Sagging concrete can create problems ranging from local safety violations to devaluation of property value and potential accidents. They typically develop slowly, so concrete issues can be easy to ignore. If you have cracked or sinking sidewalks, pool decking, patios, or foundations, it’s essential to address the problem quickly to avoid more costly repairs in the future.
What Causes Concrete to Settle?
Concrete is often poured over recently backfilled soil around a home after construction. Erosion, poor soil conditions, and tree roots are common issues that lead to uneven concrete slabs. As water runs down through cracks and joints in concrete, it can wash the soil out, creating voids beneath concrete slabs. These voids can cause concrete to shift and settle, leading to uneven surfaces and dangerous tripping hazards.
What Is Concrete Lifting?
Concrete lifting is a process that raises sunken concrete back to its original level and fills voids to prevent future breakage. If your concrete slab is in good condition, concrete leveling is far less expensive than a complete replacement.
Sunken concrete slabs are lifted back into place with a two-component polymer foam designed to work in wet or dry conditions. The expansion force of the leveling foam combined with the pressure of a specialized pump generates enough controlled force to lift virtually any structure back into its original position with precision.
How Much Weight Can Concrete Lifting Foam Handle?
Raising concrete with a polymer foam system works for large and small projects. It’s strong enough to handle a variety of applications, including:
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Patios
- Porches
- Concrete steps
- Garage floors
- Basements
- Pool decks
What Are the Advantages of Concrete Lifting?
You don’t want to keep replacing a concrete slab every time it sinks. It’s important to solve the underlying problem. Concrete lifting foam fills the void underneath the concrete and helps prevent water intrusion, which could have created the concrete to settle in the first place. Other advantages include:
- Traffic ready in 15 minutes
- Will not shrink with weather changes
- Can be installed in any climate
- Bonds with soil and concrete
- Strong and lightweight
- Environmentally-friendly
- Affordable
Concrete Lifting Foam Has Other Uses
Concrete lifting foam has other uses besides lifting sunken slabs. These include:
Joint or Slab Stabilization – Concrete lifting foam can add extra support to driveways or sidewalks that receive heavy traffic.
Seawall Repair – If you have lakefront property, the constant pressure from waves can erode or crack your seawall. Polymer foam can fill voids, stabilize loose soil, and seal leaks at a fraction of the cost of seawall replacement.
Trust RT Construction for Concrete Lifting Services
RT Construction is proud to partner with Alchemy-Spetec to offer concrete lifting services to home and business owners. If you live in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area or the Lake of the Ozarks, call RT Construction at 636-317-5636 to schedule an inspection and free estimate.
RT Construction has completed residential and commercial projects in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas, all with the same high level of precision and quality. With over 25 years of experience, we take pride in our work, and your satisfaction is guaranteed. We are licensed, insured, and bonded for your protection.
