If you have a list like us, you are constantly adding “to do” maintenance items to your already-lengthy list. From filling nail holes and painting the baseboard trim to foundation cracks and water seeping into your basement after a rain, we are reminded of just how many items a homeowner must manage. One item that often gets neglected is the maintenance of concrete around your property. Think of your sidewalks, garage approach, driveway, porch, patio, pool area… all of these have hundreds of square feet of exposed concrete surface. Have you looked at those areas recently and evaluated the condition of the concrete? Here are some things to look for:
- Uneven concrete (a drop from one section of the concrete to another)
- Cracking/crumbling concrete
- Gaps in the concrete (pulling away from the grass or another section of concrete)
- Sinking areas
If you notice any of the above conditions around your home’s concrete, reach out to a reputable concrete repair, or polyjacking, company. Kansas City residents look to PolyMagic for their concrete lifting and leveling needs based upon our positive reviews, on-time rate, affordability, and solution-driven process. This article is going to answer the question of… Why is concrete lifting and leveling important?
- Repairing existing concrete is more affordable than replacing it. If we solely base the decision to repair your sunken concrete on expense, repairing the concrete is less expensive and less time-consuming.
- If you live in an area with clay soil, which is around the Kansas and Missouri communities, you are used to the freeze/thaw/drought/humidity cycles. This climatic fluctuation can really cause issues with your home’s foundation and concrete areas. Think of your sidewalk and driveway… they are constantly exposed to the sun, heat, rain, and freezing elements. Your driveway and sidewalk concrete can begin to sink and before you know it, you have 3 or 4 inches of difference. The sunken concrete areas cause trip hazards and should be lifted. You may ask your concrete lifting company if you have any ares around your steps, porch, patio, sidewalk or driveway that need a void fill. Filling the voids before they become too bad can save you frustration, time, and money.
- Concrete lifting and leveling doesn’t mask the issue. If you throw some new concrete down in an area, you may mask the aesthetics for awhile, but if you didn’t determine the root of the issue (tree roots under the concrete, etc), you will experience the same issues in a few years.
- Concrete lifting and leveling is important for preserving your landscape. When you repair vs. replace your concrete, your landscape will stay intact, and very minimal holes will be drilled (5/8″ holes to be exact).
- Safety. We discussed the issues with trip hazards, but should really harp on that more. If we look at the #1 reason why people visit the ER annually, we will notice it’s for falling. As a homeowner, you can eliminate your obvious trip hazards (your concrete) with polyjacking, or concrete lifting and leveling.
- Aesthetics. Your home’s value may not positively be impacted by you repairing your concrete, but it can certainly have a negative impact if you don’t repair your home’s concrete. Think about visiting 3 homes on the market, comparable in price and features. The only difference is that one of the home’s has uneven concrete all around the sidewalks, garage approach, and driveway. In your mind, you don’t want to be purchasing something that already needs work. You will naturally steer away from that choice. Why lose the value of your home for a repair that is less than $2,000 in some cases.
We hope the above information answered the question… Why is concrete lifting and leveling important? Now that you have the knowledge and understanding to know you have sinking concrete around your home, reach out to a reputable polyjacking company. PolyMagic uses an expanding foam (poly foam) to raise and stabilize concrete areas, compared to the use of mud in traditional mudjacking. If you are ready for a quote, reach out today to get a free estimate scheduled.