Concrete is the very foundation of your business, literally! Concrete supports your physical infrastructure, giving you solid ground to stand on and run your business with confidence. Although you probably don’t spend much time considering the concrete underneath your daily operations, you will definitely feel the impact if it starts to have problems and become unstable!
While most concrete problems don’t start as emergency situations, they can quickly spell disaster for your business if left unchecked. Here are the five most common concrete problems and what you should do about them.
1. Cracking
A few cracks in your concrete may not seem a major concern, especially if it’s just on the sidewalk outside your building. But cracks are often a sign of an underlying issue. Just like a cracked windshield on a car, cracks in concrete will continue to grow if they aren’t stopped. You can DIY small cracks with a bit of concrete filler, but this may not be enough to heal cracks that have moved deeper toward the bottom of the slab.
Whereas over-the-counter concrete filler may solve cracking in the short term, professional joint and crack repair using the polyjacking method will give your concrete long term stability. At Pro Polyjacking, our high-density polyurethane will revitalize your cracked concrete and compromised joints for permanent reliability.
2. Buckling or Unlevel Slabs
Over time, concrete slabs may buckle or become unlevel due to the ground beneath shifting and settling. Traditionally, this issue was solved through mudjacking—injecting a mud and concrete mixture beneath the slabs to fill in the gaps and level them out—but this method doesn’t give the concrete or the soil beneath any lasting stability. The best way to level concrete slabs is with polyjacking, as this process not only strengthens the concrete itself but also fortifies the soil beneath, using deep injections to prevent shifting in the future.
Another common cause of unlevel or buckling slabs is nearby trees with large networks of roots, as the roots may grow and push up the slabs. Unfortunately, this larger issue usually requires the damaged concrete and tree roots to be removed before installing new concrete in the affected area. If you’re unsure what is causing unlevel concrete on your Kansas City property, call us so we can assess the situation on your behalf.
3. Crazing
If your concrete has a network of small, vein-like cracks in the surface, this is a concrete problem known as “crazing.” Fortunately, this issue is not a sign of underlying damage, as in most cases it’s a purely surface-level, aesthetic issue. Crazing usually happens as a result of poorly mixed concrete, but it can be resolved without completely replacing your concrete slabs. If crazing is presenting a real curb appeal issue for your business, the best way to address it is by resurfacing your concrete, as attempting to seal these thin cracks may actually make them more noticeable.
4. Scaling from Weather
Extreme heat and cold, heavy precipitation, and de-icing salt all can contribute to concrete problems, wearing down the surface of the concrete or “scaling” it until the issue is addressed. If the scaling wears away enough of the concrete, it may need to be roughed up and resurfaced, but sealing the concrete will protect it from future scaling and may be all that is needed if the damage is caught early on.
Professional concrete sealing and cleaning will not only prevent further scaling, but it will also better prepare your concrete to fend off deterioration from UV rays, salt, and water exposure.
5. Curling
An imbalance of temperature and moisture level above and below the concrete can cause it to curl, resulting in a lack of support at the base of the slab. Because this is caused by the base of the slab having a higher moisture content than the top, it can often be reversed by simply wetting the top of the slab, but this will not stop your concrete from curling again in the future since it won’t solve the underlying issue.
Polyjacking can protect the base of your concrete from moisture as it injects water resistant, high-density polyurethane under the surface of the concrete slabs, creating a layer between the slab and the soil that may get wet and cause it to curl.
When in Doubt, Polyjack It!
It should come as no surprise that our go-to solution for most of these concrete problems is polyjacking. Polyjacking is safe, sustainable, durable, and will last the entire lifespan of your concrete. To learn more about polyjacking and how our professional concrete repair services can help you solve foundational issues for your business, contact us for a quote!