Mudjacking Solves Slab Problems

That's why it's not uncommon to find concrete slabs that have cracked and settled

. If the soil beneath a concrete slab settles or washes away because of a water leak or other issues, a section of the slab will be unsupported, so the underside of the slab will be in tension. If the slab breaks because of its limited strength in tension, part of it will sink down to the bottom of the hole or recessed area. A settled or shifted slab is often a problem if it occurs in a garage, basement or sidewalk. The broken, tilted and uneven surface needs to be repaired so that it won't pose a safety hazard.

Fortunately, a settled or sunken slab can often be brought back to level (or close to it) by a process called mudjacking, also known as slabjacking. Performed by an experienced foundation repair contractor, mudjacking can be a permanent repair that restores a slab to its original state (However, the cause of the soil settlement or removal should be discovered and eliminated before the repair takes place, in order to ensure against a new void forming.

As shown in the drawings, mudjacking works by pumping a cement grout or "slurry" under the slab. After the slurry flows into the voids and fills all the empty spaces beneath the slab, it starts to exert hydraulic pressure, pushing the slab up toward its original position. An experienced foundation repair specialist knows when it's necessary to stop pumping. When the slurry hardens, cracks can be filled and slight discrepancies in level can be corrected (if necessary) by applying a skim coat of mortar over the area.

Because of the specialized equipment and training required to pump concrete under pressure and the messiness of the process, mudjacking is best done by an experienced foundation repair contractor. The holes through which the slurry is pumped must be strategically placed and sized to snugly fit the hoses that convey the mixture. The consistency of the slurry can be varied based on how much lifting pressure is required; a thicker mixture can lift heavier slabs. Typical ingredients in the slurry include Portland cement, sand, flyash (a byproduct of coal combustion) and different additives that help prevent shrinking.

The reward for this work is a slab that comes close to its original condition, and will remain that way as long as soil settlement doesn't recur. Mudjacking to repair a settled slab typically costs less than half the price of totally replacing the old slab with a new one.

by: John Smith

POST COMMENT

All About Crawl Space Foundations Extend the life of the building with tuckpointing How To Fix Foundation Problems Problems With Poured Concrete The 4 F's To Look For In Men's Underwear Why is 3D rendering an impeccable part in the field of Architecture? How To Use Mineral Make Up Rubies The Supreme Anniversary Gift An In Depth Look At Muay Thai Keep pest control on first-to-do list Custom Gaming System – Keeping it Real How To Draw Anime Characters What You Should Know About Wing Chun