Concrete Raising
Concrete raising (otherwise known as slab jacking) is the process of raising concrete that has settled, back to its original height and level. This can eliminate dangerous trip hazards, restore proper drainage and prevent water and ice accumulation. The process is significantly less expensive then replacing concrete and far more attractive then grinding the concrete. Best of all, in most cases it will prevent further settlement.
Why do we offer concrete raising services? Kamloops is a beautiful community and a wonderful place to live but from a construction perspective we have some issues with soil stability. Some areas have soft silty soils, some areas have sandy or clay based soils and some areas have high water tables. Each of these conditions can lead to disastrous results for concrete slabs. On top of this contractors of days past didn’t understand the importance of proper soil compaction or understand when native soil should be removed and replaced with better quality back fill. The result is a community with lots and lots of failing concrete.
“We provide a low cost, permanent and environmentally friendly alternative to removing and replacing sunken concrete. The process usually only takes a few hours and the concrete can be returned to service immediately.”
The Process
STEP 1) Small 5/8” injection holes are drilled at strategic locations (typically around 3-4 feet apart).
STEP 2) High quality Polyurethane foam is injected into the holes as a liquid where it flows under the slab and slowly expands, compressing loose soils and gently lifting the concrete. Small incremental injections are done and the foam is allowed to expand between injections allowing the applicator to monitor the raise and prevent over raising the slab. When the concrete is back in place additional holes are drilled to fill in any voids that have been created from lifting the slab.
STEP 3) The holes are patched and the concrete can be immediately returned to service (although we do recommend waiting for up to 24 hours before parking vehicles or heavy equipment on the slab).
The material will never lose its density and is more than strong enough to lift and permanently support the weight of the concrete.
Services Include
Driveways
Patios
Sidewalks
Parking Pads
Garage Aprons
Void Filling
Pool Decks
Warehouse and Shop Floors
Garage and Basement Floors
Why Does Concrete Settle
Soil Compaction: Concrete is heavy! When the bearing capacity of the soil underneath the slab is insufficient to support its weight, the slab will sink. This is usually the result of insufficient compaction of the ground beneath the slab.
Soil Shrinkage: Changes in the soils moisture content beneath a slab can cause it to settle and compact. Soil that contains large amounts of clay or silt will shrink substantially when it dries. Large trees and shrubs can consume significant amounts of water, drying out the soil, and causing nearby slabs to settle.
Soil Erosion: Water moving underneath your concrete slab can wash away soil that is supporting the weight of the concrete. When this happens not only can concrete settle, but large voids can form underneath the concrete. This is commonly caused by incorrect drainage such as improper site grading or a malfunctioning downspout. In some cases concrete may initially settle from soil compaction which creates a drainage issue and leads to soil erosion and further settlement.
Benifits Of Polyurethane Foam Slab Jacking
Remove Tripping Hazards
Sunken sidewalks and driveways aren’t just eyesores they can be safety hazards. Ledges as small as ¼” can create tripping hazards. Concrete raising is an effective, affordable, way to eliminate tripping hazards without having to grind the concrete or remove and replace it.
Eliminate Pooling Water
Settled concrete creates the perfect environment for pooling water. In the summer this pooling water can seep into the ground below the concrete, further eroding the soil and making the problem worse. In the winter, frozen water pools create safety hazards.
Cost Effective
Concrete raising is typically about 50 to 75% less expensive than the cost of removing and replacing the same concrete. The cost of raising a slab is based on the amount of material required to complete the project as well as the complexity of the job. Contact Us today for a FREE ESTIMATE.
Enhance Your Homes Appearance
Sunken concrete is an eye sore and will only worsen in time. As the concrete continues to settle more cracks will appear and existing cracks will get worse.
Stop Water Damage
Settled concrete can result in pooling water which can seep into the ground below the concrete, further eroding the soil and making the problem worse. Grinding the adjacent slab may eliminate a trip hazard but will not restore proper drainage allowing the slab to continue settling. Foam jacking will correct drainage, fill voids and stabilize the slab.
Prevent Structural Damage
Concrete sloping towards a house can mean big problems for a home owner. Settled concrete which slopes towards a building can cause major problems including flooded basements and costly foundation repairs. Concrete raising can lift the concrete restoring a proper slope away from the building.
Increase the value of your home
Thinking about selling your home? Sunken concrete slabs can be a real turn-off to potential buyers. The solution is simple, have your concrete raised and leveled before listing your home for sale.
Be Green
By raising your concrete you are saving your concrete from being torn out and deposited at a landfill.
Environmentally Friendly Foam
The foam used for foam jacking is made from over 40% recycled material and is the greenest polyurethane foam on the market. The material does not react with soil or moisture and will not leach harmful chemicals into the soil.
Strong but light
The material weighs only 2-4 lbs. per cubic foot which is far less than traditional mud jacking material which weights around 100 lbs. per cubic foot. The advantage of a lighter weight material is that it will not further over-burden the ground beneath the concrete which reduces the chance of resettlement. Despite its light weight polyurethane foam can lift even the heaviest slabs and will not compress over time.
Small Holes
Foam jacking requires small 5/8” holes, that’s about the size of a dime. Once patched, the holes are much less noticeable than large 1 5/8” mudjacking holes. In some cases foam jacking holes aren’t even noticeable at all.
Fast
Most jobs take between 1 and 3 hours to complete. Once the job is complete the concrete can be returned to service immediately (although we do recommend waiting for up to 24 hours before parking vehicles or heavy equipment on the slab).
Permanent
Polyurethane foam will maintain its density permanently and is not affected by water or freeze/thaw cycles.
Hydrophobic
Polyurethane foam can be used in wet applications with no negative effects.
Lift Large and Heavy Slabs
Polyurethane foam is injected as a liquid and remains as a liquid for a few seconds before it begins to expand into foam. This allows it to spread under large areas of slabs and structures before expanding and because of its high expansion force it can lift extremely heavy slabs with ease.
Adjacent Landscaping is Not Affected
The landscaping around the concrete slab is not affected during foam jacking. There is no heavy equipment or digging required, allowing applicators to access confined areas. This is far less invasive then other concrete raising techniques.