What do you do when your beautiful driveway starts sinking? Do you sit back and sink into thoughts or attempt to repair it as a home DIY project? One thing you need to agree on is in order for your driveway or any other place with an uneven slab to be smooth and level; you need to level it using concrete. Concrete leveling is the process of leveling surfaces or foundations by pumping cement slurry into the void to lift off the slab.
Cost of Concrete Leveling
On average, leveling a patio, pool deck, steps, driveway, or garage with concrete will cost you $950 per 100 square feet. This translates to around $10 per square foot. Also, being a not-so-complex task that requires demolition experts, you can easily find a concrete repairer at a cheaper rate.
Other than this, the process of leveling concrete surfaces is environmentally friendly and conservative in nature. Experts say that the entire process costs only 25% of the total amount of money spent on demolition and re-pouring of new concrete. Isn’t that a cheaper way of restoring your beloved concrete surface?
How Long Does Concrete Leveling Last?
This is another important question that you will find most clients asking concrete experts. A leveled surface may not last forever. But, it will serve you longer than other concrete repair methods.
Mudjacking or concrete leveling may last for at least five years, depending on how the entire process was done. If you are using new property, mudjacking may last for five years or at most seven years in normal conditions. This might be further influenced by the quality of cement used and the length of the curing process. On old surfaces, however, mudjacking may last for over ten years.
Much about how long mudjacking will last on both old and new surfaces depends on the causes of cracks on the concrete surface. If the problem (s) is not addressed on time, the repaired surface will crack again. Also, when brainstorming for the causes of sinking or cracking slabs, check on leakages (for indoor surfaces) or the condition of soil on which the concrete slab is seated.
When Do You Need Mudjacking?
Mudjacking is almost a universal process that lifts up almost all concrete surfaces. But when you are using it at home or in a facility, some places appreciate its services more than others. Here are some of the places you can use mudjacking to lift off the surface.
Generally, mudjacking serves almost all surfaces with a few exemptions that may require you to look into other solutions. In our case, you will use mudjacking on your;
- Concrete walkways slabs
Walkaways are one of the most dangerous surfaces when unleveled. Kids might slide on the surface and injure themselves. It will not happen anymore when you level the surface using mudjacking.
- Driveways and aprons
Due to the constant weight of cars they are exposed to, driveways and areas around the garage crack very easily. They also have issues with backfills; thus, leveling them with concrete will solve the problem.
- Porch
Though it is a surprise to many people, leveling a porch or steps is possible. Talk to concrete experts who will get the job done and in a good way. Furthermore, you might level steps when you want them to raise or give the entire flight a new makeover.
- Patios
Resting on the patio on a cool summer evening is one of the breathtaking moments in life. But when the patio is cracked, ugly, and cannot hold lawn chairs. Therefore leveling them will glorify and make your patios hospitable again.
The Simple Mudjacking Process
As we mentioned earlier, it is possible to level cracked surfaces using concrete and DIY tips. But the result will not be satisfying, and the slab might crumble again after a few months. To avoid this, we formulate the simple mudjacking process used by experts. Here is the process.
- Drill a few 1” to 2’’ holes on the sinking slab
Drilling concrete surfaces is a bit tricky, but experts normally employ some help from electric drills. An electric drill with a hardened and a diameter of 1 or 2” inches is a good option. It creates just the right-sized hole where the concrete can be pumped in to lift the block up.
While drilling, focus on affected areas and don’t go overboard because you will create unnecessary holes.
2. Pump the “mud” into the holes
Mud is a common masonry word used to identify a mixture of sand, water, cement, and other additives. This mud will be injected through the holes drilled in earlier stages. And for this, you need a movable pump.
During the process, the mixture will fill into the void under the slabs created by either downpour, erosion, or anything that is sinking the surface. The mud will exert pressure and start lifting the surface off the ground. Continue pumping until the surface is even.
3. Lastly, fill the holes
As much as you might be tempted to fill the holes using concrete, please do not fall into the temptations! Concrete shrinks and will leave the surface ugly and uneven.
For best results, finish off by filling the holes with non-shrinking grout. Grout is a special type of mortar or pastes used to fill crevices and leaves them new and leveled. This is a perfect filler that will leave the 1 and 2” holes on the slab filled.
Take Away
Filling sinking surfaces does not require the tiring process of demolition; get an expert who will do concrete leveling. The process is like precision surgery that targets only the affected areas leaving the surrounding blocks undisturbed. To level up the slab, drill several holes on the surfaces, pump the mud into the holes to lift off the slabs, and fill the holes with grout. That is it; your lifted surfaces will be new and ready to serve you for another decade.
Royal Interior 