The Real Seal Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair offers concrete leveling services in Oak Park, Illinois, using polyjacking to raise and level sinking concrete slabs, patios, pathways, and driveways. Expanding polyurethane foam is used in this method. Compared to other alternatives like mudjacking, it is a non-toxic concrete leveling method.
What Is Concrete Leveling?
Does your concrete have that sinking feeling? When concrete slabs settle, they sometimes need a lift. The Real Seal can provide that lift and get your concrete driveway, patio, sidewalk, or even a garage floor back into position again. We do work in Oak Park and throughout the surrounding area.
Concrete leveling is the process of raising concrete by injecting polyurethane foam below the slab. As the foam expands, it lifts the slab and will hold it in place for a lifetime.
Does Concrete Leveling Work?
When we have any job done, we want to make sure it is going to work properly. Since most people don’t have concrete leveling done at their home or business more than once, it is understandable that they would wonder if it worked, and how well it worked.
First of all, yes, concrete leveling works, and with the method we use (polyjacking), concrete leveling works extremely well. It is more effective than mudjacking and much less expensive than replacing the slab.
Best of all, once we lift the concrete back into place and make sure it is level, you won’t even be able to tell we were there. We will patch the small holes that were used to inject the polyurethane foam under the slab and clean up the entire site.
When Do You Need Concrete Leveling?
There are a few different reasons why someone would consider concrete leveling but the most obvious is if the concrete has settled. Due to less-than-ideal soil conditions, roots, poor drainage, and other issues, the soil may no longer hold the slab effectively.
As the concrete settles, it will create tripping hazards. This could be because one slab settles next to an adjacent slab that does not settle. Since concrete does not bend, it may also crack, leading to an unsightly issue and a tripping hazard.
As long as the concrete has not significantly deteriorated, we can use polyjacking to get it back into place once again. In many cases, any cracks will significantly disappear after we do the lift as well.
Concrete Leveling Methods
Like many different construction-related jobs, you have options when it comes to leveling concrete slabs. Some options are better than others, which is why we only use the top option, polyjacking.
It’s good to know about the different types of concrete leveling methods before making a choice. Here are the two primary options. The other choice is to remove the concrete and replace it with a new slab.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking was the industry standard for concrete leveling before the advent of polyjacking. It is still used by some concrete leveling companies but it is largely considered to be an unreliable and outdated slabjacking method.
Large holes are drilled in the concrete and a pump is used to force a slurry of sand, soil, and cement below the slab. The mixture pushes the concrete slab up and into place.
There are several issues associated with mudjacking, including the heavy weight of the material, excessive cleanup, and a short life span. It may be necessary to have the process completed again within 3-5 years.
Polyjacking
We only recommend and use polyjacking at The Real Seal. Polyurethane foam is a lightweight material (2lb per sq ft) and it will last for many years once it is in place. We can inject the polyfoam through small holes drilled in the concrete and cleanup is quick and easy.
You can compare polyjacking to mudjacking but there really isn’t a comparison. Since polyjacking became available, it has mostly replaced the old method of mudjacking. Once we inject the polyurethane foam under the concrete, the slab can be used normally within 15 minutes.
We Offer Concrete Leveling Using Polyjacking Near You in Oak Park, IL
Many Oak Park residents are familiar with settling concrete. Wet soil, nearby roots, poor drainage, and the freeze-thaw cycle can affect what is under the concrete, causing the slab to sink. The Real Seal can fix this problem quickly and permanently.
We have been working on concrete, basements, foundations, and more in the Oak Park area for many years. You can trust the experienced technicians to provide the best polyjacking services available and leave your property in great shape when we are done.
Types of Concrete Leveling The Real Seal Offer
Patios
Driveways
Pool Decks
Sidewalks
Foundations
Concrete Steps
Porches
Garage floors
Poly Jacking Process
Polyjacking is a multi-step process that is performed by an experienced concrete leveling technician. Each job is unique, but they often include the following steps in the process:
5/8″ holes are drilled in the concrete to allow us to inject the polyurethane foam under the slab. We then insert tapered injection ports so the foam can be injected properly.
There may be times when we grind the slab where it has sunk next to another slab or if the concrete has cracked where it settled. This is to allow the slab to move freely during the lift.
A sidewalk jack is sometimes used to lift the slab slightly. This allows for a larger void under the slab where the polyurethane is injected. It also makes the entire process easier.
We use industry foam injection guns to inject the polyurethane foam under the slab. It goes under as a liquid and quickly begins expanding.
Once the liquid polyurethane mixture is under the slab, it begins to quickly expand to up to 50 times its original size. As the foam expands, it compresses any loose soil and, at the same time, pushes the slab upward.
Any excess polyurethane foam scrapes away easily. We then fill the holes in the concrete and clean up the area where the work took place. The only evidence you will have of our being there is a level concrete slab.
The Benefits of Polyjacking
We only use polyjacking for our Oak Park customers. This is due to the many benefits that it provides. Below is a short list of those benefits you are sure to experience.
Polyurethane foam only weighs about 2 pounds per square foot. The lightweight nature keeps the foam from sinking over time.
We can inject polyurethane foam quickly and easily with a minimal amount of equipment. You can get back to your life sooner with polyjacking.
Polyurethane foam is non-toxic and will not harm the environment once it is in place. There is also very little waste associated with polyjacking.
The lift is very precise when it is done by a trained professional.
Polyurethane is hydrophobic, so it can be used in the wettest conditions or even under water.
Some forms of slabjacking only last a few years but polyjacking is designed to last for a lifetime. As long as the soil under the slab is stable, it will likely even outlast the homeowner.
