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When concrete slabs and steps slip out of place, concrete lifting saves time and money. For property owners faced with broken, uneven drives, walks, or steps, the savings result from avoiding potential lawsuits and pouring new concrete. When someone slips and falls on your out of sync concrete, you could be faced with a negligence suit. Avoid this problem by proactively fixing the issue with concrete lifting. Dramatic Cost Savings of Concrete Lifting Repairing concrete can be a costly matter. Whether the project is a section of sidewalk or a long driveway, getting the concrete to the site, materials, and labor are all very costly. To replace a 4' x 4' piece of sidewalk, for example, it can cost over $500. The alternative is concrete lifting, or slabjacking, the process of lifting a sunken slab and building up the foundation underneath to make it level once again. By using this type of concrete repair technology, that $500 job can drop to as low as $100, although average savings are in the 50 to 80% range. How Does the Process Work? The slabjacking process, also called mud jacking or pressure grouting, has been in use since the early 1900s. What it involved is hydraulically lifting a section of concrete to its original position by drilling a small hole the size of a quarter in these sunken sections and adding a pumping compound that will raise it back to its original position. After filling, the holes are sealed off with a concrete mixture. Originally, the material used was a mix of limestone and concrete, but modern slabjacking uses an expanding polyurethane foam and is often called "foam jacking." As air bubbles in the material injected into the hole expand, weak soils below the slab are strengthened and then the lifting action begins. The closed cell polymer foam offers several advantages: • The material expands to fill any voids it finds beneath the slab. • It cures within 30 minutes, which allows it to be used almost immediately. • It will not retain moisture, an issue in northern climates where "frost heaving" can affect cement slabs. • It is resistant to erosion, which makes the process a good long-term solution. • It’s lightweight to prevent further settlement that will require future leveling. • It retains the cured shape and volume, which prevents additional sinking. • It offers a solution for filling voids under porches that attract animals. In addition to foam injection, sand based grout is used for some applications. Limitations of Hydraulic Lifting While concrete lifting is an excellent solution for lifting out-of-whack slabs, it does not work well on poor quality concrete, which can crack or deteriorate during the lifting process. When the lifting is due to tree roots, the only solution is to grind it down so that it is level, or replace it. Most concrete eventually deteriorates to the point where it needs to be replaced. The lifting process can give sunken steps, pool decks, patios, walks, and driveways another 10 to 15 years. If you are selling your home, it can be a quick and easy way to increase the safety and curb appeal of your home without breaking the bank. Where is Concrete Lifting Used? Concrete lifting can revolutionize sidewalk and drive maintenance for homeowners and businesses, where it can also improve support for foundations, interior floors, porches, steps, drives, platforms, and more. This versatile process is often used by municipalities and government agencies to assist in road stabilization and repair. Not every firm is equipped to handle extremely heavy jobs, which require additional expertise and equipment. When concrete has settled, getting an estimate on concrete lifting can be an excellent, cost-effective solution.
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uneven pavement, uneven walkways, uneven driveways, contrete lifting, mudjacking, cement repair,
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