Level concrete is vital for ensuring safety and project quality. Uneven concrete poses several risks for all parties involved, making it crucial to address the problem promptly and efficiently. This concrete lifting guide will discuss the equipment you need, the best method of lifting and the benefits of this process.
What Is Concrete Lifting?
Soil settlement, water infiltration, erosion and similar environmental elements can cause concrete to sink or become uneven. Although this outcome is natural, it can create several safety hazards and threaten surrounding structures or foundations. To combat this issue, homeowners and businesses can request concrete lifting services.
Lifting or leveling concrete refers to the process of raising and stabilizing uneven or sunken concrete slabs. This process restores concrete to its original position. There are several ways to accomplish concrete lifting, including:
- Polyurethane foam injection: This method requires polyurethane components to mix at the injection point right before injection of the mixture under the sunken concrete. This process creates a unique reaction that produces a foam. The foam will expand, filling the gaps and voids in the slab and lifting the concrete to its original position. These injections are suitable for most concrete surface needs, including interior floor repairs, and the process is minimally invasive and fast.
- Resurfacing: Concrete surfaces with small signs of damage can benefit from resurfacing. This method provides a smooth layer over existing concrete surfaces to enhance the surface appearance. However, this strategy does not address underlying issues with stability or voids. Another method of resurfacing involves grinding uneven parts of the concrete to eliminate tripping hazards.
- Mudjacking: Mudjacking, or slab jacking, involves pumping water, sand and cement below a concrete slab to raise it. This method is not suitable for all concrete surfaces because the mixture can be washed out in some environments, especially those with a lot of water exposure.
- Piering: If the soil beneath a concrete surface presents challenges for the slab, teams can install piers underneath the concrete for additional support. This strategy prevents further sinking but may not restore concrete to its precise original position.
Benefits of Concrete Leveling
Leveling concrete offers several benefits to homeowners, businesses and their customers, especially compared to other methods of addressing concrete concerns. Benefits include:
- Faster turnarounds: Replacing concrete can take days or weeks, depending on the project’s demands. Demolishing concrete materials, clearing materials and waiting for concrete to cure are necessary but time-consuming steps for replacements. On the other hand, leveling can take a few hours to complete, depending on the project scope.
- Minimal disruptions: The fewer demands of concrete leveling make this method less disruptive than other solutions. Your customers can enjoy the fast turnaround and minimal disruption to their daily activities, and neighbors or business guests can enjoy the improvement with little to no inconvenience.
- Cost-effective solution: The cost of concrete leveling is much more affordable than concrete replacement projects. Your customers can enjoy this budget-friendly solution while having peace of mind in the longevity of their choice. The cost to raise and level concrete can also benefit your team. This method requires less manual labor and time requirements from your team compared to concrete replacement, which can translate to labor savings for your business.
- Matching appearance: Another advantage to leveling concrete is achieving a cohesive look. Solutions like concrete replacement can result in noticeable differences in concrete appearance due to factors like age and material usage. Alternatively, leveling restores the original slabs, ensuring the end product is a cohesive, original look.
- Concrete raising offers a long-term solution for home and business owners.
- Long-lasting results: Concrete raising offers a solution that lasts for the duration of the lifted concrete’s life. While natural elements and factors like usage will impact the exact duration, this method will generally produce longer-lasting solutions than methods like resurfacing.
How to Lift a Concrete Slab
Lifting concrete successfully involves utilizing the right equipment and following best practices. Here’s what you need to know.
Equipment Necessary to Raise Concrete
The right raising equipment is crucial for efficient operations. Generally, you can expect to use the following equipment:
- Polyurethane reactor with pump: The lifting pump is essential for operations because this equipment has components to allow injections under the concrete slab.
- Injection gun: Specialized injection guns allow you to mix and deliver the polyurethane foam into the concrete.
- Polyurethane foam mixture: This mixture is the essential element for filling voids and lifting the concrete for long-lasting results.
- Hammer drill and drill bits: A power drill and the appropriate size bits are necessary for drilling holes to inject the foam mixture.
- Level: A level tool can depict whether concrete is rising to the appropriate level.
Depending on your project, you may need additional tools. For instance, you may require a concrete saw to cut a slab free if it is bound with an adjacent slab. You may also need a longer hose to access deep areas or equipment to power your gun and pump. You should also consider cleanup equipment to ensure customer satisfaction.
Steps for How to Lift Sunken Concrete
Once you have the equipment and materials you need, it’s time to begin lifting operations. Generally, the process of lifting concrete involves:
- Assessing the site: Always assess the project site before beginning operations. Look for gaps, cracks and other signs of settling between structures or buildings and the concrete. This information can depict the extent of damage you’re dealing with. After assessing the site, clear any obstacles and create a pathway for your raising equipment.
- Drilling the holes: Determine strategic placement for small drilling holes. These holes will typically be around the size of a dime, enough to insert the injection ports. Use your equipment to inject the polyurethane foam below the concrete.
- Monitoring movement: Watch the progress of the foam expansion. As the foam fills gaps and exerts pressure, the concrete will lift. Adjust your injection rate to prevent over-raising. This foam often hardens in about 15 minutes, so you can quickly determine whether you need to add additional foam.
- Patching holes: After reaching the desired lift level, remove the injection ports and use grout to patch the remaining surface holes.
- Cleaning the site: Always clear the project site of equipment and materials and move any furniture or objects back to their original places.
- Administering add-on services: After completing the lift, it can be beneficial to consider services like caulk seam sealing or power washing. These services can enhance the look of the slab.
Request Concrete Lifting Equipment From HMI
HMI has been leading the concrete raising industry since 1979. We continue meeting customer needs and reshaping the industry through innovative products and systems. Our team continuously researches and produces top-of-the-line products to empower our customers to start or grow their businesses. When you need concrete raising equipment, trust our team to help you find the right solution.
Contact our team to discover what we can do for you.
