In the case of the casing, we drilled through the floor of the pit and used a hydraulic pump to pressure the chemical around the casing. Our chemical is red in color for one reason, water displacement. When we see the water around the casing turning red, then we know we're sealing it. The chemical, once set, never gets rigidly stiff. It stays pliable to allow for movement. But the seal is a mechanical lock. Meaning it infiltrates every crevice and every pore within the anatomy of the crack or joint. It is non-drying, non-shrinking, and non-biodegradable. It is effectively, a permanent solution to the problem. Hutchinson News; maintenance elevator; January 2004
Let's face it. If you own an elevator installation company. You have many elevator pits leaking water. Your customer is calling with concern and your not sure what to tell them. If this is the case, then you need a back-up plan. Mid-Plains Waterproofing is specialized in repairing elevator pits. In fact, we use elevator pits to train our employees. Mainly because they are not much different one to the next. The water is either coming in around the piston housing, the floor joint, or the perimeters at floor level. Sometimes from a crack in either the wall or floor. To us, it's waterproofing 101.
Don't get me wrong on this. We very much consider elevator pits serious business. And even though employees are trained here, the workmanship is closely supervised. Take a look at these pictures while I explain.
Does this look familiar? This elevator pit was like many we at Mid-Plains Waterproofing have seen in the past. In this particular pit, the water table had risen to the point that water began leaking into the pit around the piston housing. Also around the perimeters. We understand this is a problem in which elevator installation contractors try to avoid but is very difficult. We offer a simple solution to this headache... and it has nothing to do with ibuprofen.
Adding to the growing concern of the customer, was now the presence of black mold. As you may know, this is a growing concern all across America. It is NOT taken lightly by Mid-Plains Waterproofing. The serious issue in this elevator was that it was also located in a hospital. The area was carefully masked off with plastic and hepa filtration was used. After careful preparation, we were finally able to do what we do best.
As you can see, this elevator pit looks much better. Having sealed the pit in all areas with our chemical grout injection system, we then applied a solid patch of hydraulic cement around the perimeters. We then allowed it to dry and killed any remaining black mold spores with an anti-fungal solution.
What is our chemical grout injection system, you ask? Allow me to explain.
Our chemical grout injection system is a two-component chemical activation. Basically, one sets up the other. Both are very close to the same viscosity as water. Once the two chemicals mix, a chemical reaction occurs. Depending on the job, we can make the chemicals set up in 10 hours or 10 seconds.