Alpha Foundation Specialists Inc.

Dec 2017

The Florida State University Physics Department planned to install a spectrograph in the basement of Collins Hall, which was constructed in 1959. The spectrograph design included a 16-foot diameter by 2-foot thick concrete mat foundation, a center support pedestal, and equipment that rotates about the center pedestal. The equipment weighs 80 kips and would be supported partially at the center and partially on pairs of bearing pads on opposing sides of the circular foundation. A maximum allowable vertical deflection tolerance of 1/32 inch was specified between loaded and unloaded conditions at any given location. The basement of Collins Hall is approximately 53 feet by 57 feet in plan dimension with a 6-inch thick, post-tensioned concrete slab-on-grade. Overhead clearance is about 15 feet. The spectrograph foundation would be constructed on top of the concrete floor slab. Additional support of the foundation was required to limit deflections to tolerable levels at the bearing pad locations; however, the reinforcement within the slab could not be compromised. The slab reinforcement was determined to be on 14-inch centers, which dictated where cuts in the floor could be made. The soil profile to a depth of about 30 feet below the basement slab generally consisted of medium dense clayey sand and sandy silt.

Tallahassee, FL

Dec 2017

The Jack Mclean and Trousdell Aquatic Centers are part of the City of Tallahassee Public Pools system and have over 60,000 square feet of aquatic area. The concrete pool decks at the two aquatic centers had multiple areas with differential settlements of up to 2 inches at the slab joints which created trip hazards. Concrete grinding was performed in some areas; however, differential settlement remained problematic as the slabs continued to settle. Options for remedial action were evaluated which included further concrete grinding, slab replacement and polyurethane foam injection. The City of Tallahassee specified that the concrete be lifted back toward level, voids be filled beneath the slabs, and the entire project be completed before the season opening in March which was about one month away.

Tallahassee, FL

May 2016

A homeowner in High Springs, Florida called Alpha Foundations because their settling crawlspace foundation was beginning to cause the middle of their house to sag. There was also fallen insulation in the crawlspace area. Our solution was to install 6 Smart Jack crawlspace supports to lift and level the house. A CleanSpace encapsulation system was also installed to keep out moisture, mold, and pests.

High Springs, FL

Mar 2016

The second level of the Carlton Building parking garage was constructed half on grade and half above another parking lot. The area where the two halves joined had settled nearly two (2) inches in some places as the soils beneath the on-grade portion were experiencing consolidation, causing the parking slab to settle. Additionally, any repairs needed had to be completed with no disruption to daily operations.

Tallahassee, FL

Apr 2015

The Jacksonville Utilities Authority contacted Alpha Foundation Specialists regarding a high-traffic bridge that was experiencing settlement. An 8 to 12 inch void had developed due to erosion and poor compaction of soils. Sleeper slabs were initially installed at the end of the approach slabs to aid in preventing settlement. The sleeper slabs added additional weight to the already compromised soils, which caused accelerated settlement of the slabs and consolidation of the soils. The void under the bridge had caused the adjoining sidewalk and parts of the roadway to begin to settle. This, in turn, caused poor driving and walking conditions as well as safety concerns for pedestrians. Alpha Foundation Specialists installed 1,300 pounds of PolyLEVEL™ 400 over the course of two days to completely fill the void and lift the road and walkways back to their normal elevation. The ease of access to the jobsite allowed us to keep one lane of traffic open during the installation. PolyLEVEL™ is the ideal application for void fill on roadways because it expands within 15 seconds and is 90% cured within 15 minutes which means minimal disruption for the client. PolyLEVEL™ is a two-part urethane that expands into a rigid foam used to fill voids, stabilize slabs and lift concrete. Once injected through small 5/8-inch drilled “ports” in the slab, a chemical reaction converts the liquid urethane components to a strong, rapidly-setting foam material. In its foam state, PolyLEVEL™ is relatively light, weighing two to six pounds per cubic-foot (pcf). Other void-filling or lifting materials can weigh upwards of 120 pcf, adding significant weight to supporting soils or base materials and potentially contributing to further settlement issues, much like the sleeper slabs initially installed. With a compressive strength of 100 pounds per square-inch (psi), PolyLEVEL™ can provide the necessary resistance to support even heavy loads.

Jacksonville, FL

Oct 2012

This project was the perfect application for PolyLEVEL. Void fill and a level lift were both achieved on this curved concrete sidewalk leading up to the side entrance of the home. The homeowner was able to use the sidewalk within 15 minutes of the application!

Tallahassee, FL