Some home projects are perfect for homeowners to DIY, like interior painting, caulking your home windows, replacing your HVAC filters, and staining the deck. Other home projects that are more involved and require expert knowledge and training should be left to the professionals, like installing a gutter system, replacing the roof, fixing plumbing issues, and leveling concrete.
A professional concrete leveling job is the obvious choice for unlevel concrete, yet because it involves paying for labor and materials, homeowners often attempt googling “how to polyjack”, or “how to mudjack” themselves. There are many dangers associated with a DIY concrete leveling job. Keep reading to learn about those dangers and how to keep safe and protect your home’s concrete.
Dangers of DIY Concrete Leveling
Attempting a DIY concrete leveling job poses safety risks and, in most cases, costs you more in the long run if the job is done incorrectly. Below are some dangers of DIY concrete leveling:
Safety Risks
First, attempting a DIY concrete leveling project comes with safety risks, no matter your technique. There are major safety concerns if you’re trying to use a mechanical jack. Professionals who mudjack or polyjack are expertly trained in how to use mechanical jacks, and they shouldn’t be used by anyone who lacks proper training. Things can go wrong during a concrete leveling job which can cause extreme injury.
If you’re attempting a polyjacking job, you’re putting yourself at risk of exposure to harmful chemicals. Professional polyjacking companies expertly train their team on how to properly handle polyurethane foam and use the right safety equipment to avoid inhaling fumes.
Uneven Concrete Leveling
You’re attempting a DIY concrete leveling job because you have unlevel or cracked concrete, right? Unfortunately, attempting a DIY concrete leveling job can result in even more uneven concrete leveling. Experts are trained on how to lift the concrete correctly to make it level, yet homeowners who aren’t properly trained might apply mud, dirt, or spray foam unknowingly making the concrete more uneven, resulting in more cracks.
Destabilizing Soil/Concrete
Another danger of DIY concrete leveling is that you could destabilize the soil underneath the concrete and the rest of the slab. If you attempt a mudjacking job, you’ll never stabilize the soil underneath, as professional mudjacking companies can’t either. Improperly mudjacking or using a spray foam kit on your own can cause the soil underneath the concrete to destabilize even more, resulting in a worse crack or even more unlevel concrete.
Miscalculations
Our team at Pro Polyjacking is expertly trained in every aspect of polyjacking, including how to properly calculate how much foam is needed and exactly where to place the foam to lift the concrete and stabilize the soil. Unfortunately, homeowners attempting a DIY concrete leveling job miscalculate how much dirt, concrete, or foam is needed for their project, either applying too much or too little.
What’s the Best Concrete Leveling Technique?
There are several concrete leveling techniques, but only one is a permanent solution that fortifies the soil. Below are some concrete leveling techniques and some information about them:
Concrete Crack Filler
Though applying a concrete crack filler doesn’t lift concrete, it can fill in the cracks to make the concrete a little safer for those walking on an uneven sidewalk, driveway, or patio. This is an easier DIY job for narrow concrete cracks and requires just a few materials like a caulking gun, sledgehammer, and trowel.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking is an older concrete leveling technique that involves pumping an organic mixture of sand, dirt, and cement to lift concrete from underneath a slab. Though there have been many advances in the mudjacking process, it is a short-term solution since it doesn’t fortify the soil underneath the concrete.
Polyjacking
The most permanent solution for leveling concrete, polyjacking is the best choice for homeowners and commercial building owners. Polyjacking has many benefits including lifting concrete and fortifying the soil underneath, ensuring the concrete stays level and the soil never shifts again. So how do you polyjack? The polyjacking process includes drilling dime-sized holes and injecting polyurethane foam to raise the concrete.
Homeowners shouldn’t search “how to poly jack” for a DIY project. Rather, they should trust the expertly trained professionals at Pro Polyjacking for a concrete leveling project. Our polyurethane foam instantly expands to lift and make concrete level, withstanding water and soil changes. Polyjacking saves you money compared to other concrete leveling techniques because it’s a permanent solution that never needs to be redone!
Trust Pro Polyjacking with Your Concrete Leveling Project
For foundation repair, uneven concrete, and cracked concrete, consider polyjacking from Pro Polyjacking. This process stabilizes the soil and, as a result, lifts the concrete to fix cracks and level the foundation.
Foundation cracks and other damages are unsightly, especially if they’re on a commercial building you own or your home’s foundation. Trust the professionals at Pro Polyjacking in Kansas City for your concrete repair. Contact the team at Pro Polyjacking for more information about our foundation repair service!