Nowhere on earth are they building more railroad lines than in the People’s Republic of China. The most populous nation in the world is developing rapidly and with it comes a need for more and more freight and passenger rail - and the demand for higher and higher speeds. Unfortunately, these high speeds cannot be achieved on rail that is sinking and settling in various places, especially in tunnels. This slows down people and commerce and is also a concern for safety. The culprit is groundwater, soil consolidation, and in some cases poor compaction. This is the type of environment where AP Lift 475 has done some of its best work.

Powerful Polymer

AP Lift 475 is a two component, hydrophobic, structural lifting polymer designed for airport, highway, and railroad applications. It can be used to stabilize structures, fill voids, and lift slabs supporting tremendous loads. The real beauty of it is the ability to be traffic ready for a train or a jumbo jet in less than one hour. A few years ago, it was put to the test in tunnels in the mountains of China.

Painless Procedure

With rails sitting on double concrete slabs (the top slab was 1 meter thick, the bottom 30 cm) a plan was developed to bring the low spots back into tolerance by injecting AP Lift 475 underneath both slabs through extra-long injection packers.

Monitoring with laser levels, the low spots in the rail were lifted back to the original grade. AP Lift 475 performed as advertised. The railroad track was raised and supported, while at the same time the ground water was displaced, literally jetting out of relief holes as it sought a place to escape.

Rapid Result

Working in 4 hour windows where the rail traffic is shut down at night, crews lifted low spots in these tunnels quickly and efficiently.  At 5 AM equipment and personnel had to be clear of the tracks and 15 minutes later the trains would rumble through.  Vibration monitoring by railway engineers showed a smoother ride and the people and commerce of China were allowed to move once again at a frenetic pace.

Want More In-Depth Info on Concrete Leveling Polyjacking Products?

In our continuous effort to make sure you have the technical knowledge to succeed, we’ll explain how to select the appropriate slab lifting polyurethane.

Use the Right Supplier

First and foremost, you want to be sure you’re working with the right supplier.  For niche work like polyurethane slab lifting, you need a company that specializes in polymer concrete repair materials.  Some larger polyurethane manufacturers make everything under the sun in addition to lifting foam, such as mattress foam, carpet padding foam, etc.  Your materials would be manufactured quarterly at most.  Technical support, if it exists, is unfocused and lacking in detailed expertise.  Don’t set yourself up for failure by going this route.

The right supplier will be a specialized polymer manufacturer with a laser-like focus on producing the best slab lifting foam possible.  Even better, they should offer dedicated tech support from professionals with field experience on actual slab lifting jobs.  Set yourself up for success with the absolute best supplier partner you can find.

If a Specification Exists, Read it!

If you’re working on a larger job involving an engineering firm, make sure you read the specs!  (If the Department of Transportation is involved, they will also have one available.)  For experienced contractors, this is just basic common sense obviously.

Foam for Filling Voids

An empty void underneath a slab needs to be filled with a lighter density foam that has an excellent expansion rate yet still ahs the structural strength for the application.

Different Foams for Different Lifting Jobs

The foam you choose for lifting will depend greatly on the size of the slab and the amount of weight it typically bears.

• Residential Jobs
  Driveways, walkways, garage floors and the like can usually be lifted with 3 lb density foam such as AP Lift 430.

• Common Commercial/Industrial Jobs
  Warehouse floors, concrete retail floors, larger concrete parking slabs and the like will require 4 lb density foam such as AP Lift 440.

• Maximum Weight Bearing Slabs
  Airport runways, railroad slabs, transformer pads, factory floors with heavy equipment, grain silo slabs and the like will require 4.75 density foam such as AP Lift 475.
  

Foam Designed for Wet Environments is Essential

At LEAST 90% of the time, water is the underlying cause of slab problems.  On most jobs, the soil will contain at least some infiltration.  So ALWAYS make sure your foam is designed for environments with moisture in the soil.  Many companies offer resins that will NOT work in wet environments or will require a lot more material to get the job done.  Why pay good money for a product that won’t work 90% of the time?  Every Alchemy-Spetec lifting foam is designed to work in wet environments.

NSF Approval is a Must

NSF approval is ESSENTIAL for doing work near waterfronts, food processing operations, water treatment plants, etc. 

This single designation ensures compliance with the Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) and guarantees peace of mind for in-the-field stakeholders on construction projects of almost any scope and size.

