The Word Is Getting Out & So Are We HMI REP Nov 15, 2013 0000 “The Word Is Getting Out & So Are We” Jeff Cvetezar For several years the team here at HMI has been working hard to apply 4 decades of experience on raising and leveling concrete to perfect the systems that will allow contractors to utilize polyurethane foams for increased profitability. We have: Continually improved our customized foams for concrete lifting to achieve the ideal blends required for the specialty with exacting; strength, speed and adhesion. Introduced new specialty foams for unique projects and formulated foams especially for unique customer needs. Engineered equipment to increase productivity and minimize downtime. It was gratifying to see Concrete Construction Magazine publish an article this week which parroted Read More
Highway Polyurethane Stabilization HMI REP Jul 18, 2013 0000 On highway I-43 in Manitowoc county,WI, the weight of moving traffic and the unstable soil caused the slab of concrete underneath the asphalt to rock back and forth as heavy vehicles traveled over it. The signs of an unstable slab of concrete are cracks forming and pot holes in the concrete. RaiseRite (www.raise-rite.com) drilled a series of injection holes through and around the troubled area. A dense lightweight polyurethane material was then injected in the holes to stabilize the concrete beneath the asphalt. The polyurethane injected has a cure time of 15 minutes to make sure the job is done fast and correctly. The polyurethane material used will not erode and assure the slab will not move. After the injections were complete the Read More
How To Hire a New Estimator HMI REP May 22, 2013 0000 How To Hire a New Estimator Ernie Cvetezar Typical story that always seems to happen – “your concrete raising business grows fast and as an owner operator you cannot keep up doing estimates and doing the work!” I have “been there done that” many times in my career. So it is decision time – do I hire a worker to do the work or do I hire an estimator? My experience is that most new owner operators choose to recruit an estimator. Why: It is easier to hire and train an estimator. HMI has created systems and the Appstimator Estimating App to allow you to train someone in as little as three days to estimate concrete repair. Estimators can also double as temporary workers for peak periods and can be paid in multiple ways; salary, h Read More
AN UNDER WATER FOAM! – ANOTHER HMI INNOVATION! Jen Mazur Sep 26, 2011 0000 Can polyurethane set up, lift concrete and maintain its compressive strength when pumped under slabs where water is present? At HMI it can! RR401g is the latest HMI innovation in perfecting specialized foams for residential, commercial and DOT contractors who lift and level concrete slabs. This 3-4 pound hydrophobic/hydro-insensitive foam is again a two component polyurethane foam product, best delivered by HMI equipment, which sets up, lifts concrete and maintains compressive strength even when a void is filled with water. Weather and draining are no longer concerns for contractors or government crews. Traditional delays and costs in completing projects are gone. Commitment to Innovation Is More Than A Tag Line At HMI! For 40 years HMI has Read More
WOC 2011 – Ernie Cvetezar Is Excited! HMI REP Jan 4, 2011 0000 I am excited!!!!!! It’s true!!!!!! In the coming weeks the HMI team and I will be heading to my 23rd World of Concrete. It is not unreasonable to suspect that I would have a ho hum perspective after so many years of potential setbacks that are a result of our economic environment. Why am I excited? - FIX vs. POUR – The economy for concrete lifters and levelers is sound. With new construction down and budgets tight; fixing and efficiency are what is HOT. HMI customers are finding work and I suspect many in the trade will be approaching us on how to introduce a new Concrete Lifting & Leveling service to their business. As an example our contracting Division grew in 2010. - Mud & “NOW” POLY – I invented the first Read More
Concrete Lifting Options The PROs & The CONs HMI REP Jul 8, 2010 0000 Polyurethane Concrete Raising verses Traditional Mudjacking, how do these two methods match up? Which one is better? Will both processes survive the long term market test? Will one surpass the other in popularity? For all those businesses who are presently using mudjacking to raise settled concrete or for those entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting a concrete raising business, these are monumental questions. Below I will attempt to apply 36 years experience to assist in predicting the future. Polyurethane concrete lifting is the new-comer to the arena. Although it has been a known solution for about 20 years, until recently it was primarily applied to the DOT work to raise concrete streets and highway pavement. The equipme Read More
The Answer HMI REP Apr 29, 2010 0000 FINALLY – “THE ANSWER” I have been designing, building and selling mudjacking equipment for over 30 years. I have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start their own business and support their families. Over time I have observed and participated in the evolution of an industry. From the beginnings when wheel barrow style pumps forced contractors to shovel material into a mixer to the development of self propelled units that mix material themselves, slabjacking has progressed with technology and innovation. Through all of the progress one constant roadblock remained – “a consistent dependable and economically feasible source of good pumping material. Finally– “ I have an answer – Polyurethane!!” Over the years I have candidly Read More
MUDJACKING ON STEROIDS-Increasing Profitability with Residential Polyurethane Concrete Raising HMI REP Mar 1, 2010 0000 Using polyurethane to lift concrete slabs is not a new concept. It was first introduced in Europe in 1989 and quickly spread to the United States. The process was initially patented here in the US and was primarily used on large DOT projects. The big news is that the patent expired in 2003. Now any contractor with the know how and correct equipment can use this efficient technique to raise concrete slabs for jobs of any scale. Yes – polyurethane concrete slab lifting can be a profitable business even with a project focus at the residential level. When first introduced, prohibitions and costs of equipment and material made profitability elusive at a small scale. That is not the case today. Why Is Polyurethane Concrete Lifting Advantageous? Read More
Polyurethane Concrete Raising Vs. Traditional Mudjacking HMI REP Jun 4, 2009 0000 The equipment is costly and the material is 4 to 5 times more expensive than mudjacking. Why would polyurethane concrete raising be used instead of traditional mudjacking? Four major questions need to be answered. I’ve been hearing about polyurethane concrete raising for the past 20 years. Having been in the mudjacking business for the past 35 years, I thought that because the process was so expensive it would come and go. Polyurethane Concrete Raising Vs. Traditional Mudjacking Why would anyone spend 4 to 5 times the amount of money to have their concrete raised using polyurethane opposed to traditional mudjacking? Is polyurethane strong enough to raise and support concrete slabs? Does the finished job look better than Read More