mud pump concrete slab supplier

More contractors are turning to foam slab jacking instead of mud jacking to lift driveways, side walks, garage floors, and even airport runways. Powerful Graco foam slab jacking pumps easily fill all underfloor cavities with expanding polyurethane foam, whereas concrete slurry often fails to fill the voids. Resettling could, therefore, happen again. But when you inject foam under pressure, all air cavities are filled permanently.

Black-Jack Grout Pumps, Inc. offers more than 50 years of combined experience in Slabjacking, Mudjacking, Foundation Pier Repair, grout mixing, and grout pumping.

Through our experience and technical expertise within the grout pump and mortar pump industry, we offer the latest solutions in Grout Pumping, Mud Pumping, and Concrete Pumping across a large variety of applications.

From the most versatile grout pumping system on the world-wide market, “The Black-Jack Grout Pump,” to all the necessary training and advice to make your company successful in the industry, Black-Jack Grout Pumps, Inc. has the equipment, supplies, and training you need.

Manufacturer of grouting & gunite equipment & accessories. Pumps, mudjack trailers, batch plants. Accessories include clamps, couplings, hose, nozzles, reducers, pressure gauges, water meters & finishing tools. Applications include mining & underground, DOT highways, roads & bridges, industrial & indoor, masonry, construction & concrete repair.

The HMI HM-1 hydraulic mudjacking pump was the first concrete raising product engineered and manufactured by HMI, just over 40 years ago. It’s reliability and superior engineering maintains its place in the market, but has also acted as the springboard for other, more advanced models / options which offer various options of engine horsepower, hopper size, pumping pressure, and so much more.

Our largest, self-propelled, multi-functional pump. This rugged and durable pump is the top-of-the-line mudjacking unit. With the highest available pumping pressure, largest material hopper, most horsepower and versatility.

Our most popular model, the self-propelled, hydraulic mudjacking pump drives circles around the competition. Affordable and durable, the Power Pump is a great way to start-up or add to a concrete raising business.

The Revolution Pump is the only portable system on the market for slab lifting with foam Concrete slab lifting and void filling with polyurethane foam is fairly recent innovation that is faster, cleaner, and usually less expensive than mudjacking. And if tight access or underground pipes are issues, foam lifting is the only choice beside replacement.

Slab lifting with foam is a profitable addition to your service line. The award-winning Revolution from Prime Resins offers high performance in a compact, portable package. This is the only truly portable slab lifting system on the market.

The Revolution is a two-component slab lifting pump that uses gear-driven technology. Unlike piston pumps, the simplicity of one continuous rotary motion means exceptional output efficiency plus less energy and wear and tear. The Revolution is a medium-pressure pump that runs on standard 110-volt power, with on-board heaters and a built-in recirculation system. This is a combination of features you won’t find on any other pump.

Precision Lift Foam – a high-density, structural polymer that expands and develops hydraulic lift to level and stabilize slabs. No shrinkage+3.5# density= no call backs for crushing foams

The Pumpmaster MJ-17 is a self-propelled grout pump designed for mudjacking/slabjacking, void fill and general pressure grouting applications. The MJ-17 features a hard-chrome long-life material cylinder, Subaru key start gasoline engine, 6 cu ft. material hopper, open throat manifold system and plunger-type piston, pivoting front axle, construction grade remote, joystick operated self-propulsion and the Airplaco exclusive hydraulic flow control valve.

Built from over 60 years of manufacturing experience and on-the-job mudjacking experience, the Airplaco PumpMaster MJ-17 is one of the most durable pumps available in the industry and is backed by superior customer service. Airplaco offers the PumpMaster MJ-17 slabjack / mudjack pump as part of an all-in-one trailer–for details call 630-766-3498

MANITOWOC, WI – August 27, 2014 – I never would have imagined that forty years ago when I was working to pay off interest on a loan to my father-in-law for my first house by working weekends raising concrete for him, that I would soon become the owner of a world leading manufacturer of concrete raising equipment and material.

