On Solid Ground

Grout pumping technology has evolved significantly over the years and continues to do so. In episode 14 of On Solid Ground, we dive into a range of topics, including the most common failure reasons in the past, how to choose the right pump type for a job, what the next big leap in this technology will be, and much more. Thank you for listening, and don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for futu...

In Episode 13, Colt Hullander of Alchatek breaks down why the operator behind chemical grouting can determine the success of an entire job. The conversation covers how to tell when a foreman is ready to lead a crew independently, which skill is hardest to train consistently across teams, why operator ability is often the invisible variable on a project, and more. If you’ve ever wondered what it ta...

In Episode 12, we welcomed back Colt Hullander of Alchatek for a discussion on how to determine the right ground-improvement method for different project conditions. The conversation explored how these decisions are made, when slab lifting is the best solution, instances where the most obvious method underperformed, and much more. It was an insightful episode for anyone interested in the factors t...

In Episode 11, we had Terrance Sterett on as our guest, the Owner and Chief Operations Officer of Dauntless Contracting. Jay and Terrance provided our audience with a better understanding of the FEMA 50% rule so people can be better equipped in making a decision that is right for them when it comes to rebuilding or lifting a home based on the cost, time, and benefits of each. Other topics discusse...

In Episode 10, we welcomed back Grant Krapf from Krapf Legal for another insightful discussion. This time, we delved into various topics related to insurance claims for homeowners, both before and after a hurricane. We covered the most common reasons insurance companies deny hurricane claims, homeowners' rights when an insurance company delays payment, how wind vs. water damage can affect cla...

In Episode 9 Part 2, we discussed with Leo Cannyn from Beryl Engineering about the importance of milestone inspections. He provided a lot of valuable insight regarding this topic that we weren’t aware of before. This discussion included what makes milestone inspections different from regular inspections, who typically receives milestone inspections, how to vet milestone inspectors, what the cost o...

In Episode 9 Part 1, we welcomed Leo Cannyn from Beryl Engineering onto the podcast. He provided a wealth of knowledge regarding home foundation inspections. This discussion included what a home inspection entails, if a foundation check is part of the inspection process, warning signs that an inspector should look for during a foundation inspection, how foundation issues affect the overall value o...

In Episode 8 of our podcast, we welcomed Grant Krapf as our guest, an attorney who specializes in property insurance claims. We discussed topics such as the laws surrounding sinkholes, what’s covered and what’s not, how coverage can differ for businesses versus residential, how homeowners should navigate the legal process, along with much more. We hope you learned just as much as we did on this to...

In Episode 7, we brought on Rich Kay from Keller Williams Realty as our guest. Rich used to work at Helicon as a Senior Project Manager, specifically regarding sinkholes. He brought this knowledge to the realty field and has assisted numerous clients in this space over the years. During our discussion, we touched on various topics including the key factors that potential homebuyers should consider...

We welcomed Andy Powell from the Seawall Repair Network, a division of Alchatek, onto our sixth podcast to discuss the topic of concrete lifting and leveling. We delved deep into the causes of concrete settlement, the lifting process itself, the applications where chemical grout can be applied, preventive measures homeowners can take to prevent this sinking from happening, as well as many other in...

On Episode 5 of ‘On Solid Ground,’ we welcomed Colt Hullander from Alchatek onto our podcast. The discussion began with the importance of a seawall, regaining soil stability, and how the domino effect plays a vital role in the stabilization process. We also touched on topics such as, elements of a seawall that stabilization can’t fix, seawall repair vs. replacement, and the significance of a press...

On Episode 4 of ‘On Solid Ground,’ we continued our discussion with David Grindley, but this time on another topic - soil testing and why someone would need it for their new build. A lot goes into building a new home, but what about what lies underneath? This is what we explored further. Some of the subjects we touched on included: the benefit of testing your soil before you build, what you should...

On Episode 3 of ‘On Solid Ground,’ we welcomed David Grindley from Grindley Engineering onto our podcast. The main focus of this episode was about foundation issues that arose from the impact of Hurricane Ian and Nicole. This included discussions about what type of foundation issues David’s team were seeing, what someone should do when they notice their foundation is damaged, how long it takes to...

On Episode 2 of ‘On Solid Ground,’ we welcomed Bryan Oglesby from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) on our podcast. We learned a great deal about the purpose of the BBB, what the difference is between being accredited vs. non-accredited as a business, how the complaint resolution works, what a consumer should look for when searching for a business on the BBB, as well as much more.  We hope this epi...

In this first episode, Helicon's President, Jay Silver explains who Helicon is as a company and how it came to be. We also delve into what we hope to achieve with this podcast and what content you can expect to see discussed. From all of us at Helicon, we thank you for checking out our podcast and we look forward to future episodes!