WHAT WE SPECIALIZE IN
We have spent the last 30 years plus perfecting the skill of filling abandoned pipes. Our secret weapon is a product called cellular concrete. Cellular concrete is a mixture of cement and water slurry and a preformed foam. The use of foam in the grout produces a low-density product that lowers pumping pressure, increases pumping distances, cuts down on site traffic and reduces environmental impact. We fill over 50,000' of pipe per year and would be happy to show you how our product is far superior compared to traditional methods for filling abandoned pipe.
SAFETY FIRST
Due to the reduced density of the product (25-30 pounds per cubic foot) , our in-pipe pressures are typically under 10 psi , a fraction of what flowable fill is pumped at. Most often pumped through 2" fire hose, the concerns of blowing hoses or bulkheads is greatly deminished.
PUMP FURTHER
Depending on pipe size cellular concrete can be pumped up to 2000' from one location. This dramatically reduces the number of access points needed to fill the pipe, compared to blown sand or traditional flowable fill.
REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
We order a cement/water slurry from ready mix and add foam on site to achieve the desired density. This means that for every yard of slurry delivered, we can make up to 4.5 yards of cellular concrete. This reduces the number of ready mix loads needed, keeping trucks off the road and out of your job site. Because we are using air to replace the sand and aggregates used in traditional flowable fill we decrease the number of natural resources needed to make the mix.
FULL SERVICE
Our price always includes the cost of the cellular concrete and pumping. We will also help with getting specifications changed and providing everything needed for submittals.
Cellular Concrete Grout Vs. Traditional Flowable Fill
Cellular Concrete Grout
- Can be pumped up to 2000+ feet
- Density range from 25-70 pcf
- Deliver up to 40 yards per ready mix load
- The price includes pumping
- No bleed water
- We can produce up to 1000 yards per day
Traditional Flowable Fill
- Can be pumped up to 400 feet
- Density range from 115-145 pcf
- Deliver up to 10 yards per ready mix load
- The price does not include pumping
- Contains bleed water that often results in shrinkage
- Ready mix determines how many yards you can place per day
TECHNICAL REFERENCE:
Guide to Lightweight Cellular Concrete for Geotechnical Applications
"Once the required material properties of the fill are determined (typically equivalent to or better than the adjacent soil is sufficient), it is a simple decision between the various types of flowable products. A typical product that is often specified is a flowable fill material or CLSM, which is a one- or two-sack (94 or 188 lb [43 or 85 kg]) cement and sand and/or fly ash mixture creating a low-strength concrete product with unconfined compressive strengths between 50 and 150 lb/in2 (0.34 and 1.03 MPa). However, these mixes can be extremely difficult to pump. Pumping distances over 200 ft (60 m) often require additional excavations to allow for dividing the pipe into small enough fill segments. In many instances, the cost of these additional excavations, backfill, and patch paving is higher than the cost of doing the work in one continuous operation using LCC. Another issue with a standard flowable fill or CLSM is that the compressive strength is not as consistent as it is with LCC. Likewise, flowable fill and CLSM often continue to gain strength over time, resulting in a material that is very difficult to remove should future excavation be necessary" (Taylor, S. and G. Halsted. 2021. Guide to Lightweight Cellular Concrete for Geotechnical Applications.)