That fortuitous weekend of labor was the start of it all. The growth and innovations have followed, whether it was the invention of the first hydraulic mud pump or the introduction of polyurethane systems at the entrepreneur level.

RaiseRite Concrete Lifting, Inc. began in 1974, by myself and two others, with no money to buy our equipment so we rented it from my father-in-law. Our first truck was a 1951 Chevy flatbed, we affectionately named "Bullwinkle". By September, RaiseRite needed to add another crew to cover Green Bay.

In 1978, I knew there had to be a more efficient and less strenuous way to raise concrete, so I developed the first hydraulic mudpump. The next year, sales were well on their way as was HMI as we began manufacturing the "new" hydraulic mudjacking pumps. Today, HMI continues to manufacture mudjacking pumps and systems, polyurethane foam lifting systems, and polyurethane foam.

Monthly, HMI hosts Discovery and Training Seminars either at our Manitowoc training facility or various metropolitan areas throughout the United States. These seminars offer individuals looking to add to their existing business or start-up a business, the opportunity to experience "hands-on" how to raise concrete. As a supplier and trainer, HMI has helped put over 1200 families into business and have contributed to the employment of over 10,000 people.

I am still retaining the position of CEO, but I work side by side with my two sons: Jeff-President HMI and Brian-President of RaiseRite. Over the past 40 years, we have lifted and leveled 14,000,000 sq. ft. of concrete participating in over 70,000 projects. HMI"s equipment has lifted and leveled 240,000,000 sq. ft. of concrete on every continent, but Antarctica. I look at this anniversary not being about us at HMI/RaiseRite. It is all about you-our customers-Thank you again!

About HMI/Raise Rite: HMI/Raise Rite has two Manitowoc locations: 4803 Leonard Lane and 1025 E. Albert Dr. employing approximately 30 individuals. In addition to concrete raising, RaiseRite has a foundation piering and waterproofing division. For more information, please use the contact information and links provided below.

In all of these cases, the concrete is in good shape and not crumbling or cracked all over the place. The surfaces have just sunken, tilted, or sloped the wrong way slowly over time. These scenarios are all fixable ones that could be corrected with some type of concrete repair service.

Two common methods of concrete repair that would fix these problems are mud jacking and polyjacking. At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been repairing concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and more for decades in the Bryan/College Station Area.

We’ve done some polyjacking in the past, but are currently only offering mud jacking for concrete repair services. We recognize that there is value in both choices at different times. This article will compare mud jacking and polyjacking by reviewing their basic materials, installation processes, and features, as well as the cost of each repair type.

Part of our mission is to impartially educate and inform Brazos Valley homeowners about the available foundation and concrete repair services and choices in the community. We share this info in a fair and equal manner so that you can decide which one might be right for you.

Sure, you could just break up and remove the whole piece of problem concrete and replace it with newly poured concrete. But that would be the most expensive, time-consuming, and intrusive thing to do. Full replacement of concrete might not even be necessary with this duo of less costly choices on the market. *Enter mud jacking and polyjacking to the rescue*

The first thing that is the same about both of these repair types is that they are better than pouring brand new concrete for a few reasons. Both are less costly, faster, and less of a production than a full replacement.Okay, I guess that’s three things . . .

A related similarity between the two is that they are both less wasteful and more eco-conscious than a full replacement. Each method aims to preserve the concrete rather than “throwing it away” and starting over, creating the need for new materials. Getting rid of a big chunk of concrete will take up space in a landfill somewhere too if they don’t recycle it.

Another similarity between these two methods is in the name, but really it’s in the concept of how this repair works. Notice the word “jacking” appears in both concrete repair types? *Not a coincidence*

They both use the idea of lifting or moving as if with a jack i.e. to jack up a car to change a flat tire. In both cases, the “jack” is not a metal tool that comes in the trunk of your car, but a material that is pumped underneath the concrete slab that lifts the surface back into position.

So, mud jacking and polyjacking use the same basic principle of lifting from underneath to complete the repair, but this is where the similarities end.

