Water is the most used substance on the Earth. I bet that sentence does not surprise you in the least, but you may be surprised by number two – CONCRETE. When you think about it, it makes sense, since everywhere you look there is concrete: roads, bridges, parking structures, foundations, sidewalks, and so many other things are made from concrete. Unless your career is related to building these structures how often are you actually thinking about concrete?
Concrete is a durable and versatile material found all over the world, but it does not last forever. Concrete structures are subject to a wide variety of environmental stresses, many of which can cause damage, like cracks, heaving or sinking. Once settlement begins, these problems almost always get worse over time as the soil beneath the structure continues to erode.
Mudjacking and polyurethane injections are two of the most common concrete repair methods in use today. They have a similar purpose of repairing and leveling old or damaged concrete. Read on to learn more about each, and to find out which method works best.
What’s the Difference?
Mudjacking is also known as concrete leveling, pressure grouting, and slab grouting. Sand, cement, and other materials combine to make a mixture known as a slurry. This mixture is then pumped into holes drilled into the concrete to raise and level it.
Polyurethane Foam Rising aka PolyLift or Polyjacking uses high-density geo-technical expanding foam to raise and stabilize concrete slabs. The material and equipment is similar to what is used in spray foam insulation however the foam used for lifting concrete is a lot stronger.
The first step in a polyurethane injection repair project is to drill penny sized holes. The high-density polyurethane foam is the spray through the holes and will begin to fill all the voids below the concrete.
The foam can expand up to 7 feet at each injection hole. It raises the concrete while stabilizing it and filling any gaps between the concrete and the soil.
So Which one?
In order to decide, let’s take a look at the factors that go into making a decision.
-
Appearance – With polyurethane, fewer and smaller holes (an inch smaller, to be exact) are drilled into the slabs compared to mudjacking, so the finished product looks cleaner. Additionally, fewer resources and heavy equipment are required, so the job site is neater, and the surrounding landscape isn’t damaged.
-
Time – Polyurethane is fast compared to mudjacking. Polyurethane foam cures in minutes, so it’s ready to be walked and driven on right away. Mudjacking, on the other hand, can take 24 to 72 hours to cure and allow for foot traffic on the lifted concrete. This is not only inconvenient but can cause hurt commercial owners who rely on their parking lots for business.
-
Longevity – Mudjacking relies on underlying soils to support the lifted concrete. Heaving from a dramatic freeze and thaw cycle or settling from decaying tree roots or water damage can cause the underlying soils to shift and crack your concrete. There’s no guarantee your concrete will remain smooth and level with mudjacking. With polyurethane, however, the chemical reaction with the soil causes the foam to harden, so it doesn’t fail. This stabilizes the soil and concrete, so your concrete should last a lifetime.
-
Cost – The cost of mudjacking runs cheap compared to polyurethane. However, because there is no warranty or guarantee your concrete will remain leveled, you’ll likely need to pay to repeat the process. It’s better to do it right the first time with polyurethane. While it does cost more upfront, the long-term costs and potential cleanup and repair costs prove significantly less.
Uneven concrete is not only unattractive but can also be harmful to pedestrians and your vehicles. Not to mention, neglected, uneven concrete will only worsen over time, meaning more money to repair and more structural and safety issues to address. If you are in need of a concrete repair, now you know that of the options Polyurethane raising is by far the best option you have. When receiving the best method, who else to provide the service than the best company, Level Best can handle all your concrete lifting, leveling, stabilizing and void-filling needs. Their polyurethane injection process has been proven to be far superior to typical mudjacking. Get in touch today for a CONCRETE (haha) solution!