Uneven Sidewalks, Patios and Driveways in Des Moines
What Causes the Concrete to Settle?
Concrete settlement is common in the Central Iowa. We have tremendous temperature changes, weather, and soil expansion and contraction. So, we have lots of concrete settlement, which can cause significant problems like tripping and stubbing hazards, water pooling, uneven surface areas and cracks in the concrete.
There are two common causes of concrete settlement. The first is, concrete is often poured over recently backfilled soils around the home, or a building during construction. The soil is still loose at the time the concrete is poured and will settle and compact over time. The concrete on the top of the soil will settle and sink right with the soil below. The second cause is erosion of the soil underneath the concrete slab. As water runs through cracks and joints in the concrete it washes the soil out as the water passes though. This creates a void under the concrete slab and over time allows the slab to settle. In both cases, as the slab settles it can become uneven, and cracked.
What are the options for concrete repair?
Concrete Replacement
Replacing the concrete is certainly and option, but in most cases it is very expensive. Also
, it is disruptive to the property and over all landscape and doesn't always address the problem of the settling soil under the slab. The concrete slab will most likely settle again. And you know what that means, you will have to repeat the process.
Mudjacking
This is a common term for concrete lifting and leveling. With this type of repair very large and unsightly holes are drilled into the concrete slab. After the mud-type-material is pumped under the slab, you will need to wait several days before walking and or driving on the slab. Because it is a muddy type of material, the material can erode and/or wash out from underneath the concrete slab. This material is quite heavy and will add weight to the existing product potentially making the problem worse.
Releveling Grout
This is a soupy mixture that is layed out on top of the settled concrete slab, and in order for it to work well, it needs to mix perfectly to bond. First knee jerk reaction is this does not fix or repair the problem it is only a bandaid. This leveling material adds significant weight to the concrete slab, which makes matters worse, and the additional grout generally drys, cracks and breaks out over time. Once the grout material cracks and breaks out, the original problem still remains below.
The above repairs are older technology and considered by some to be antiquated.
Are there new approaches and revolutionary technologies to even concrete repairs? YES! Structural Polymers! So we take the original concept of mudjacking and with a structural polymer we now take a state of the art approach to repairing settled, sinking and uneven concrete slabs.
Our PolyLEVEL System utilizes a revolutionary light weight, high density polyurethane to raise concrete slabs back to a desired level. Instead of large holes drilled into the concrete, we use a small hole about the size of the penny. These small holes are sufficient in size to let the leveling material into the void using specially designed equipment. This structual grade polymer material has expanding properties and allows for very accurate lifts and leveling of sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Once the lift and leveling is completed, the penny size holes are easily grouted and sealed, and the concrete slab is restored.
Advantages of PolyLEVEL
Let take a quick look at the advantages of using this revolutionary approach to concrete slab lifting and leveling.
- Light weight. It only ways 4lbs per cubic yard opposed to the heavy mud at 120lbs per cubic yard
- Quick curing time. You will be driving on it 15 minutes after installation
- High Capacity. Allows for the lifting of heavier loads like stoops and slab foundations.
- Doesn't erode. Like the mud or concrete materials the polymer will not erode
Call us for a no cost inspection and estimate or click here to sign up!