Here are some basics about what material is used in mud jacking, the installation process, key features of the method, and estimated costs so that we can begin to make comparisons.

The “mud” in mud jacking is actually not mud but something else, sort of like mud but not so sticky. In the construction industry, the liquid-like substance is called slurry. *Terminology alert* Slurry is not a sweet and frosty treat in a cup, like the kind you get at Sonic® or Dairy Queen®. I know . . . bummer.

The slurry is a flowing mix ofPortland Cement, topsoil, and water that is combined to form a fluid that can be pumped through a hose. Not only does slurry lift the concrete surface from underneath, but this substance also fills in all the voids and pockets of space in the ground under the surface, and then hardens when dry for solid support.

A contractor will drill 2-inch holes in strategic locations into the sunken concrete surface and a nozzle is then inserted into the holes. The liquid-like slurry is pumped into the holes through to the ground under the concrete and slowly lifts the surface from underneath. The crew will continually check for the proper elevation of the slab and then patch the hole with concrete when done.

Mud jacking fills open spaces and voids under the concrete surfaces thoroughly by its very nature. Filling the voids completely is what ultimately lifts the section of concrete and creates strength in the cured slurry. The mud jacking material is heavy and strong on its horizontal surface, so it can withstand heavy objects moving across it like cars and trucks.

Mud jacking material is permeable to water and can be subject to erosion BUT due to its weight, compression, and ability to fill voids, it prevents water from getting under the repair surface with these qualities.

Mud jacking is better for larger repair jobs than smaller ones as there is more mobilization work to get the project started. It might take a little longer and a bit more work to get started, but most typical jobs are done in one half to one full day.

Another reason that mud jacking is better for larger repair jobs than smaller ones is because of material costs. Since slurry is made with cement mix, topsoil, and water, it’s not very expensive stuff. Larger jobs will require lots of material for the “jacking” process so it makes sense that lower supply costs would be beneficial.

You probably really want something more “concrete” as far as pricingis concerned. We are here to help with well-placed puns and also the information in this chart outlining approximate costs for basic, average, and extensive mud jacking repair work.

In a nutshell, a basic mud jacking project with one or two concrete panels needing repair would cost around $1,600. An average-sized mud jacking repair falls in the $2,700 range, and an extensive repair that includes the entire driveway could be up to $7,000 or more.

Polyjacking is different from mud jacking in the materials used, the installation process, key features of the method, and of course the cost. This section outlines the basics of polyjacking.

Just a note on the word “polyjacking”– it’s not an official dictionary word but more of an industry inducted term that has many variations that all mean the same thing. Whether it’s called polyjacking, poly jacking, poly-jacking, polyfoam injection, poly leveling, or polyurethane concrete raising: it’s all the same thing.

Like mud jacking material, it can also be “cut” with a sharp shovel concentrated at one point, and can also withstand heavy loads moving across it and won’t crumble under weight-distributed vertical compression. Polyjacking is frequently used in highway and major roadway repair because of its sustained strength and quick application.

A contractor will drill⅝” holes in strategic locations into the sunken concrete surface and a nozzle is then inserted and clamped in place into the holes. The polyfoam is injected into the holes through to the ground under the concrete and slowly lifts the surface up from underneath. The crew will continually check for the proper elevation of the slab and then patch the hole with concrete when done.

While it is impermeable to water and will last forever because of that, it does not fill up every tiny crevice under a concrete slab so there can still be erosional effects on the soil from any water moving underneath this repair. The foam won’t erode, but the dirt still can.

Polyjacking is very strong and installs and cures quickly. It is great for fine applications where much control is needed to lift a section of concrete with precision, think of the small hole that lets basic school glue out of the bottle vs. a tube of toothpaste.

This method is great for smaller projects because it has super-fast prep time and the work can be handled by just a couple of guys. They can be in and out in a few hours with little mess or cleanup. Another big plus for homeowners is that the size of the holes needed for this process is much smaller than they are for mud jacking.

