Concrete Lifting Foam – PolyRenewal™

Sinking concrete is a common problem many homeowners have to face. It’s noticeable in driveways, sidewalks, and on the stairs in your yard or on the front porch. Cracks and uneven sidewalks aren’t only unappealing to look at, they can also become a hazard, especially during the winter when snowfall makes them less noticeable. 

Luckily, concrete cracks are a fixable problem and one that can easily be resolved. You can hire experts to lift the concrete and repair the sinking soil that has caused the issue in the first place. This is best done with PolyRenewal^TM injections. It’s an environmentally friendly technology that doesn’t require invasive installation.  

PolyRenewal^TM Injections  

PolyRenewal^TM is an expanding foam that’s used to lift the concrete after it’s sunk and cracked. It’s an improvement on the mudjacking process, since it doesn’t require a complicated installation. Instead, the foam is inserted into small holes drilled into concrete. When it expands, the concrete is lifted to place.  

It’s also used to protect the concrete from slipping, making it a useful tool for repairing settling and uneven concrete slabs. PolyRenewal^TM is also used to lift the pool decks and fix uneven floors. In some cases it can also be used to fill in the cracks in the concrete. 

Mudjacking 

Mudjacking is a technique for lifting the concrete and stabilizing the soil underneath. A mortar-based mixture is inserted in the holes made in the concrete and it lifts the sunken driveway or stairs. The mixture is known as mud and that’s where the name comes from.  

It’s been a go-to concrete lifting solution for a long time, but is slowly being replaced by more modern and environmentally friendly options. It’s not a long-term solution since over time the mud itself can sink when the slab settles on top of it.  Nowadays, PolyRenewal^TM injections are the preferred method. 

Removing the Concrete  

One of the ways to deal with sinking concrete is to remove it altogether and replace it with a new slab. That’s a costly solution but one that may be necessary once the damage is too great to fix. This is usually what happens when the problem wasn’t addressed while there was still time. 

Keep in mind that removing the concrete slab and making a new one isn’t dealing with the cause of the problem, which is in the soil and not in the concrete. This expensive solution will therefore just buy you more time, rather than addressing the core issue. 

What Makes PolyRenewal^TM a Better Option? 

First, it’s a quick fix and it won’t take more than 30 minutes for the foam to harden and for the concrete to rise after it was treated with PolyRenewal^TM foam. 

It’s also a waterproof option meaning that it won’t be affected by the weather and it can be used to lift the pool decks that are prone to sinking. It does more than keep away water, however. Other chemicals such as the weed killers used in your yard also can’t get past the PolyRenewal^TM barrier.  

PolyRenewal^TM is also a flexible solution that can fix a variety of concrete-related problems, from cracks to sunken slabs.  

Soil Settlement and Stabilization 

A homeowner should try to address the cause of the sinking, rather than just lift the concrete. That’s what polymer injections attempt to do. Polymer injections are a long-term solution, and once the soil itself is repaired, there’s no need for any additional work. 

The polymer is made of two separate liquids that are mixed right there at the injection nozzle. Once it’s injected, the polymer turns into expanding foam. It’s this expansive quality that lifts the soil and the concrete above it. 

The polymer will quickly harden, usually taking up to 30 minutes to cure up to 90%. A contractor may need to inject 30 feet below the surface of the soil. Most often, however, they are made much closer to the surface and right below the concrete slab.  

Cracks and Sloping 

There are signs that the concrete may sink before it becomes noticeable. It’s best to be on the lookout for these signs so that you can repair the driveway before it becomes noticeably damaged. For the most part, cracks and small slopes in the yard are usually a sign that your concrete slabs are slowly sinking. 

There may be other reasons for cracks to appear as well and noticing them shouldn’t be cause for alarm. However, once you see that cracks are appearing, it’s best to hire an expert to examine them and determine their cause. 

What Causes Concrete to Sink? 

By removing the cause of the problem, you’ll make sure that there’s no need for additional and follow-up repairs which can end up costing more than the initial work. 

• Soil Shrinkage, Settling, and Compaction 

The soil beneath the concrete carries its weight. Different types of soil have different abilities when it comes to bearing the weight of the structures on top of them. When the weight becomes too much to bear, the soil will settle and compact. That’s what’s causing the concrete in your driveway to sink. 

The qualities of the soil can cause it to settle as well, regardless of the weight put on top of it. If the soil is clay, it may end up settling once it dries. 

• Washout of the Soil 

Soil washout may also cause cracking or sinking. As soil is washed away by heavy rain or other natural elements, it can no longer bear the weight of the concrete structure on top of it. This will cause the walkway in your yard to start sinking and cracking. 

This is a worse scenario since the homeowner usually has no way of knowing how much water is accumulating beneath a particular slab. This is something that can be avoided during construction if you’re building your own home, but that’s not the case for most homeowners. When the soil is extracted to build the foundation, the hole needs to be closed and the soil packed so that there’s less chance of water getting in through the cracks. If this isn’t done during the construction, there’s nothing to be done once the home is built on top of the foundation. 

PolyRenewal Injection

FAQs

Why Is My Concrete Sinking?

Concrete driveways, porches, and pool decks tend to sink because the soil on which they rest is settling. The soil can’t take on the weight of the concrete slab on top of them and they cave under pressure. This leads to the concrete being lowered as well and getting damaged in the process. 

