - no leaky port connections, no fumbling with clamps. Watch your man hours on each project shrink accordingly. Did we mention you’ll have less replacement part orders? There are only a few inexpensive replacement parts on this gun - PERIOD.

Want to see side by side comparisons with other guns, additional key benefits, and more?

Nationwide, municipalities regularly deal with the issue of infrastructure deterioration. One of the most common types being the constant appearance of water leaks. Active leaks, when untreated, can cause an accelerated deterioration of reinforcement within concrete, as well as settlement issues caused by voids below and next to structures.

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how polyurethane injection can be used as a preventative measure to prevent more serious problems.

Municipal Structures Vulnerable to Infiltration

Various areas in the wastewater, drinking water and storm water system may require polyurethane to stop infiltration. This is mainly due to its clean application and rapid results. These areas include but are not limited to:

• Manholes
• Water Treatment and Storage Tanks
• Lift Stations
• Storm and Sanitary Pipes

How Spetec GT500 Seals Hairline Cracks

This graphic depicts the polyurethane leak seal process when applied to the wall of a water tank. Our leak seal resin, Spetec PUR GT500, reacts when it comes into contact with water. It bonds to concrete in a durable manner, yet remains flexible so as not to crack if the concrete shifts in the future. High pressure injection insures that every part of the crack is filled and permanently sealed. This product is certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

How Spetec PUR H200 Stops Gushing Leaks

This graphic depicts the process when applied to a larger leak with a void in the soil on the other side. While the graphic depicts a box culvert, voids like this can develop next to water tanks that are built against a hillside, manholes, pipes, etc. Spetec PUR H200 is used to fill the void and stop the gushing leak in the process. This product is certified To NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water).

Another Common Issue: Leaks in Equalization Tanks

Another common issue is leaks around the bases of equalization tanks. This untreated water can present a hazard to employees. Left unaddressed, it just costs more and more money to keep pumping this water back out.

Conclusion

Regardless of the leak seal issue at hand, one thing is certain: left untreated it will cost more money and do more damage in the long run. In this case the old adage “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure” is completely appropriate. Are you a municipal manager facing any of these issues? Technical Consultants at Alchemy-Spetec have a great deal of experience with leak seal solutions for municipalities. Call us at 404-618-0436.

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On April 1st, Alchemy-Spetec had the honor of presenting Paul "Captain Grout" Layman with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career in the construction chemical industry. The award was presented during a dinner at the Harraseekat Inn restaurant in Freeport, Maine (where Paul now resides). Jim Spiegel joined Paul and his wife and a few close friends for the ceremonial presentation of the award. With some of his closest lifetime friends in attendance, it was a fitting occasion to share reflective stories and laughs from those who know Paul best.

As most in the chemical grouting industry know, there are few as experienced, or memorable, as Captain Grout. Paul spent most of his career in the Pacific Northwest serving sales and field support needs throughout the US West Coast, and Western Canada. He provided innovative and successful chemical grouting solutions to hundreds of municipalities, government agencies, and contractors. Without a doubt, Paul’s most valuable quality to clients was offering his industry-leading hands-on expertise to provide contractors new service offerings. No two chemical grouting jobs are the same, but Captain Grout was able to navigate these challenges with relative ease.

“For 14 years, I have known Captain Grout as a competitor, and as a teammate, and from experience, it is much more enjoyable working with him than against him. His technical expertise and unique personality made him a true industry force. We wish him all the best in retirement, and hope to carry his torch in the industry for years to come.”

]Jim Spiegel
VP of Sales & Business Development
Alchemy-Spetec

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(Today we feature a guest blog from our customer Randy Serhan, owner of JACC Structures in Saskatchewan.)

First of all, I'd like to thank Alchemy-Spetec for asking me to write a guest post on their blog.  If you're interested in polyurethane leak seal, I think you'll like this one.  I recently did a leak seal job for a homeowner up here in my Candian hometown of Nipawin, Saskatchewan.  He had water coming into his basement around a water line access sleeve.  It was leaking approximately 1/2 litre of water per minute.  He called me to see if I could resolve the issue.  I packed some oakum saturated with Spetec PUR GT500 into the sleeve around the water pipe.  The leak was stopped in under a minute.  I used a moderate quantity of the resin-saturated oakum to ensure the plug was approximately two inches deep.  It won't leak again.  The customer was extremely happy as this repair means he will no longer have to babysit the water pails all night.  He also has the peace of mind of knowing that this is a long lasting fix, so he doesn't have to re-visit the problem each spring or heavy rainfall.  When that leak shut down so fast, he look at me and said "that stuff is magic".

And now for the best part: click below to watch me shutting down that link in this video clip I took on the job!

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Slab stabilization and structural void filling can actually be even more valuable than slab lifting. Why wait for a slab to sink, settle, or break, when it can be stopped. Preventative slab stabilization and underslab recompaction (I'm making up words now) is a great way to protect the investment that is the foundation of any home or business.

A good contractor should know how to: spot the signs indicating a possible problem, verify whether a problem exists or not, and repair an unsupported slab that’s in danger of sinking.

How to Spot a Slab That May Be in Danger of Sinking

The most obvious slabs at risk are the ones where a void can be seen from the side. In these instances, the soil on the side has washed away along with significant soil underneath. (See the photo included with this blog post for an example.) Other situations to look out for are slabs on a hill or at the bottom of a hill. Concrete in these locations is likely to have rain water washing under it and eroding the soil. Slabs on level ground aren’t immune from this problem either. Check for gutter downspouts placed very close by, or adjacent structures with no gutter system at all. If a rain water management system wasn’t set up to direct water AWAY from the slab, there may be an issue. Another red flag would be cracks in the concrete.

How to Be SURE a Slab’s in Danger of Sinking

There are many ways to check for voids underneath a slab. Some people tap the slab with a metal tool, or even a golf club. (Others use golf balls, which they bounce off the slab). Whatever the tool, the point is to listen for a hollow ring. This tactic may take some practice at first, but many people use it. Another approach is to drill a small hole, and then check the soil underneath with a soil probe or a penetrometer. I find that the 4’ long fiberglass driveway markers make a nice probe.  Endoscope cameras are small enough to stick down through the drill hole and have a look around. On larger jobs, some have arranged for the use of ground penetrating radar.

How to Stabilize a Level Slab in Danger of Sinking

On a void fill/stabilization job, the contractor should set up an even grid pattern across the entire slab. This approach allows for the even distribution of material, as needed. Unlike a lifting job, there’s no need to emphasize one side of the slab versus the other. Instead, the contractor injects the appropriate amount of resin into each hole of the even grid pattern. It’s important to monitor every injection with a zip level or dial indicator and stop at the first sign of any movement. If ANY slight movement happens it’s time to move on to the next hole. These tools allow for the detection of movement as small as 100^th of inch, which isn’t a visible lift to the naked eye. For more on stabilizing slabs, see the blog post Slab Void Fill with Polyurethane Foam.

Wrap Up

No property owner should assume that their slab is safe just because it isn’t sinking yet. It’s better to know the danger signs and call a qualified professional to check it out. In addition, contactors should always keep an eye out for concrete in vulnerable situations. Remember: just because it’s level doesn’t mean it’s safe.

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Voids beneath warehouse floors can be filled with AP Lift 475 foam. This product is great for slabs that rock and warehouse floors that have begun to sink. The video below shows an example of the product in action. Inside this warehouse, the floors have begun to rock and are unleveled - which can speed up wear and tear on valuable equipment. With this powerful polymer and its painless application procedures, unlevel slabs can be repaired at a rapid pace. Take a look for yourself!

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