Mudjacking Company – University City, MO 63132

Mudjacking in University City, MO 63132 handles concrete problems. It isn't really uncommon to find concrete slabs which have cracked and settled. If the soil below a layer of concrete settles or washes away due to a water leak or any other problems, a section of the slab is going to be unsupported, therefore the bottom of the slab will be in tension. If the slab breaks due to the limited strength in tension, part of it will certainly sink right down to the base of the hole or recessed spot. A settled or moved slab can be a problem if it happens in a garage, basement or sidewalk. The damaged, tilted and irregular surface should be repaired so that it won't pose a safety hazard.

Fortunately, a settled or sunken slab in University City, Missouri 63132 can often be brought back to level (or near to it) by a procedure called mudjacking, also called slabjacking. Done by a skilled foundation repair company, mudjacking can be quite a long term repair that restores a slab to its initial state (However, the cause of the soil settlement or removal should be found out and eliminated before the repair takes place, in order to ensure against a new void developing.

Using Mudjacking to Repair Broken Concrete

Mudjacking functions by pumping a cement grout or "slurry" underneath the slab. After the slurry moves into the voids and fills all the vacant spaces under the slab, it begins to exert hydraulic pressure, pressing the slab up towards its initial position. An experienced foundation repair professional understands when it's important to cease pumping. Once the slurry hardens, cracks can be filled and slight differences in level can be corrected (if needed) by applying a skim coat of mortar over the area.

Because of the specialized tools and education needed to pump concrete under pressure and also the messiness of the process, mudjacking in University City, Missouri 63132 is better done by a seasoned foundation repair contractor. The holes through which the slurry is pumped have to be tactically placed and measured to snugly fit the hoses that convey the mix. The consistency of the slurry might be varied depending on how much lifting pressure is needed; a thicker blend may lift heavier slabs. Common ingredients in the slurry include Portland cement, fine sand, flyash (a byproduct of coal combustion) and various chemicals that help stop shrinking.

The pay back for this work is a slab which comes close to its initial condition, and will remain like that as long as soil settlement doesn't reoccur. Mudjacking to mend a settled slab in University City 63132 normally is cheaper than half the price of totally replacing the old slab with a new one.