Concrete Leveling An Alternative To Drilling And Pouring New Concrete
A sunken concrete slab is more than just an eyesore; it can be a safety hazard for people who walk or drive on the area. That’s why it’s important to have these areas repaired as soon as you notice them. One option for doing so is through concrete leveling. Experienced Concrete Levelers injecting a material underneath the concrete to raise it back to its original position. This method can be used for sidewalks, patios, driveways, and more.
It can be difficult to tell when you have a sinking slab. However, there are some clear signs that you should look out for. These include if the concrete has sunken at least a quarter-inch below the pavement’s surface, or if it tends to rock when stepped on or driven over. In addition, any cracks in the concrete are a big problem and should be addressed as soon as possible by a professional concrete repair company.
There are a few ways to fix a sinking concrete slab, but many of them involve digging up the old concrete and pouring new concrete on top. This can be expensive and time-consuming, not to mention disruptive to the surrounding landscaping. Concrete leveling is an alternative to this that can save you money and time while still providing a good result.
Concrete leveling involves drilling holes in the concrete slab to create an opening for the technician to pump the lifting material into the void beneath the concrete. There are several different types of lifting materials that can be used, including mudjacking, polyurethane foam injection, and hydraulic cement. The best choice depends on the severity of the damage and the location of the sunken slab. Mudjacking is an older-fashioned method that involves drilling a series of holes throughout the sunken concrete slab. A mud and cement mixture is then pumped into the holes to fill the voids and lift the concrete. However, this is not a permanent solution and the soil mixture will continue to settle over time.
A much better option for lifting concrete is to use polyurethane foam injection. This is a much faster and more effective method than mudjacking, as the polyurethane expands to multiple times its original size when injected beneath the slab. This forces the slab to rise to its original position and is immediately usable after the job is completed.
The other advantage of polyurethane foam is that it’s a lightweight material that doesn’t add to the problem of future soil settlement. This makes it a good choice for both commercial and residential applications. Additionally, it doesn’t require the excavation and construction that mudjacking does.
Whether you have an unsightly or dangerous concrete slab, concrete leveling is the best solution to keep it safe for walking and driving. The good news is that concrete leveling only takes a couple of hours to complete, so you can start using the area again shortly after the work is done.