Your home is typically your biggest asset. It is always alarming when you begin to see the first signs of concrete damage, including unevenness, cracking, crumbling, or trip hazards. You may panic thinking your only solutions are to disregard and think the issue will disappear (shocker, it won’t!) or to replace the concrete (not the only option!). We are here to tell you that other options exist, including one of the most effective and efficient methods of concrete repair – polyjacking. You’ve probably heard of the term mudjacking which is commonly interchangeably used with polyjacking, so you may be confused and wondering… What is Polyjacking? Let us further explain the process and when this would be a suitable solution for your concrete needs.
RELATED: 4 Commonly Asked Questions When It Comes to Concrete Leveling.
Polyjacking is the industry’s most effective method for lifting and leveling sunken concrete. Similar to the traditional mudjacking process involving lifting a sunken slab into place by filling the void underneath mud substance, polyjacking uses the same thought process, but with a high-density foam called polyurethane. Before we dig into the question of “What is Polyjacking?,” let’s explore the differences between traditional mudjacking and polyjacking to begin the conversation by identifying the top four differences:
- Weight: Polyurethane weighs 250 to 300 pounds less per yard then traditional mudjacking material. Why is this important? The lighter the material, the less pressure on the soil under the concrete, resulting in less shifting.
- Reliability: The extra weight of the mud may cause the soil to settle causing a return trip to readjust the slab.
- Curing Time: Polyurethane typically cures in 15 minutes after the injection. This allows all treated areas to have full availability in minutes, not days.
- Aesthetics: The holes used to drill for poly injections are tiny… 5/8″. You can’t even tell the holes existed, which is a much less, more aesthetically pleasing result than mud. Bottom line… mud is dirty.
This infographic below easily showcases the differences between mudjacking and polyjacking.
Again, we mentioned that mudjacking and polyjacking are typically used interchangeably, but are a different process. Polyjacking is a two-part process that has evolved into the more efficient and effective way to repair sunken concrete. The traditional mudjacking process is the most common way that residents and homeowners search for the process of lifting concrete. In addition to polyjacking and mudjacking, some of the most searched terms referring to the poly process are poly foam, poly lifting, mud lifting, concrete lifting, and foam jacking. Reach out to the experts at PolyMagic for a determination on whether the use of mudjacking or foamjacking will best fit your needs.
– Longer lasting solution
– More durable
– Requires no heavy machinery
– Smaller drill holes
– Cures and dries in minutes instead of days
– Can be installed in any climate
– Will not shrink with weather changes
– Lightweight, will not burden the soil
Now that we’ve reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of concrete lifting process – mudjacking vs. polyjacking, let’s answer the question: How does the polyjacking process work?
As Kansas City’s leading concrete lifting company, PolyMagic has perfected the process and received incredible results. Here is the simple process in 3 steps.
1. Drill a tiny dime-sized hole into the affected area. The hole is literally tiny… 5/8″.
2. Inject a high-density foam into the ground underneath the failed concrete. The equipment needed fits right into a sprinter van and requires very little to setup at a residence or business. There are no large trucks, dirty mud, or large equipment pieces.
3. The technician will monitor the foam as it expands, raises, and stabilizes the concrete.
Literally the process is simple, effective, and quick.
Ok, as residents are evaluating polyjacking, many Kansas City homeowners still want to know how long the process takes to lift the concrete with polyjacking? The average job takes an hour or two, from start to finishing… the actual procedure itself only takes about 20 minutes or so (depending on the severity of the sinking), but the setup and cleanup adds onto that time.
Polyjacking is effective and popular because of the ability to bring the concrete back up to a normal and even level, all while ensuring it doesn’t lose its current state of durability. The polyurethane will also withstand water intrusion more than the mudjacking process.
Check out this video that the team from PolyMagic captured from a resident’s garage being polyjacked.
Can Polyjacking be used in hard to reach places?
Polyjacking equipment and materials is much smaller than the mudjacking materials and equipment. Mudjacking carries a large weight from the volume of the mud, and requires additional employees to complete the labor, along with the necessary larger machinery and equipment. Mud weighs 30 times poly (as an example, 120lbs vs. 4lbs per cubic foot).
PolyMagic is the leading concrete repair company serving Grandview, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and the greater Kansas City area. We are offering free assessments for our team to look at your concrete issues. Click here to get started now!