Having cracked, uneven concrete slabs around your home is common throughout Central and Southern Ohio areas such as Columbus and Cincinnati, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with those conditions. They affect your property’s appearance and can be deadly tripping hazards. That’s why fixing the problem as soon as you notice it is extremely important.
There are many repair options ranging from different “jacking” techniques to repouring and everything in between. Here, we will focus on two: concrete lifting with PolyRenewal™ polyurethane injections and mudjacking. What are the pros and cons of each, what’s the best one for your home, and how can local concrete experts at Ohio Basement Authority help?
Concrete Problems 101: What’s Going on Below
Before jumping into repair options, it might help to first understand what’s going on with your concrete.
Concrete is used for many areas around your home, from the sidewalk and driveway to your porch steps and back patio or pool deck, as well as the foundation. It is a strong material, but it can show signs of damage in the form of cracks, sinking, unevenness, and more. These can happen for several reasons, but the root of most of these problems lies in the soil beneath the slabs. Unstable soil from becoming wet and soft, dry and shrinking, or eroding and washing away from under the concrete leaves the slabs without proper support. When the soil leaves voids between the slabs, the slabs can easily sink into the ground. This results in uneven, sunken slabs that present safety hazards.
As you can see, these problems need to be addressed in order to protect the safety and appearance of your home. So, how can they be fixed?
Mudjacking: Traditional, Yet Outdated & Ineffective Repair
Instead of going through the hassle of having the affected concrete slabs removed and repoured, mudjacking was a traditionally used method for raising the concrete.
The installation process:
- Drill soda can-sized holes into concrete slabs
- Create a slurry mixture of cement, mud, water, and other materials
- Pump this material under the concrete
- Wait for the mixture to harden (usually a few days)
This might sound like a straightforward repair, but mudjacking has its downsides. Large holes have to be drilled into the concrete, making the installation quite invasive. The installation also can come with a hefty price tag. When the mixture is pumped under the concrete, it may not fill the void evenly, and it oftentimes only fills the shape of a cone in the immediate area of installation. This means it may not do much to lift the slab. Along with a lengthy cure time that leaves you without the use of the concrete area, the slurry mixture is heavy, adding weight to already unstable soil. If the concrete is stabilized and lifted, it will not stay that way for long. The soil underneath will still have the same problems, and it can give way to the heavy slurry and concrete slabs on top of it.
The bottom line with mudjacking is that it may provide temporary relief at best for sunken concrete problems, but it is an outdated repair method that does not tackle the root of the problem.
Polyurethane Foam Injections: Reliable & Effective Repair
As technology has evolved over time, so have repair methods. To stay up-to-date and provide a simple, yet long-lasting concrete lifting solution, our manufacturing team developed a state-of-the-art repair to restore your concrete slabs. Our PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam injection system uses the basic framework of mudjacking but takes it to a new level.
The installation process:
- Drill penny-sized holes into affected concrete
- Place injection ports in the holes
- Inject polyurethane foam under the concrete
- Foam expands to fill voids and allows for precise lift.
- Cover and smooth over drilled holes
Depending on the size of the affected area, this installation can be completed within a day. The polyurethane foam takes about 15 minutes to cure, meaning you can use your concrete the same day. The foam also is lightweight, but extremely durable. It is waterproof and will not wash out from under the concrete, and it pulls double duty in helping strengthen the problematic soil underneath. The material is eco-friendly and cost-effective, and it will protect your concrete for years to come.
Local Experts Can Help Repair Sunken Concrete
Concrete lifting with PolyRenewal™ polyurethane injections is a more effective repair solution all around. So, how can you get your hands on this innovative solution? PolyRenewal™ is not a DIY fix, and it is only available from your local concrete lifting experts at Ohio Basement Authority. Our professional team has years of experience in diagnosing and repairing problematic concrete, and we can help lift, stabilize, and protect your concrete in no time.
If you notice areas of cracking, sinking concrete around your Columbus or Cincinnati home, get it repaired once and for all with a trusted solution. Contact the expert team at Ohio Basement Authority today to schedule a free inspection and repair estimate.
