Hello World! Welcome Friends! Concrete structures have the potential to get damaged over time. Concrete leveling helps resolve the problems that arise in these structures. There are two methods of leveling concrete:
- Mudjacking.
- Polyurethane foam jacking.
Both polyjacking and mudjacking work to
- Level uneven concrete surfaces.
- Lift sunken surfaces.
- Fill voids under the concrete slabs.
However, both methods are not similar. Let’s have a look at how mudjacking is different from polyjacking.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking is the conventional method of filling gaps or cracks in concrete structures. In this method, professionals inject a slurry or mixture beneath the concrete structure to lift it.
Slurry Composition: Soil + Clay + Water + Sand + Crushed Limestone
Some other names for mudjacking are:
- Slabjacking.
- Pressure grouting.
- Slab grouting.
What Structures Can You Lift Through Mudjcking?
Mujacking can lift numerous structures, like
- Patios.
- Sidewalks.
- Driveways.
- Steps.
However, mudjacking is not suitable for all cement structures. Remember, slabjacking or mudjacking cannot be used on surfaces as the composition of slurry is not suitable to be used on top. It only works underneath the surfaces. Some structures that cannot be leveled or lifted with mudjacking include
- Severely damaged cement slabs.
- Potholes.
- Pool repairs.
Although mudjacking can be used for foundation repairs weight of your entire house relies on the foundation, so the foundation cannot solely rely on slabjacking.
The Process of Mudjacking
Mudjacking is a simple process that concrete leveling professionals can perform by following these steps:
Step 1: Drilling Holes
In the first step, the contractors drill holes of 1.5 – 2.5 inches in diameter in the comment surface to be repaired. Usually, they drill three to five regularly spaced holes in the slab.
Step 2: Injecting the Slurry
Following this, they pump the prepared slurry through these holes underneath the surface to be lifted. A nozzle is used for injecting the slurry. The slurry serves many purposes, like:
- Fill the spaces under the slabs.
- Lifting / Leveling the concrete.
- Providing solid support after drying up.
Step 3: Leveling off the Holes
After injecting the slurry, the experts ensure that the problem has been resolved and the slab has been lifted to the desired position. Then, they refill the drilled holes and level them off.
Benefits of Mudjacking
Mudjacking or slab jacking has manifold benefits. However, some are listed below:
Pocket Friendly:
Mudjacking is cost-effective. It saves you from spending money or replacing the whole surface.
Saves Time:
The entire process merely takes a few hours.
Eco-Friendly:
The process of mudjacking is eco-friendly as it does not generate much waste. Also, the slurry preparation doesn’t harm the environment in any way.
No Heavy Machinery:
You do not require heavy equipment or noisy machines for slabjacking. It is less noisy and invasive, thereby saving you from the inconvenience that you might experience during slab replacement.
Drawbacks of Mudjacking
Some disadvantages of the process of mudjacking are as follows:
The Cracks Do Not Disappear;
It does not remove the cracks from the surfaces. The cracks are only filled up to avoid tripping hazards.
Marks of Fresh Concrete Are Left Behind:
When you fill-up the drilled holes, the marks of fresh cement do not go away. It damages the curb appeal of the surface. Moreover, the holes are large enough to allow weeds to grow through them.
It Can Damage Cosmetic Top Treatment:
The tiles or cosmetic top treatment covering the cement surface can be damaged while drilling holes. This damage cannot be returned to its original condition.
Mudjacking Is Not the Permanent Solution:
It does not resolve structural issues. Rather, it just temporarily fills the cracks while they are still present on the slab. Over time, the slurry can wash away, reversing the repair.
Polyjacking
Polyjacking is an alternative and relatively modern method of concrete leveling. In this method, professionals use liquid polyurethane foam to lift or level the concrete surface. The expansion of foam after filling lifts the concrete. Polyjacking is also known as below:
- Polyurethane foam jacking.
- Foam leveling.
- Poly leveling.
After being injected, the liquid polyurethane foam chemically reacts with the underlying soil and expands. This expansion puts pressure on the concrete surface, causing it to lift. The foam solidifies in an hour, thereby leveling the concrete.
The Process of Polyjacking
The procedure of polyjacking is somewhat similar to mudjacking. However, there are some changes as well.
Step 1: Drilling Holes
Just like mudjacking, the first step in foam leveling is also drilling holes. The experts drill penny-sized holes of ⅝ inches each in the slab. These holes are much smaller in size than that of slabjacking.
Step 2: Filling the Gaps
Following this, they spray the polyurethane foam through these holes into the voids underneath the concrete. The foam injected through each hole can expand upto 7 feet.
Step 3: Final Touches
After ensuring that all holes have been filled, the experts refill the drilled holes using a refilling compound that bears a close resemblance to the surface.
Benefits of Polyjacking
There are numerous benefits of polyjacking. Some are discussed below:
Durability:
Polyjacking is a longstanding solution for fixing jack-up concrete. The hydrophobic nature of polyurethane does not let it wash away with water.
Smaller Holes:
The holes drilled in poly leveling are too small. They do not cause much damage to the surface’s curb appeal.
Polyurethane is Lightweight:
The foam used for polyjacking is lightweight and puts limited pressure on the soil. At the same time, the mudjacking slurry is heavy. It might cause the slab to sink deeper instead of lifting it.
Time-Saving:
Foam injection leveling does not take hours. The foam hardens within 15 minutes after being injected.
Soil Compaction:
As the foam expands and solidifies, it fills the cracks. In addition, it also compresses the underlying soil and stabilizes the slab.
Disadvantages of Polyjacking
There are a few disadvantages of polyjacking as well:
Costly:
Polyjacking is relatively more expensive than mudjacking.
Uncertain Outcome:
The experts are never sure about how much the foam will expand. In other words, they cannot control the outcome of polyjacking.
Hazards:
The foam expansion can potentially cause explosions.
Why Are Polyurethane Injections Better Than Mudjacking?
Some professionals prefer mudjacking as it is an easy process that does not cost you an arm and a leg. However, despite the uncertainty of the extent to which the foam will expand, it is a better option. The reason is that it is a longstanding solution and saves you from spending money again and again on the repair. In addition, foam leveling equipment is compact and does not create a mess during the process. Due to these reasons and the advantages of poly leveling described above, you should prefer polyurethane foam jacking over mudjacking.
Conclusion
There are two methods for concrete lifting: slab grouting and poly leveling. In slab grouting or mudjacking, we use a slurry to level the concrete slabs. On the contrary, the polyjacking method employs polyurethane foam to lift or level the concrete surface or fill the cracks under it. Although you can use both methods to level concrete surfaces, polyjacking is a better option because of its durability and efficiency.
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