If you’re wondering if raising concrete with foam is safe, you’re in the right place. Some articles claim that polyjacking foam is “harmful.” But that’s simply not true. This article is going to explain more about raising concrete with foam, including why it’s safe, its benefits, the value it adds to your home, and the reasons behind concrete sinkage.
Is Raising Concrete With Foam Safe?
Yes, raising concrete with foam is safe. Once the polyurethane foam hardens, it becomes inert. Inert means that the foam won’t move. This means that the mixture that created the foam won’t leech into your grass or soil.
Most companies that claim foam is unsafe are usually mudjacking companies. Mudjacking is an older and outdated method of raising concrete. Mudjacking contractors will try to scare you by claiming polyjacking is unsafe when in reality, they just want to promote their own product.
What Are The Benefits Of Raising Concrete With Foam?
Besides being perfectly safe for the environment, raising concrete with foam comes with five other major benefits.
- Foam is faster than other solutions – If you were to replace your slab, it would take days for the concrete company to come out, tear up your old slab, haul away the debris, pour the new slab, and wait for it all to dry. If you were to mudjack your concrete, it would take around 24 to 72 hours for the mudjacking slurry to dry. Polyjacking foam only takes 15 minutes for it to cure and become usable.
- Foam doesn’t require heavy excavation – All that’s needed to pump the foam under your concrete is dime-sized holes. There’s no need for concrete trucks or bulldozers.
- Foam is lightweight – The foam used by The Real Seal only weighs about 2.5 to 4 pounds per cubic foot. That means that the foam won’t add any additional weight on top of the sinking soil. This will prevent further sinkage and create a stronger foundation for your concrete to sit on.
- Foam is cost-effective – If you were to replace your concrete, it would just sink again, forcing you to replace it in the near future. When you raise your concrete with polyurethane foam, you only have to do it once. If you mudjack your concrete, the slurry will wash away during the next heavy rain.
- Foam is waterproof – As we mentioned above, polyurethane foam is inert. This means that the foam won’t move if it comes in contact with water. It will also still harden if water is present in the soil under your concrete.
What Does Raising Concrete With Foam Do?
If you’re thinking of just leaving your sunken concrete alone, you might want to think again. Here are a few things that raising a concrete slab can do for you.
- Eliminates trip hazards – If your sidewalk is sunken in front of your home, you might want to get that fixed. Save yourself the trouble of tripping and possibly breaking any bones or cracking any teeth.
- Eliminates potential lawsuits – If someone is walking up to your home, such as a mailman or a friend, and they trip over your sidewalk, there’s a chance you might be looking at a lawsuit.
- Adds to your resale value – If you are planning to sell your home, any imperfections will decrease the value of your home during the property appraisal.
- Adds to your home’s appearance – Overall, sunken and cracked concrete slabs look horrible and diminish the appearance of your home.
Why Does Your Concrete Need Raising?
Why did your concrete sink in the first place? Here’s why.
- Water washed the soil out from under your slab – Poorly placed gutter downspouts and improper drainage can lead to water flowing toward your concrete and washing the soil out from under your slab.
- The soil under your slab wasn’t compacted – Before your concrete was poured, the soil underneath needs to be properly compacted. This will reduce the space between the soil particles and eliminate pockets in the dirt. Without this process, your concrete will sink into the pockets in the soil.
- The soil is expansive – Sometimes, the soil under your concrete is expansive. This type of soil will swell when it absorbs water and push your slab up. Then, when the soil dries, your slab will sink back down. This movement is slow, but over time it can crack your concrete or cause it to sink deeper into the dirt than before.
- Tree roots are under your slab – Most experts recommend moving or removing any trees near your concrete slab. Large trees can have invasive tree roots that will swarm under your concrete and lift it up. The tree roots themselves can absorb all the moisture under your slab and cause pockets to form. Lastly, if the tree roots die, they can leave behind more pockets under your slab, which will cause it to sink.
Read more: How Much Does Concrete Leveling Cost?
Who’s Raising Concrete With Foam Near Me?
If you like what you’ve heard, and you live in the Greater Chicago area, who do you call? There are so many companies out there, and you might not know who to get in touch with. That’s why you should call The Real Seal. Since 2011, we’ve been raising all sorts of concrete slabs with foam, including sidewalks, patios, driveways, and more. We also offer foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, and more. Call today for your free inspection and estimate.