Because it is a proprietary chemical mix of ingredients, the cost is higher than the basic concrete/soil mix of mud jacking. When projects get very large, the costs can exceed comparable mud jacking jobs because of the big difference in materials cost. Polyjacking might save money in labor costs but adds to the expense in materials.

So far, we know that concrete repair costs can vary depending on the method chosen. Mud jacking and polyjacking are the most popular techniques used in raising concrete flat-work surfaces around your home back to their original position.

The charts in this article show that mud jacking costs range from $1,600 to $7,000 depending on the extent of repairs needed. Polyjacking costs start at around $900 for a basic job up to $7,500 for extensive needs. We mentioned that both of these repair types are more cost-effective than a full replacement of concrete surfaces.

You can see that the pricing for full replacements is significantly higher than either of the repair methods we are talking about here, with a base cost of $4,500, average-sized project cost of $7,500, and full driveway replacement cost of $18,000. The cost of full replacement can be around three times as much as mud jacking.

Mud jacking and polyjacking each use different materials, installation processes, and have key qualities that make them viable choices. Both are good options if you would like to repair and reuse your concrete surfaces rather than ripping everything out and starting over. Either way, you will save money over a full replacement.

We understand and see the merits of both choices in concrete repair and there are no bad service decisions to be made here but here’s a few guidelines.

For smaller jobs or instances where you are very concerned about the size of the installation holes, polyjacking is the way to go. For more extensive work like whole driveways, or parking lots, mud jacking would be a better option. For medium sized projects, you can’t go wrong with either method, so go with whichever is cheaper or the contractor you like better.“Both methods are amazing services and fantastic tools to easily, inexpensively, and efficiently restore the evenness and functionality of all your concrete flat-work surfaces. It’s hard to pick sometimes even for me.” Craig Tripp – Anchor Foundation Repair Owner, President, CEO, and Foundation Repair Extraordinaire

We did ultimately pick a side though. We see value in polyjacking, and have tried it out in the past and may try it out again in the future. But for now, the concrete repair method we provide to the community is mud jacking.

Not once have we had to go back out and redo our mud jacking work due to further erosion under the slab. So, we feel confident about what this method can do to prolong the good life of your concrete surfaces and stand by mud jacking’s fine qualities.

Rather than just relying on the estimates presented in this article, would you like to get a formal and firm bid on repairing your driveway or other concrete flat-work surfaces around your home? Please reach out to us using our Contact Form and ask for Mud Jacking services from Anchor Foundation Repair.

You’re researching foundation repair options and have come across the term “mud-pumping” and you want to know what it means. Or maybe you are thinking about when a foundation is lifted, what happens with the space underneath your home? There’s a void there now and does it get filled in or what?

Mud-pumping is a finishing step of foundation repair, but not every foundation repair contractor adds this final step. It’s not automatically done so you might be wondering why some companies would use this technique or what its advantages and disadvantages are.

At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been repairing foundations since 1985 and began adding mud-pumping to all slab-on-grade foundation repairs in 1998. We decided to take every reasonable step to provide the most security and stability in foundation repairs to Brazos Valley homeowners and bought our first hydraulic mud pump at that time.

We know mud-pumping has great value and importance in a foundation repair project, it’s a standard part of our slab foundation repairs. But we can tell you about it in an objective way so that you can decide if it’s as important to you as it is to us.

In a nutshell, foundation settlement coupled with foundation repair creates voids. Here’s why: a home with a slab foundation is built on the ground. Homes are heavy. Over time, the weight of the home will compress and compact the soil below it.

Settlement can also occur because of the expansive clay soil we have in this area. Expansive clay expands when wet and contracts when dry. The drier the soil gets, the more it can contract, also causing a home to sink. It might not all sink evenly. This is how slab foundations can crack and possibly need repair.

During the repair process, the home is raised back up to its original elevation. So imagine that the home is lifted, but since the soil was compacted below it, now there is space between the ground and the bottom of the slab. This is also called a “void” which is a fancy word for empty space. I mean, technically there’s air in the space so it’s not totally empty but . . .

