Concrete Lifting versus Mudjacking in NJ
The idea of lifting and or leveling concrete has been around for many years. In some cases, concrete was lifted and leveled very primitively with rugged tools and brute strength. Then, along came “Mud-jacking” also known as “slab jacking”. This was new technology and a great concept.
Mud Jacking was the process of drilling 1” to 1 5/8” holes into the settled concrete and using hydraulic pumps to pump a concrete slurry mix under the settled concrete with pressure to cause the settled concrete to raise back up. This helped customers save what was good concrete with lots of life left and minimize repair costs.
Quality 1st Basements entered into this business in around 2000 as “All Jersey Mudjacking”. We did mud-jacking projects for condominiums and commercial facilities all over NJ. After a few years of being in the mud-jacking business we knew the idea was great but the process and materials weren’t the best for the concept due to these variables.
- When you mix concrete slurry and pump it with pressure into small voids chances are the concrete will blow out from the sides of the slabs or out of the other holes you drilled in the concrete.
- If the area was wet or had poor drainage, the material you used would never set up or would eventually weaken itself over time and the concrete would settle again and result in upset customers and repair work.
After a few painful years of mud-jacking we left this business, closed “All Jersey Mud-Jacking” and stuck to concrete replacement. By doing replacement we knew we could deliver a great product and our customers would be happy, which is a large focus of ours.
In 2012, we were introduced to PolyLevel from SupportWorks. PolyLevel is a brand name for the process of installing polyurethane foam under concrete slabs to lift and level settled concrete. This answered the very concerns we had with mud-jacking. One thing we really liked about this process was that this had been used and tested for many years with great success and addressed all the concerns we had with mudjacking. PolyLevel was even studied by the US DOE through Argonne National Lab, who confirmed that as long as it is not exposed to UV light, they have long-term stability and pose no risk of harmful leaching of chemicals in applications in which PolyLevel is typically used.
So what is PolyLevel? Well, PolyLevel is a low-pressure solution which results in a more controlled process and much better results.
PolyLevel material is set up in just seconds and is not impacted by water or wet areas. PolyLevel is so strong it can be used for commercial vehicle traffic, airport runways, highways and industrial applications. It helps solidify the poor soils which caused the concrete to settle as well as raise the concrete back to its original position. The process of installing PolyLevel is very similar to mud-jacking except for a few things.
First, we drill a 3/8” hole which makes it far less noticeable specially if you have colored or stamped concrete. Secondly, when we pump the materials under the slab to lift the concrete we do so with equipment that properly measures and mixes the materials so you get the correct amount of material every time. With mud-jacking you get the best mix the guys can make with what materials they have with them for the day.
Once PolyLevel is installed, the material will not break down or degrade over time like the mud from mud-jacking. PolyLevel is waterproof, environmentally friendly and a permanent solution for concrete settlement.
Since 2012 Quality 1st Basements has been able to help over 6,000 customers with a fast, inexpensive solution to an all too common problem. Some notable places we have installed PolyLevel; CitiField home of the New York Mets, PSE&G co-generation facilities, SEPTA rail crossings, hundreds of residential pool decks across NJ, Eagle Point Power Plant in NJ, many ware house facilities where fork truck traffic is heavy, Township of Roxbury, Jackson Township, Ocean County College, numerous condo and homeowner associations across NJ and thousands of residential sidewalks and patios.
If you need concrete lifted/leveled and want to make sure you get the best warranty in the business, have the work done in a manner which is controlled and clean, PolyLevel is the best solution to your problem. PolyLevel wins over Mud-jacking every time!
