Concrete services

DIY vs Professional Help

There are many different ‘do-it-yourself’ kits for almost all projects around the house that can also be done by professional services… commercial concrete repair is no exception. However, it is commonly known that DIY projects often produce poorer results and sometimes bigger problems than the initial project.   Great results often come from professional work and offer peace of mind that the project is done and good to go. For concrete leveling and repair or any work with cement, there is definitely a need for knowledge, because those projects can turn problematic very quickly if a professional isn’t helping.

Truthfully, most of the concrete repair work i.e. uneven sidewalks, sunken driveway, concrete raising, etc need a professional, and below are some reasons why you need to hire a professional for your broken and uneven concrete.

Professional concrete contractors save you time.

Learning curves can be steep, really steep.  Concrete projects can take time and are unforgiving if too many mistakes are made.  More often than not, projects require tools, supplies, and other necessities that are only known if you’ve done the project before.  Concrete repair jobs can often lead to complete replacements when the finished job isn’t satisfactory. The time wasted trying to save money immediately is voided because a replacement has to be made.  Which will end up wasting more time and money.

The repair will be more durable

Another reason why you should consider hiring a professional concrete contractor to repair your broken and uneven concrete is the factor of durability.  The job will be done and it will be done correctly. No worry if the amateur attempt will hold or survive the harsh weather conditions it could encounter.

Saves you money.

If you decide to take on the project yourself, you will undoubtedly need to buy multiple tools because there aren’t many places that offer tools to be rented.  Costs can quickly become out-of-hand when the wrong tools are purchased of the job becomes harder than you think. When you hire a professional contractor they will come with their own tools and pieces of machinery; sometimes your work is done at a cheaper and more affordable cost.

Professional concrete contractors have more experience.

The saying goes, “you can’t put a price on experience”… in the concrete industry, you can.  Hiring a professional concrete contractor to repair your broken and uneven concrete is the best solution, this is because the contractor is quite experienced and learned their trade from other professionals.

Reliability

Whenever you perform concrete leveling, you are looking for a permanent solution that will leave your home or project looking better than new.   Relying on oneself is always risky because of the unforeseen obstacles that come up. Pay for the reliability and pay for the peace of mind that the concrete repair will hold up and be stable.

Efficiency

We live in a world where time is more and more valuable, we don’t like waiting, and we don’t like it when our plans fall through.  A professional contractor will be efficient in their repair of the concrete, correctly keep to an arranged time. Efficiency also leads to less inconvenience.  Often these projects can cause you to park in inconvenient places are not be able to walk where you want to. Concrete is often taken for granted and when it’s not available, we are not too happy.  It’s important to have an efficient plan so your daily routine can go back to normal.

With the many above-mentioned advantages of hiring a professional concrete contractor, there is no good reason why you should go ahead and try to repair your broken and uneven concrete by yourself.  

 

hand planting seedling in soil

Why Concrete Leveling Is GREAT For the Environment

Structures that are built using concrete are subject to various environmental pressures, most of which may lead to damage, such as sinking, heaving, or cracking. Once individuals settle in the building, these issues worsen since the soil under the structure continues to erode and weaken.

One of the most dangerous threats to your home is soil settling or sinking of the concrete foundation. A foundation is developed to make the entire structure stable, but it cannot retain its structural integrity or shape when the soil below it no longer gives it steady and sound support.

That can happen when the ground beneath a concrete foundation becomes excessively water-absorbent or inadequately packed. As the earth breaks down due to loose soil or expands due to water absorption, the concrete slab will ripple, bend, heave, and sink deeper progressively over time.

The best thing is that if you come across such an issue in your building or home, there are various concrete solutions available. Most people use Mudjacking and polyurethane injection to level jagged concrete without replacement. However, Polyurethane foam injection is the most effective and eco-friendly solution.

So why is polyurethane concrete leveling an excellent alternative for the environment? Let’s dive in.

Injecting polyurethane foam to level a concrete slab is beneficial to the environment in various ways. Here are some of the aspects that make the process environmental-friendly:

  • It is non-toxic

People who live in houses leveled using polyurethane enjoy numerous health benefits due to the safety of materials used in the process. Toxic substances such as carcinogens cause difficulties in breathing and also increase the risk of getting cancer. The non-toxicity of our polyurethane material results in a healthier home environment through better indoor air quality.