Now, you could just scream into the void underneath your home. But more productively, you can consider filling it with mud-pumping material so that there is not a bunch of empty space between the bottom of your home and the earth. Mud-pumping helps lessen the opportunity for more foundation settlement or problems to arise.

Mud-pumping is not typically needed for pier and beam foundations, but for slab-on-grade foundation repair, it is an option. While mud-pumping is not *required* in foundation repair, it has many benefits for the homeowner.

So no, mud-pumping is not necessary to complete a foundation repair project, and manyfoundation repair companiesdon’t do it. Even though foundation repair contractors often skip this final step, you may want to seriously consider it. All the “whys” are in the next section.

Nature doesn’t like empty things, nature wants to fill them up. This is that “nature abhors a vacuum” thing. If the void under your home doesn’t get filled with mud-pumping material. It will very likely get filled with something else, like:

PRO #1: So one of the pros of filling voids with mud-pumping is that it takes up that empty space and prevents those areas from getting filled with something less desirable. The slurry material flows and fills every little space, permeating even the smallest pockets of air. But there are a couple more compelling reasons for you too . . .

PRO #2: Empty space creates weaker points and added stress to the foundation where it is not directly supported. Mud-pumping provides extra stability and holding power to your foundation without empty spaces under it. Having something solid underneath your whole slab is more supportive than drilled piers or pressed piles alone.

PRO #3: Mud-pumping the voids under your foundation also minimizes the risk of further movement and settling. When things are all snug and surrounded by other material, it’s less likely for them to wiggle and move around. It’s kinda like tucking your kid in at night. You burrito that little one in good with the hopes that they will stop moving and fall asleep, right?

Side Effect Bonus PRO #4: The step before mud-pumping is testing your under-slab plumbing to make sure there are no leaks. If leaks are found, they need to be fixed first. So if mud-pumping is used on your foundation repair, you will have the added comfort of knowing that there are no leaks or that they have been repaired. This is another way to make sure that further problems don’t come up later for your foundation or underneath it.

Like anything else, there are a few cons to mud-pumping as part of your foundation repair. Even though we are a fan of mud-pumping, it does have some risks and downsides that we want you to be aware of.

CON #1: Mud-pumping costs more. This is an additional step that takes added time and more materials, SO there will be extra cost to you. Mud-pumping adds between $2,000 and $4,000 to the price of your average-sized foundation repair.

CON #2 (minor): There is a small risk of over-pumping the mud and adding too much material under the home. This can cause a hump in your floor. But with an experienced team working on your foundation repair project, this has a low chance of happening. Just want you to know this is a potential problem that could happen with an inexperienced or less careful contractor.

CON #3: Just like that kid that you tucked into bed with a burrito blanket, there’s no guarantee that no more movement will take place. Mud-pumping is a safeguard, an insurance policy, a risk minimizer, but it’s not an absolute settlement solution with no potential for failure.

Like many forms of insurance or safeguards, you don’t really know if you’re going to need it or not. You might only know the value of mud-pumping afterward in hindsight since we can’t predict what will happen later with your home.

As mentioned, mud-pumping is a final step in a foundation repair project, but it has a few steps of its own to complete the process. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:Raise the foundation and secure it in place with shims

The mud-pumping process takes about half a day or small projects and several delays for larger jobs at the end of a foundation repair project. So it doesn’t add a lot of time to the job but it can add some peace of mind.

What’s the worst-case scenario if you don’t do mud-pumping? Well, you could spend thousands of dollars on a foundation repair only to have it settle all over again due to missing that final step and leaving voids under your foundation.

On the flip side, your home can still settle no matter what you do (or it might not, there’s no way to know for sure) but the risk is minimized as much as humanly possible if you add mud-pumping to the repair. This seems like a tricky decision, so let’s try and make it a little easier with some “if-then” statements.If you love your home and plan to be in it for the long haul and want the very best, get the mud-pumping.

