Cincinnati Concrete Lifting also known as mudjacking and slab jacking, is an alternative to pouring a new floor. This repair method is far less messy and saves you money. Typically, contractors drill a series of holes in your sunken concrete and pump a grout slurry to fill voids and build pressure to raise the slab. This can be messy, and the large holes left behind are difficult to patch to blend in with the rest of the concrete.
Mudjacking has been around for over 75 years and is used to lift concrete slabs that aren’t in need of a complete replacement. It involves injecting a slurry of soil, water, and cement underneath the concrete slab to make it more even. The proceso es rápido y can terminar en a pocas horas. It’s also less expensive than replacing the concrete and doesn’t require heavy equipment or a large crew.
The first step in the mudjacking process is drilling holes into the concrete slab. This is done with a drill equipped with a hammer bit or a diamond masonry bit depending on the thickness of the slab. The holes must be deep enough to reach the underlying soil. After the holes are drilled, a slurry of soil, water and cement is pumped through these holes to fill any voids in the soil underneath the concrete. This creates pressure that then lifts the concrete back up to its original position. Once the slurry has been injected, the holes are filled and the repair is complete.
There are a few drawbacks to mudjacking. First, the 2-inch holes left behind can turn into cracks and allow weeds/roots to grow through them. Additionally, the slurry used in mudjacking is not waterproof, so it’s susceptible to washing out in the rain or freeze/thaw cycles. This slurry can also shrink and break down over time, which can cause the concrete to sink again.
Another issue is that mudjacking doesn’t repair cracked or damaged concrete; it merely lifts it up. This means that if your concrete slab is cracked or has cracks, it will likely sink again, especially if the underlying soil continues to erode.
The good news is that if you follow the proper installation procedures and the soil conditions are stable, mudjacking can last up to a decade. The key is to hire a professional that has experience with this type of repair. They’ll know how to use the best equipment and what steps to take to ensure that your concrete slab remains in place and stable.
Slabjacking
Slabjacking is a method of raising sunken concrete slabs. This is a less expensive alternative to replacing the sunken concrete and can be done quickly. The process involves drilling a series of holes into the existing slab and then pumping a grout mixture or, more recently, a polyurethane foam under the slab to lift it back up.
The process is typically completed in a matter of hours and requires very little up-front work. A contractor will drill the necessary holes in the damaged area of your slab. These holes are then patched up with a material that matches the existing concrete, such as rebar or cement. Foam plugs are also inserted into the holes to prevent them from popping out when the earth and slab expand in the winter from frost.
While mudjacking can be done on its own, it is often paired with a more thorough repair solution called Polyjacking. Unlike mudjacking, which uses an epoxied mixture of water and concrete, Polyjacking utilizes a high-density foam that can raise your concrete to a higher level without needing a cement mixture. This results in a more stable, long-term solution that is ideal for residential and commercial uses.
Both methods are fast, inexpensive and very effective. Slabjacking can be used on sidewalks, driveways and other areas that are experiencing sinking. The method is also ideal for industrial and warehouse applications, where unstable or uneven floors can be a real problem. Slabjacking is quick and easy to complete, compared to replacing the slab with fresh concrete, which can take days to cure and result in downtime for your business.
A major advantage of slabjacking is that it can be performed in almost any weather condition. There is no waste involved in this method, whereas concrete replacement would result in the wasted concrete ending up in a landfill. This is better for the environment, as well as saving you money. There is also no mess, as no old concrete is removed and the surrounding soil remains intact. Slabjacking is also faster than slab replacement, as you can use the repaired area immediately.
Polyurethane Foam Injections
A variation on concrete lifting, and sometimes called foam jacking or poly lifting, this method utilizes polyurethane instead of mud to lift a sinking foundation. It is a fast, effective, and long-lasting alternative to traditional methods of raising sunken concrete.
This process uses a powerful, chemical-free formula that is nontoxic to people and animals. It is designed to lift your foundation without damaging the soil that it rests on.
Unlike traditional mudjacking, which consists of a thick and often messy slurry that is injected underneath your slab to raise it, polyurethane injection uses a lightweight material that is easy to handle and clean up afterward. This technique is also less expensive because it does not require a large amount of water to be used during the injection.
Holes the size of a dime are drilled into the sunken slab. Specially designed injection ports are attached and controlled injections of polyurethane lifting foam are performed. Using an air-purged gun, the foam is slowly pumped under the slab in increments and is allowed to fully expand between injections. This prevents over-raising the concrete slab.
Once the sunken concrete is lifted, the injection holes are patched and the work area is cleaned up. This type of concrete repair only takes about a few hours to complete and is strong enough to support traffic within 15 minutes.
Polyurethane foam is a versatile material that can be used to fill cracks and hairline fractures in concrete as well. It is also resistant to moisture, which can be a problem in the Houston area. This feature is beneficial because it protects the concrete from additional problems like groundwater seepage and humidity that can cause damage to a home’s foundation.
Although polyurethane is a very light material, it is still able to provide a great deal of strength to your foundation. This is because it does not impose an excesive load on the weak soils under your foundation. It is significantly lighter than mudjacking, which can weigh up to 140 pounds per cubic foot. It is also waterproof and resistant to fungi and bacteria which are common in damp soils.
Free Estimates
A sunken concrete slab is more than just an eyesore – it’s a safety hazard. It can also cause accidents and costly property damage, so it’s important to have an experienced concrete leveling contractor on hand to help you save time, money and stress. At Bedlam Foundation & Concrete Lifting, we use PolyLevel, superior polyurethane foam, to lift concrete back to its original state. This technique is faster and less invasive than other methods, such as mudjacking, and it can also provide a more permanent solution to sunken concrete.
Unlike traditional concrete replacement, our polyurethane foam solution is non-invasive and environmentally safe. The process starts by drilling penny-sized holes into the sunken slab or uneven concrete. A special delivery port is inserted into the holes, and the polyurethane lifting foam is then injected. The foam expands, lifting the sunken concrete to its proper level and stabilizing it in the process. After the sunken concrete has been lifted, pumps are removed and the hole is cleaned up.
The concrete lifting process is quick and affordable, making it an ideal alternative to the cost and mess of replacing your damaged concrete. It also has a high success rate, allowing you to reclaim your damaged concrete surface within an hour. Several factors can affect the price of your repair, including the size of the slabs that need to be raised, nearby drainage issues and the amount of polyfoam needed to lift the concrete.
