When your home or business has a sinking foundation or uneven concrete slabs, it’s important to understand your options for concrete repair. While many methods are available as alternatives to costly and inefficient concrete replacement, polyjacking is hands down the best option in terms of longevity, cost value, and environmental impact.
To illustrate just how much better polyjacking is than any other concrete leveling technique, we’re putting it up against four popular concrete repair methods and seeing what comes out on top. Spoiler alert: it’s going to be polyjacking, every time.
1. Mudjacking vs. Polyjacking
We’ve already discussed mudjacking vs. polyjacking a lot because it’s the most commonly used method for residential concrete repair after polyjacking. Mudjacking follows a similar procedure of injecting a substance underneath concrete slabs to fill voids, lift, and stabilize the concrete, but the long-term results are vastly different.
Longevity
Mudjacking may leave your concrete looking good immediately after the work is completed. Still, you shouldn’t expect your concrete to remain level for more than a few years following the repairs. Mudjacking uses a very heavy mud and cement slurry to fill the spaces beneath your concrete, which solidifies and over time weighs down your slabs. This cycle continues with regular concrete repairs needed every few years to maintain levelness.
Cost vs. Value
The main reason some homeowners and commercial property owners opt for mudjacking is because of the cheaper upfront cost when compared to polyjacking. However, due to the ongoing maintenance costs of mudjacking, you will end up paying more in the long run. Polyjacking is a permanent repair solution that requires no touch-up or maintenance, making it a one-time cost for lifetime benefits.
Environmental Impact
Mudjacking is considered more environmentally friendly than polyjacking by some, because it uses more “natural materials,” whereas the polyurethane foam used in polyjacking is a synthetic substance. That said, polyurethane is a non-toxic, recyclable material that solidifies quickly after injection and won’t harm the ecosystem of the soil, making it a great eco-friendly concrete repair method!
2. Stone Slurry Grout vs. Polyjacking
Stone slurry grout is a newer method of concrete repair that is very similar to mudjacking. Instead of a mud mixture, it combines water with pulverized agricultural limestone to create a stone slurry that is injected beneath uneven concrete slabs. While immediately safe for foot traffic use, it does require 24 hours to settle and harden before vehicle traffic use. It also requires a drill hole about half the size of that needed for mudjacking, though not so small and noninvasive as that used for polyjacking.
Longevity
Stone slurry grout is a newer method, so the real longevity has yet to be put to the test. Concrete professionals who use this method claim it will last the lifetime of the concrete just as polyjacking does, but the heavier material has us unconvinced that it will be as reliable as polyjacking over the long term.
Cost vs. Value
While more expensive than mudjacking, stone slurry grout is still cheaper than polyjacking. That said, it is a much heavier material than polyurethane foam which means that it can weigh down slabs over time and cause future sinking that will require new application.
Environmental Impact
Concrete levelers who prefer to use stone slurry grout make a similar argument to mudjackers, stating that the use of local limestone in their slurries makes it more environmentally friendly than polyjacking. To that we give the same answer as above: polyurethane foam is synthetic, but it is also nontoxic, recyclable, and doesn’t harm the environment at all!
3. Concrete Topping vs. Polyjacking
A quick and cheap way to fix your uneven or cracked concrete is with the concrete topping method, which involves pouring fresh concrete on top of the existing concrete. This is the most band-aid solution out there, as it only covers up concrete problems instead of repairing them.
Longevity
Concrete topping is the most short-lived method of concrete repair out there because it doesn’t repair the concrete! Whatever is causing your concrete to become uneven—voids beneath the slabs, unstable soils, etc.—is still untreated, so you will eventually see the problem showing through the newly applied layer of concrete.
Cost vs. Value
This option is pretty cheap, especially if you use self-leveling concrete and do it yourself. However, you will need to do it again or invest in actual concrete repairs pretty quickly, so overall the cost-benefit ratio is not ideal.
Environmental Impact
Concrete topping is just adding a thin layer of concrete on top of your existing slabs, so its environmental friendliness is equivalent to that of any other concrete.
4. Pressed Pilings vs. Polyjacking
Made of concrete or steel, pressed pilings are known for their high load-bearing capacity, making them ideal for stabilizing foundations that need deep penetration to get down to more stable soils and bedrock.
Longevity
Pressed pilings are a more traditional foundation repair method popular for industrial use. They can last up to 30 years, but if the original repair didn’t press deep enough, additional cylinders may be required.
Cost vs. Value
The installation and materials involved in pressed piling concrete repair make this a very expensive option, even upfront. An average pressed pile foundation repair job can cost around $11,000—a significant chunk of change compared to polyjacking, which averages $1500 to $3,000 per job.
Environmental Impact
Pressed pilings do not score highly for environmental friendliness. Installation is loud and invasive, creating a lot of noise pollution and potentially disrupting nearby environments. They also require significant space for proper installation, creating more disruption in the surrounding environment.
And the Winner is…
Surprise, surprise: the best method of concrete repair for long-term success and excellent value is polyjacking! Polyjacking only requires a small, dime-sized drilling space and repairs can be done in only a few minutes, using eco-friendly materials that are lightweight and affordable. The cost benefit gets even better as the years go on, since polyjacking requires no maintenance or touch-ups and lasts the lifetime of your concrete!
If your concrete has seen better days, contact us for a free consultation to discover what polyjacking can do for you!