Solutions for Stabilizing Soil
Fundamental to healthy concrete is a solid substrate. Well-compacted soils provide a foundation upon which concrete structures perform. Over time, forces of nature take their toll. Decomposing soils, erosion, freeze-thaw cycles, and groundwater migration can break down this foundation. This is the root cause for the damage or failure of seawall structures.
Injecting polyurethane resins and gels into loose or less dense soils, voids, pores and fissures will strengthen the earthen substrate and provide watertight encapsulation. Our supplier has been providing soil stabilization solutions for nearly 30 years with Prime Flex polyurethane foams and gels.
The techniques and products used depend on what you are trying to accomplish, the type of substrate you are working with, and what type of equipment you have available. Our products meet or exceed existing specifications for soil stabilization, void filling, and slab stabilization.
Injecting polyurethane resins and gels into loose or less dense soils, voids, pores and fissures will strengthen the earthen substrate and provide watertight encapsulation. Our supplier has been providing soil stabilization solutions for nearly 30 years with Prime Flex polyurethane foams and gels.
The techniques and products used depend on what you are trying to accomplish, the type of substrate you are working with, and what type of equipment you have available. Our products meet or exceed existing specifications for soil stabilization, void filling, and slab stabilization.
Typical Structures That May Require Soil Stabilization Include:
- Seawalls
- Driveways
- Walkways
- Foundations
- Pools
- Porches
- Patio
- Decks
- Basement
- Lanais
- Pool Decks
What are the Benefits of using Chemical Grouts vs Substrate Replacement or Excavation Repair?
- Faster
- Safer
- Permanent
- Less Environmental Impact
- Less Disruptive
- Less Expensive
Soil stabilization solutions generally fall into three areas: (1) Permeation Grouting, (2) Compaction Grouting, and (3) Void Filling. One chemical does NOT properly do it all. Seawall Surgeons & Concrete Corrections, LLC offers a range of chemical grouts to meet the specific needs of a project.
Definition of Permeation Grouting
Permeation grouting is typically defined as the flow of a low viscosity grout into the pores of the soil without displacing or changing the soil structure. The characteristics of the ground are modified with the activation of the grout into a foam or gel. This serves two purposes:
1. To increase the strength and cohesion of granular soils, increasing its load-bearing capacity
2. To decrease the permeability of the soil. Migration of water through poor or loose soil substrates (sandy soils, poorly compacted fill, decaying organic matter, etc.) results in erosion. That erosion can cause failure in above- and below-grade structures such as slabs and foundations. Permeation grouting is usually the solution for these situations. A low dose of catalyst is used to slow the reaction, which allows the material to permeate loosely compacted soil. The resin is normally injected through small diameter pipes or “probes.”
1. To increase the strength and cohesion of granular soils, increasing its load-bearing capacity
2. To decrease the permeability of the soil. Migration of water through poor or loose soil substrates (sandy soils, poorly compacted fill, decaying organic matter, etc.) results in erosion. That erosion can cause failure in above- and below-grade structures such as slabs and foundations. Permeation grouting is usually the solution for these situations. A low dose of catalyst is used to slow the reaction, which allows the material to permeate loosely compacted soil. The resin is normally injected through small diameter pipes or “probes.”
Definition of Compaction Grouting
Compaction grouting is a process by which rapidly expanding chemical grout (fully expanded in 30-60 seconds) is injected through probes into the ground. The foam fills voids in the immediate area, fractures the soil with lenses and veins of resins, and compacts the surrounding soil using expansive pressure. If soil has eroded or settled underneath concrete, resulting in uneven or unstable slabs, the situation may call for compaction grouting in advance of slab lifting.
Definition of Void Filling
Erosion, settling soils and decaying material can result in voids around or underneath structures, undermining their integrity and potentially leading to damaged structures. Our chemical grouts can quickly and cost-effectively fill voids. A tech uses a two-component pump to inject these structural polyurethane resins. The chemical grout will flow into the voids and cavities and fill them by expanding up to 20 times (depending on formulation). The rigid foam re-establishes contact between the slab and the sub-grade. The structural foam is strong enough for heavy traffic loads within 15 minutes.
Seawall Repair With Chemical Grout
You can repair a seawall or bulkhead with chemical grouts:
A property owner can plagued by a failing seawall as soil washes away with every wave or tidal cycle
through gaps in or under the wall destroying its integrity. Maybe the wall joints are failing. Perhaps the footer no longer meets a solid foundation. The ground is caving in behind the wall. Voids are visible. Sinkholes are forming. Nearby walkway, sidewalk, patio or pool deck slabs have settled, resulting in trip and fall hazards. Unseen consequences can include compromised foundations of adjacent structures.
- fill voids,
- stabilize loose soil, and
- seal leaks at a fraction of the cost of wall replacement.
A property owner can plagued by a failing seawall as soil washes away with every wave or tidal cycle
through gaps in or under the wall destroying its integrity. Maybe the wall joints are failing. Perhaps the footer no longer meets a solid foundation. The ground is caving in behind the wall. Voids are visible. Sinkholes are forming. Nearby walkway, sidewalk, patio or pool deck slabs have settled, resulting in trip and fall hazards. Unseen consequences can include compromised foundations of adjacent structures.
These symptoms are caused by erosion of the ground behind the wall. Typically, this is caused by leaks in the wall, improper drainage of land-side runoff, or ground behind the wall that was not sufficiently compacted during construction. The latter can happen when the original contractor worries about putting too much force against the wall and consequently doesn’t pack the earth hard enough. Over time that ground will settle or will get saturated and mushy. Either will result in voids and erosion, undermining the integrity and effectiveness of the wall.
Seawall Repair Options:
You could fill voids with dirt and aggregate or a cementitious fill. But this won’t remove the reason there is erosion or settlement in the first place. You could replace some or all of the wall. That is a major construction project that is highly disruptive to the property owner and possibly to the environment. An environmentally sensitive area could mean an extensive (and expensive) permitting process, delaying remedy by weeks or months. Depending on the location, you could be looking at needing to use a barge or crane to do the construction. There are absolutely times when replacement is the best or only option. That is often not the case though.
What If You Could:
- Seal the failing joints in a wall
- Stabilize loose, saturated soil
- Fill voids behind the wall without adding huge weight to a weak substrate
- Create a watertight barrier behind and under a wall, all without excavation?
And what if you could do all of that with material so eco-friendly that it is certified for contact with drinking water?
Yes, You can
You can do all those things with polyurethane injection resins from Seawall Surgeons & Concrete Corrections. For 35 years, the products we use have been used to stabilize soil, seal leaks, and repair concrete—including more than 200 seawalls and bulkheads.