  • It Protects the Surrounding Areas

This process of concrete repair allows for greater control which protects the surrounding areas from damage. The procedure uses some physical materials and methods in a way that allows for minimal use of the elements without compromising on quality. The process also generates as minimum waste as possible.

  • Material Efficiency

Concrete leveling achieves material efficiency through reusing and recycling various products that are long-lasting in a way that allows for minimal use of materials. The holes drilled are small and few. This aspect results in a cleaner-looking task. Additionally, fewer heavy machines are needed meaning a cleaner job site.

  • The Materials Used Are Inert

After mixing the components, polyurethane forms an outer coat that encloses the process of reaction – and this makes it wholly inert. The material does not have any environmental restrictions.

  • Less Noise

The equipment used to undertake this process is mounted permanently on trailers and trucks, and most of the noise they generate gets restrained in the components. The sound produced by the injecting gun to infuse the material beneath the concrete is also very minimal.

Polyurethane concrete services involve chemical reactions with the soil beneath. This stabilizes the soil in the ground, protecting the soil from erosion and sinking.

  • Availability of Material

Most polyurethane manufacturers use recycled materials to make the foam. That is excellent since it lowers the amount of carbon used to make the stuff.

Use HMI Polyurethane Foam to Raise Sunken and Bent Concrete Within Minutes

There are various reasons why you should consider using HMI polyurethane foam. But the primary reason is that HMI foam is created from more than 40% recycled elements. That is somewhat remarkable considering that no other polyurethane material in the market comes with such a small amount of carbon.

At Foamworks, our company cares about the environment by using the leading innovations in the world and services. To us “Green” is an active strategy towards coming up with a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment. Because of our green practices, we have saved countless concrete slabs from being taken to the dump.

While several concrete leveling companies do not provide polyurethane foam injection as a repair service, Foamworks only uses it. Polyurethane injection was traditionally reserved for complex industrial and commercial roles, but Foamworks makes the process accessible to homeowners or industrial facilities. Our method is economical, practical, clean, and quick. For most individuals, the HMI polyurethane injection process will surely offer longer-lasting results than the old mudjacking method.

If you are tired of seeing a sunken concrete patio, pool, sidewalk, driveway, or foundation, our HMI polyurethane foam is the masterpiece for you.

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Lifting Concrete Slabs with Polyurethane

Concrete repair services specializing in lifting and leveling slabs have been around since the 1930s. There has been and still is high demand for this service. The newer method of accomplishing this with polyurethane foam can lead to healthy profits.

One contributor to the high demand is the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law mandates the repair of trip hazards from sunken or heaved concrete in public areas. With literally billions of square feet of concrete in the U.S., many of the slabs are old and out of alignment, pitched incorrectly, and in desperate need of repair. Whether it is governmental, commercial, or residential, customers are looking for a cost-effective solution to this problem.

Concrete repair options

The first question is always, replace or repair? Concrete replacement is expensive. It is simple math. Concrete contractors must make up to three trips to a location to replace a simple slab of concrete with removal, framing, pouring, removal of forming material, and cutting of joints. Add to this the ever-growing problem of environmental constraints on concrete disposal and the replacement cost of a simple 10×10-foot driveway or pool deck can be upwards of $1,000.

Repair of misaligned slab panels has historically been achieved by mudjacking or slab jacking. This is the process of injecting a mud/slurry mix under concrete slabs with a specialized hydraulically powered mud pump to lift the concrete. Contractors drill 1 5/8-inch hole in slabs and inject the slurry under the slab, building up enough pressure to lift the concrete. This technique allows contractors to lift, pitch, or level any unrestrained slabs.

A new game

A newer way to lift, level, and stabilize concrete slabs, which has been used for over a decade now, is replacing the mud with polyurethane foam. With this technique contractors inject the polyurethane foam under the concrete slab. The expansion of the foam is what lifts or moves the slab.

Specialized polyurethane foams have been designed that have optimal expansion characteristics, set up speed, and adhesion to provide contractors with ideal control of the lifting process. Unlike mudjacking, the technician drills fewer smaller (5/8-inch) holes, leaving a cleaner-looking job than with mudjacking.