Signs That Water Has Damaged the Soil 

In some cases, the sinking is caused by the water that’s washing the soil off. After a while, the soil density isn’t enough to support the concrete anymore and it ends up sinking. When this is the case, you’ll have to address the voids in the soil and fill them up so that the water can’t reach them. 

Since it takes time for the soil to settle and the concrete to sink, a careful homeowner will notice the problem before it becomes a burden. Small cracks and slight slopes and slants are a good indicator that there’s a problem with your yard and it’s best to react right away. 

Aesthetic and Curb Appeal 

Sometimes sinking concrete can be an actual source of harm, since it’s easier to slip on it and especially so during the winter when the sinking is less noticeable. For most homeowners, however, this is first and foremost an aesthetic issue. Curb appeal is a big part of how the home is perceived and therefore how it’s valued. 

These small cracks, sunken areas, and other aesthetic problems with the yard aren’t that difficult to fix, but they can lower the price of your home with potential buyers. It often happens that bigger, more substantial issues are missed by the buyers. However, signs of poor maintenance tend to lower the price.  

Getting to the Bottom of the Problem 

It’s useful for a homeowner to figure out what’s causing the sinking in the first place. This is about more than just curiosity. Knowing what the underlying issue is will help you choose the best and least expensive solution.  

A lot of the time, homeowners fix the concrete but don’t go into the reason for why it sunk. That may mean that you’ll have to fix the concrete once the soil beneath it settles after a while. A long-term fix ends up being less expensive when additional repairs are considered.  

What Do I Need to Know About PolyRenewalTM Injections?

Lifting sunken concrete is a job for experts in the field and not something that a homeowner can do on their own. It rallies on complex equipment and uses modern technology to make the lifting as quick and as stable as it can be. Other than choosing the method that will be used, there’s little work for a homeowner to do. 

Quick and Simple Repair 

Start by scheduling the free inspection provided by our team. They will assess the level of the damage and provide you with the options for repairing it. Regardless of the method you’re using, the repair itself will take an hour or so, and you’ll also need to wait for the foam to settle and harden. After that, there’s nothing more to do, since our team will plug the holes needed to insert the PolyRenewal^TM foam. 

There’s no need for the homeowner to be present or to provide any equipment or access to water. All of the work is handled by our team of experienced professionals. The homeowners are responsible for cleaning the working area themselves.  

Do Your Own Research 

Before deciding on a method or on hiring our team, it’s important to do your own research on the repairs. The information about our repair methods is available online and it’s supported by evidence and scientific research. 

We’re also proud of our former clients and customers and we encourage you to look up our job success stories before making a commitment. Our clients are homeowners in your area. Feel free to leave a review as well.  

How the Actual Work Is Done 

Our team will drill holes in the sunken concrete and strategically place them so that the concrete slab is lifted evenly. The holes are then filled with foam that will expand and harden once it’s inserted underground. After about 30 minutes, the process will be completed and we’ll plug the holes so the repairs leave no noticeable trace other than the lifted concrete. 

Over time, the foam will harden by an additional ten percent and achieve its final form and strength. It won’t lose any of its qualities in the years to come. This difference isn’t noticeable in day-to-day use, and you’re free to walk or drive over the concrete after the initial 30 minutes.  

What Are the Benefits of Using the PolyRenewal™ Injections?

Even though there are other ways to lift the sunken concrete, PolyRenewal™ Injections are replacing mudjacking, which has been around for a long time. That’s because this method uses innovative technology and fixes the problem once and for all. With mudjacking, you may need to repeat the process a few times once the soil sinks again. 

Quick and Easy Repair 

The repair itself is over in about 30 minutes including the time it takes for the foam to harden and lift the concrete. So, if time is of the essence and if it’s important to you for the repair to be convenient, it’s the best way to go. 

The equipment used to insert PolyRenewal™ is also rather versatile and it can be used wherever it’s needed. A lot of the time, the concrete slabs are located in backyards and somewhat confined spaces, and that isn’t a problem for our crew. 

Minimal Impact on the Slab 

The concrete slab itself won’t get damaged in the process. The repair lifts the soil beneath the slab and therefore the concrete as well. A few holes need to be drilled into the concrete but they are rather small and well placed so there’s no way to crack or break the concrete itself in the process. 

Lifting the concrete will require a crew to come to your yard and do the work. However, in the context of such repairs, it’s the most non-disruptive and clean process you can get. Once the holes are sealed there’s nothing more to do other than cleaning the yard. 

A Convenient Repair Process 

Mudjacking sometimes requires preparatory work and there’s a lot of equipment involved. This isn’t the case here and the problem is solved without having to wreck your yard in the process. There are also no loud noises and other inconveniences that usually come with having a repair crew in your yard. That’s something your neighbors will appreciate as well. 

Lifting the concrete with PolyRenewal™ is a precise job and our team can lift it as much as it needs to be. There’s a lot of nuance in this and our crew will know how to prepare the injection so that the concrete is even when they are done. 

To Sum Up 

Concrete tends to sink due to problems with the soil beneath it. That can cause porches, driveways, and sidewalks to crack and sink. This damages the aesthetic of your home, but it can also be a safety hazard. It’s best to address the problem head-on and lift the concrete slab. 

Call the experts in your area and schedule an inspection. Our team will help you choose the best and lasting solution to the problem so you can be happy with your repair the first time. 

LET OUR CONCRETE LIFTING EXPERTS HELP YOU

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_{Disclaimer: “Concrete leveling” means the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in many cases lifted, by means of PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. AFS does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make your concrete perfectly level.}