Unlevel and cracked concrete is unsightly. It displeases HOAs and deters potential homebuyers. Though it’s an eyesore, unlevel and cracked concrete can be a major safety hazard, causing trips and injuries not to mention the potential for legal matters. Leveling uneven and cracked concrete is crucial for your loved one’s and the general public’s safety, making repairs a top priority.
Polyjacking is a “newer” concrete leveling technique, surpassing rival techniques like mudjacking and pouring. This innovative technology has greatly advanced from the simple concept of pumping mud under concrete. Keep reading to learn about the future of concrete and innovations in polyjacking technology.
History of Concrete Leveling
Though polyjacking is the most innovative concrete leveling technique, it hasn’t always been around and other concrete leveling techniques preceded it. Concrete leveling dates back to over 100 years ago from the early 1900s. Concrete has been used on structures for hundreds of years, and with settling we discovered that it cracks and becomes unlevel from shifting soil and the elements.
Though little is known about the technique used, In the early 1900s, foundations and roads were leveled. It’s speculated that concrete leveling techniques included applying a mixture similar to grout to lift roads and foundations. Eventually mudjacking was introduced and involved pumping literal mud under cracked concrete. It temporarily solved the problem of sunken concrete but it didn’t hold up well and washed away easily. Mudjacking advanced to pumping a mixture of concrete mixed with other materials to lift concrete. It’s more durable than the early days of mudjacking, but it’s still a temporary solution.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that Grover Miller, a founding member of a well-established concrete leveling company, made concrete leveling practical and available for homeowners by introducing polyurethane foam for injection purposes. Miller discovered that the lightweight mixture would expand and permanently lift concrete and stabilize the soil underneath.
Innovations in Polyacking Technology
Since its introduction in the 1980s, polyjacking has had many innovations. Though it’s always worked well to lift and stabilize concrete, there have been advances to the polyurethane foam formulation, including improving its strength. Below are some innovations in polyjacking technology:
Quicker Curing
Modern polyjacking technology includes quick curing times, but did you know this wasn’t always the case? Though curing times of polyjacking have always been less than mudjacking, it used to take hours to cure, prolonging the duration of some projects. Modern polyjacking cures in just minutes, safe enough for you to walk on and use in thirty minutes or less, never trapping you in your home as it dries or slowing down business.
Environmentally Friendly Innovations
Leaving behind a smaller carbon footprint is important to many businesses and homeowners, and luckily, opting for polyjacking now has environmental benefits. In the past, polyurethane foam had higher emissions during curing and didn’t use as many renewable sources. Modern polyjacking is better for the environment because the polyurethane foam is inert and doesn’t seep into the soil. Therefore, polyjacking is an environmentally safe concrete leveling technique.
Smart Technology
Over the past decade as technology has advanced, so has polyjacking. We now use smart technology to measure slopes and sensors that can detect how much polyurethane foam needs to be injected to lift and fill gaps in the concrete. This technology gives us accuracy and prevents over or under-lifting concrete.
Smaller Injection Sites
Polyjacking injection sites have never been large but with the advances in equipment and technology, smaller injection sites are used. Because polyurethane foam expands, it’s initially smaller during injection, only requiring us to drill a hole the size of a dime to inject the foam.
Polyjacking vs. Mudjacking
They say you get what you pay for, and in the case of concrete leveling, while comparing polyjacking to mudjacking, it couldn’t be more true. Mudjacking is a cheaper alternative concrete leveling technique, but it’s temporary, requiring maintenance and it to be done again in just a few years if you’re lucky. Mudjacking uses a material that washes away and deteriorates over time, allowing the soil to shift under the concrete. However, polyurethane foam never washes away and stabilizes the soil, permanently lifting the concrete without washing it away or deteriorating.
Trust Pro Polyjacking, the Premier Concrete Leveling Company in Kansas City, with Your Concrete Repair
For concrete repair, consider polyjacking from Pro Polyjacking. Our polyjacking process stabilizes the soil and, as a result, lifts concrete to fix cracks and level the patio, driveway, sidewalk, or foundation. Your concrete will be permanently repaired, never again cracking during harsh, cold winters and hot summers. The result is lifted concrete without any gaps and stabilized soil underneath.
Pro Polyjacking is a locally, woman-owned business in Kansas City that has over 30 years of experience in polyjacking. Our team is expertly trained to help with any concrete leveling job from residential to commercial.
Foundation cracks, unlevel driveways, spalling sidewalks, and other damages are unsightly, especially if they’re on a commercial building you own or your home. Trust the professionals at Pro Polyjacking in Kansas City for your concrete repair. Contact the team at Pro Polyjacking for more information about our concrete repair service!