The SDWA gives the EPA latitude to impose criminal and civil penalties on industries not in compliance. In 2014 enforcement efforts policing clean water netted $163 million in penalties and fines, 155 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants, and $16 million in court-ordered project clean-ups.

Contractors and engineers must be able to confidently choose vendors whose products and services won’t become the source or cause of drinking water contamination.

Alchemy-Spetec is one of only TWO companies in the world with NSF approved lifting foam.

We’ve Got Your Back

If you’re still not sure what the right choice is for an upcoming job, then not to worry – we’re here for you!  Our staff has the expertise both in the lab and in the field.  We can help you make the right decision.  Just give us a call!

Want in-depth info on slab lifting polyurethane and procedures?

When it comes to custom slab lifting rigs of all shapes and sizes, Alchemy-Spetec is your one-stop shop!  Want to see a 16-foot V-Nose rig, stocked with top of the line slab lifting equipment and gear?  We'll give you a personal tour at World of Concrete 2019!  Drop by to see us at Booth # O40551 in the Silver Lots (same location we were in last year).

There will be a LOT to see and do at our booth this year: 

• See the Polybadger Lifting System in action. 
• Learn about preventative waterstop products. 
• Get in-depth instruction on using and cleaning the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun. 
• View leak seal and curtain grouting displays. 
• Mix foam samples at our live mixing station. 
• Learn about the Deep Lift process. 

Respecting YOUR time is important to us.  So, in addition to the action-packed list 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? 

Alchemy-Spetec offers a unique combination of high quality structural lifting foams along with the equipment and training needed to address deep soil issues. Now you can achieve soil densification and lifting on large projects with the smallest footprint and least amount of heavy equipment required.

The Deep Lift™ process is powerful, painless, and rapid. Deep Lift™ gets to the root of the problems in the soil, it brings the structure back to level, and accomplishes this with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner.

Alchemy-Spetec will be at World of Concrete 2019!  You can learn more about the Deep Lift™ process at our exhibit space.  Drop by to see us at Booth # O40551 in the Silver Lots (same location we were in last year).

There will be a LOT to see and do at our booth this year: 

• See the Polybadger Lifting System in action. 
• Learn about preventative waterstop products. 
• Get in-depth instruction on using and cleaning the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun. 
• View leak seal and curtain grouting displays. 
• Mix foam samples at our live mixing station. 
• Tour a fully stocked slab lifting rig.

Want more information on the Deep Lift™ process?

Did you know you can finance a slab lifting rig, a PolyBadger mobile lifting system, and other equipment you purchase from Alchemy-Spetec?

Let's take a look at some estimated monthly payments. These figures are based on a 60-month payment period.  Shorter terms are available. Estimates are of course based on good credit.  Actual numbers may vary. 

Financing Slab Lifting Rigs

Purchase Price Range: $50k to 85k, depending on the rig and options.

Estimated Low End
$1,045/month

Estimated High End
$1,777/month

Financing PolyBadger Lifting Systems

Purchase Price Range: $22k to 25k, depending on the options.

Estimated Low End 
$460/month 

Estimated High End
$523/month

As you can see, the purchase price breaks down into easy monthly payments.  Call support rep at 404-618-0438 to discuss your options.  If you've already discussed your equipment options with a rep, click here to apply for Alchemy-Spetec financing now! 

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec Geotech products?

Alchemy-Spetec manufactures polyurethane lifting foams for slab jacking and structure lifting. Among the most dependable products for jacking and leveling concrete slabs, these two component, high-strength, hydro-insensitive structural foams serve as an extremely effective solution for contractors.

See these amazing lifting foams in action at World of Concrete 2019!  Drop by to see us at Booth # O40551 in the Silver Lots (same location we were in last year). 

There will be a LOT to see and do at our booth this year: 

• See the Polybadger Lifting System in action. 
• Learn about preventative waterstop products. 
• Get in-depth instruction on using and cleaning the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun. 
• View leak seal and curtain grouting displays. 
• Mix foam samples at our live mixing station. 
• Learn about the Deep Lift process. 
• Tour a fully stocked slab lifting rig.

 Want more info on slab lifting?

Want to schedule a one-on-one consultation with a rep at World of Concrete?

Contrary to popular opinion, as a contractor, you don’t have to put up your equipment and rigs due to cold weather. There are many jobs to be done and many ways to keep your material conditioned. Use this season to your advantage and gain valuable business.

