causes

The Top Causes of Uneven Concrete in Texas and How to Fix Them

Uneven concrete is a common problem faced by homeowners in Texas. Whether it’s caused by soil compaction, poor drainage, or shifting ground, uneven concrete can pose a serious risk to your family’s safety and cause damage to your property. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top causes of uneven concrete in Texas and provide practical tips on how homeowners can prevent or fix the problem.

  1. Soil compaction: When soil is compacted, it can cause the ground to shift and settle, leading to uneven concrete. This is a common issue in Texas, where the soil is often dense and heavy. To prevent soil compaction, homeowners should avoid heavy machinery and foot traffic on their property and consider investing in soil stabilization products.
  2. Poor drainage: In areas with heavy rainfall, poor drainage can cause water to collect under concrete surfaces, leading to erosion and settling. To prevent this issue, homeowners should ensure that their property is properly graded and that their drainage systems are functioning correctly.
  3. Shifting ground: Texas is prone to ground shifting due to its unique geological makeup. This can cause concrete surfaces to sink or settle, leading to unevenness. To prevent this issue, homeowners should consider investing in foundation repair services and soil stabilization products.

If you’re experiencing uneven concrete on your property, don’t wait until it’s too late to fix the problem. At FoamWorks, we specialize in concrete raising services that can lift and level your concrete surfaces, preventing further damage and improving your home’s safety and curb appeal. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you protect your home from the effects of uneven concrete.

4 Reasons My Concrete Should Be Lifted

 

Cracked sidewalk in need of concrete repair

Although concrete is a durable material used widely for building, it can sometimes experience shifts or cracks, especially when subjected to certain conditions. When damages occur concrete repair is often the solution. Instead of replacing concrete, you can consider lifting it whenever you see visible cracks, puddles, sinking slabs, and uneven concrete. Below are 4 top reasons your concrete should be lifted:

 

1. Reduce the risk of injury

If you’re a property owner, you’re responsible for keeping your tenants or clients safe at all times. Having a damaged or uneven slab increases the risk of slip and fall injuries. Therefore, you need concrete repair near me. Getting injury due to an uneven or damaged slab will bring unwanted liabilities to the family.

 

2. Easy and lasting solution

When your slab has some problems, there are increased chances of worsening in the near future. Therefore, it’s essential to lift your concrete slab immediately and prevent future hassles. If you use polyurethane foam, it’ll take a few hours to complete. Additionally, slabjacking is also less noisy and cleaner compared to removal and replacement.

 

3. Reduce the risk of water damage

A damaged, uneven or sunken concrete will cause water damage in your home. Concrete lifting can possibly reduce this risk, making you spend less money in various aspects, including foundation repair.

 

4. Less costly

Concrete lifting is typically less expensive compared to replacement. On average, the cost of slabjacking ranges between $500-$1,200. The cost varies based on the project size. On the other hand, if you decide to replace your entire concrete slab, you might spend twice or thrice on this cost. Again, if you replace the concrete slab, you will likely get cracks shortly.

 

In conclusion, these are the top reasons your concrete should be lifted. If you’ve decided to sell your property, you can also consider lifting concrete, as this will increase your home market value. Concrete repair Dallas, Texas should only be left to a professional contractor with the necessary skills and knowledge in handling the task.

Concrete Repair

Don’t Replace Your Concrete… Repair it!

Concrete is one of the best and most preferred building materials which can be used in concrete sidewalks, concrete driveways, stamped concrete, concrete repairs, and concrete flooring demands. One of the reasons why concrete stands out from other building materials is that it is an affordable construction material. Second, it is a durable material that can last for many decades withstanding elements such as wind, water, fire, and vibrations. Third, concrete is a versatile material that can be used from a simple concrete sidewalk to stamped and decorative concrete. Are you in need of commercial concrete repair work for your patio, sidewalk, or driveway? Here are a variety of concrete services that you can consider for your residential and commercial concrete works.

Commercial Concrete Leveling

Commercial concrete leveling is preferred for leveling and stabilizing uneven concrete slabs such as driveways, sidewalks, warehouse floors, and roadways. In addition, commercial concrete leveling can be used in applications such as erosion control and void filling, railroad and airport runway repairs, and leveling uneven bridge approaches and roads. Concrete leveling systems are usually designed to function under severe conditions. The benefit of polyurethane foam system which is used in commercial concrete leveling is that it is lightweight weighing only 4 to 6 pounds after being laid. It is also waterproof meaning that it cannot wash out. If you are looking for an alternative to concrete replacement, re-leveling, and mudjacking then look no further than commercial concrete leveling.

Concrete Raising

Concrete raising refers to the method of raising concrete so that it matches an existing grade, the benefit of which is that it eliminates sunken concrete areas, drainage problems, and trip hazards. There are two methods that are involved in concrete raising: mudjacking and polyurethane foam concrete raising. Polyurethane concrete raising involves injecting foam material under the slab. When small holes are drilled in the sunken concrete and materials pumped underneath the slab, the foam fills the void and raises the slab to the required level. After the void is filled, it is raised then leveled making it more stable than it ever was.

Cement/ Concrete Repair

Concrete repair or cement repair refers to the process of fixing a concrete surface that has been damaged as a result of environmental exposure. Cement repair is ideal for physical impacts, cracks, and surface scaling. During cement repair, the concrete surface will be cleaned to remove grease, dirt, oil, granules, or concrete flakes. Scrub and clean the area to be repaired using a broom and brush. Next use water to flush the area that is supposed to be repaired. After that, use cement repair solutions like vinyl patching compound and mix with water. Finally, trowel the mix into broken areas and cracks, and level the area to fix it.

Commercial Parking Lot Repair

Commercial parking lot repair refers to anything from damage, to the parking lot repair, to cracks and fixing the drainage. Parking lot repair entails sealing cracks that are caused by poor parking lot construction, sun, and water damage. It also entails resealing and resurfacing which extends the lifespan of the concrete.

Despite popular belief, concrete can last and look good for a very long time and can be much more cost-efficient to repair it, rather than replacing it.  Let us help you with your next commercial concrete project.

 

Don’t Replace Your Concrete… Repair it!

Sidewalk Leveling

Sidewalk Leveling | Richardson, TX

  • As soon as the concrete crew arrived at the job they began to cut out the old seal using the saw.

  • They then drilled holes in the areas necessary for the lift while pumping they began sanding where the sikaseal would be placed as a base for it.

  • Once the concrete leveling and lifting were completed, it was sealed.

Over time, sidewalks sink, pull away from parking lots, and break.  The above project illustrates all of these concrete repairs.  Each job requires a survey of the damage and an assessment of the work that needs to be done for lasting results.  Our team then sets to work by getting the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We are always happy when a job is done well and our clients are happy!

Take a look at the final outcome!

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.

level

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.