Mudjacking, also known as concrete lifting, is one of the techniques that concrete contractors use to raise and stabilize settled concrete surfaces. This technique involves pumping slurry underneath the surface to be lifted. After the slurry has been pumped under the concrete surface, it’s allowed to cure for one or two days.
Mudjacking has been used for decades to repair concrete surfaces in homes and commercial establishments. While this technique has its own advantages, it may not be an ideal concrete repair method if the damage is substantial.
Let’s look at the main problems with mudjacking.
• Weight of Mudjacking Material
The slurry that’s pumped underneath concrete surfaces to be lifted is extremely heavy. So, mudjacking is not recommended for surfaces with poorly prepped soil. Typically, concrete surfaces settle because of the weight of the original concrete. If you add more weight to already poorly compacted soil, you’ll add more stress to the base and cause additional settling to occur.
• Material Breakdown
The slurry used for mudjacking is prone to erosion, shrinking, and breakdown, especially in areas with poor drainage and heavy rainfall. If you live in an area that experiences heavy rainfall and cycles of freezing and thawing, mudjacking may not be an ideal method for concrete surface repair.
• Hole Issues
Mudjacking requires fairly large holes of about two inches to be drilled on the concrete surface. The number of holes will depend on the extent of the damage. If the area to be fixed is large, a contractor will have to drill more holes. Mudjacking becomes a problem when large holes are placed too close together. Along with being unsightly, large holes on a concrete surface can result in cracking. Therefore, mudjacking is not recommended if the damage is substantial.
If you're considering undertaking concrete repair in your property, it's advisable to consult with a reliable concrete company.
Polyurethane concrete raising solves the problems highlighted above, so it is an ideal alternative to mudjacking.
How Does Polyurethane Concrete Raising Work?
Unlike mudjacking which uses slurry, this technique employs high-density geo-technical expanding form for concrete lifting. The holes drilled for polyurethane concrete raising are much smaller in diameter, so they are easier to conceal.
The geo-technical expanding foam used for polyurethane concrete raising is lightweight, so it doesn’t add much weight to the already poorly compacted soil.
Polyurethane concrete raising is longer-lasting because the raising material is impervious to water and doesn’t erode like slurry. Besides, it’s versatile and more aesthetically pleasing.
If you are torn between mudjacking and polyurethane concrete raising, go for the latter, as it comes with more benefits.
Hire an Experienced Concrete Contractor for Concrete Repair
Concrete repair is not the kind of task you can do yourself if you’re not experienced in concrete installation. Whether you’re looking to install a new concrete surface in your home or repair damaged concrete slabs, call Concrete Xperts to get the job done.
At Concrete Xperts, we have extensive experience in concrete installation, repair, and replacement.