Cold Weather Markets

Seasonal attractions such as theme parks are a great place to start looking for winter work. Many of these parks (the ones that aren’t in Orlando) shut down for the winter and this is the time they do maintenance and repairs. Think of all the concrete lifting and leveling that can be done.

Factories can be less active in the winter months with production slowing down in many industries. This is a good time for them to do maintenance and floor repairs as well.

Warehouses typically operate year round, so there is always work available. Warehouse floors are used and abused on a daily basis and will sooner or later need some form of repairs done to keep business running at a steady pace. In addition, many warehouses have dangerous voids beneath their floors that require repair.  

Exterior concrete slabs are still worth considering, even in the cold weather. These slabs experience the most wear and tear from the environment itself (think erosion) and daily traffic. You’ll need to lift concrete slabs before the ground freezes and only after your materials have been thoroughly conditioned.

Conditioning Materials

Your slab lifting equipment probably has built in heaters and a heated hose. Each brand and model of pump has different sized pre-heaters and different ∆T (∆ = Delta and T = Temperature). This sounds complicated, but is actually quite simple.  ∆T is simply the change in temperature.  Let’s say your material has been sitting in a cold trailer all night and the temperature has dropped to 40 degrees F. If the required temperature of your B side material is 120 degrees F, then your pump better be rated with a ∆T of at least 80 degrees. However, if your material is preconditioned to 70 degrees F, then your machine only has to be rated for a ∆T of 50 degrees. As I said, every machine is rated differently based on the size of the heaters. What is important to know is that there are limitations to how much heating your machine can do.

Keeping your materials conditioned in the winter months is a lot easier than it sounds. The main point is to keep your AP Lift products above 60 degrees at all times. Keeping the polyurethane at or above that temperature can be accomplished in a number of ways.

If you have an insulated rig, it should stay around 40 degrees warmer than outside temperatures. Most foam rigs have built in electric heaters that require an extension cord to a power outlet at the job site or at your facility for overnight storage. Alternately, you could buy an electric radiator heater. Other available heating devices include drum band heaters and heated drum mats (be careful not to scorch the polymers by turning band heaters up too high). For a more DIY approach, you could build a hot box around the material storage area in your rig.

Heat Sink

Another consideration when lifting cold slabs is the heat sink factor. AP Lift products come out of the gun hot and get even hotter as they react. However, cold concrete acts as a heat sink and sucks the energy out of the foam as it starts to react. This can slow down the reaction speed of the foam. If you are pumping into a void, it will have little effect because most of the foam is not in contact with the concrete. If you are trying to lift a slab with little void, it will have more of an effect because more of the foam is in contact with the cold concrete and cold soil. More volume = more energy.

Conclusion

Don’t let common preconceptions deter you from slab lifting in cold weather. As noted above, there is no need to shut down completely for the upcoming winter months if you don’t want to. Opportunities still exist and one of them may just be the job you’ve been looking for all year. There are many ways to keep your equipment and materials conditioned to efficiently work in lower temperatures. Have more questions about slab lifting in cold weather? Call us at 404-618-0438.

Want more in-depth info on slab lifting?

This video documents the raising of a driveway slab at an ATM drive-through in a busy bank. Customers’ cars were getting damaged when they suddenly dropped down onto the sunken section of the driveway. Needless to say, the property owner was highly motivated to resolve this liability in a timely yet reliable manner.

Sunken concrete slabs can be lifted back into place with two component polymer foam designed to work in wet or dry conditions. The expansion force of the foam coupled with the pressure of a specialized pump generate enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into position with 1/8" precision. Slab settlement can be restored at a fraction of the cost and time required for replacement using our AP Lift series of resins.

Want in-depth info on slab lifting procedures and products?

Live PolyBadger lifting demos at World of Concrete!

Learn all about the PolyBadger at World of Concrete 2019!  Drop by to see us at Booth # O40551 in the Silver Lots (same location we were in last year).

The Alchemy-Spetec PolyBadger lifting system is tough and compact. This system is an affordable entry-level option for new contractors, as well as an extremely portable addition to the experienced contractor’s arsenal. The PolyBadger is a lot less expensive than your standard 20 foot trailer rig.

The genius of the PolyBadger is the auto calibrator. It keeps the flow of A and B on ratio, eliminating the possibility of a crossover 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. The cart set up is very simple to use, even when compared to the few other compact lifting units on the market.  The entire system can easily fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Want to schedule a one-on-one consultation with a rep at World of Concrete?

Want more info on the PolyBadger system?