Concrete leveling involves pumping a mud-like substance or foam under sunken concrete to lift it back to its original level. This method is cost-effective and prevents future sinking. The most common substance used is a mixture of sand, cement, and earth, but closed cell polymer foam is preferred for its waterproof and crack-resistant properties. Once leveled, the concrete should not be used for several days to allow for curing.
Concrete leveling or slabjacking is the action of bringing back the level of sunken or sagging concrete again. Typically accomplished by drilling a hole or series of holes in buried concrete, leveling concrete involves pumping large quantities of a liquid mud-like substance or closed-cell polymer foam under the concrete through the drilled holes. The pressure of the injected sludge not only pushes the concrete up, but also stays in place to give support to the concrete and discourage future concrete sinking. Once the concrete is leveled, the mud is smoothed out where it was pumped through the holes and the holes practically disappear.
Concrete is typically poured over a compacted sand base. Often the sand is not compacted and stabilized enough before the concrete is poured. This can lead to sand erosion from rain fall and natural settlement. When this happens, the concrete subsides or settles, making it much lower than originally intended. This can lead to water collecting, cracked and broken concrete, or damage to any structure built on concrete. If plausible, leveling concrete is a much more cost-effective method of returning concrete to the correct height than breaking up the old concrete and pouring the slab.
The most common substance used in concrete leveling is a mixture of sand, cement, and earth that fills the void beneath the buried concrete. In some applications, a crushed limestone is mixed into the concrete leveling mix. This added stone provides a more solid structure beneath the concrete and helps prevent future deterioration of the substrate. Once a slab has been leveled it should not be walked on or used for several days in order to allow sufficient time for the concrete leveling mix to harden and cure. Failure to observe this curing time could cause the concrete to fail again.
Whenever possible, a closed cell polymer foam is used to level the slab. Using foam for concrete leveling provides a substrate that won’t crack and is also waterproof. The power of the expanding foam is used to lift the concrete instead of the pressure of the injected material. The expanding foam will seek out all voids in the subsurface and expand to fill them equally. The foam remains in its expanded form under the raised concrete and will not erode or change shape, preventing the concrete from sagging yet again.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