If you are selling your home and won’t be living in it any longer, then you’re not worried about the longevity of the repair and could skip the mud-pumping.

Here’s one more “if-then” statement for you: if you want to use Anchor Foundation Repair for your slab-on-grade foundation repair project, then mud-pumping is part of the deal. We don’t leave repair projects without the last step because we also have a lifetime warranty and service agreement.

At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have seen firsthand the consequences of not filling voids after repairs in our 35 years in business. We have inspected and repaired dozens of homes that had previous foundation repairs (by other companies) without mud-pumping. We have felt the hollow-sounding floors and seen homeowners having to go through the repair process again to get it right the second time.

On the typical concrete pour, your goal is to place the concrete as close as possible to its final destination—not only to save hauling time and boost productivity, but also to avoid overhandling the concrete. But on many concrete jobs, the ready-mix truck can"t gain access to the work site. When you"re placing a stamped concrete patio in a fenced backyard, a decorative floor inside in an enclosed building or working on a high-rise building, you must find another way to move the concrete from the truck to the point of placement.

Pumping is an efficient, reliable and economical means of placing concrete, and sometimes the only way of getting concrete into certain locations. Other times, simply the ease and speed of pumping concrete make it the most economical method of concrete placement. In the end, the convenience of easy access for truck mixers must be weighed against the desirability of locating the pump closer to the placement point.

Naturally, the concrete mix must be suitable for its particular application, but it must also contain enough water for the mix to move easily through the reducers, bends and hoses found in most basic pipeline setups. Pump primers can greatly reduce issues associated with pumping concrete and help pumping lines last longer. (Slick-Pak Pump Primer from Fritz-Pk)

It is important to have all concrete mixes specified as "pumpable" prior to any concrete pours. There are mixes that do not pump at all or cause the pump lines to clog. This can cause big problems if you have 8 trucks arriving on the job ready to discharge concrete. See more about removing blockages.

In order to optimize the concrete pumping operation, the most efficient configuration of the system must be determined. The correct line pressure must be determined to move concrete at a specified rate of flow through a pipeline of a particular length and diameter. The major factors affecting pipeline pressure are:

Larger-diameter pipelines require less pumping pressure than smaller-diameter pipes. However, there are disadvantages to using the larger conduits, such as increased blocking, bracing and labor needed. Regarding the concrete mix in relation to line diameter, the maximum size of aggregate should be no larger than one-third of the diameter of the line, according to ACI standards.

Concrete being pumped through a line experiences friction with the internal wall of the pipeline. The longer the line, the more friction encountered. For longer pumping distances, the use of smooth-walled steel pipe can lower the resistance. The length of hose used at the end of the pipeline adds to the overall line length as well.

The farther or higher the concrete needs to go, the more pressure it will take to get it there. If there is a long horizontal distance to cover, one option is to use two lines and two pumps, with the first pump feeding into the hopper of the second pump. This method may be more efficient than a single, long-distance line.

Resistance will also increase if there is a reduction in pipe diameter along the path the concrete travels. Whenever possible, the same diameter line should be used. However, if reducers are needed, longer reducers will cause less resistance. Less force is needed to push concrete through an eight-foot reducer than through a four-foot reducer.

Boom trucks are self-contained units consisting of a truck and frame, and the pump itself. Boom trucks are used for concrete pours for everything from slabs and medium high-rise buildings, to large-volume commercial and industrial projects. There are single-axle, truck-mounted pumps used for their high maneuverability, suitability for confined areas, and cost/performance value, all the way up to huge, six-axle rigs used for their powerful pumps and long reach on high-rise and other large-scale projects.

Booms for these trucks can come in configurations of three and four sections, with a low unfolding height of about 16 feet that makes it ideal for placing concrete in confined areas. Longer, five-part booms can reach up or out more than 200 feet.

Because of their reach, boom trucks often remain in the same place for an entire pour. This allows ready-mix trucks to discharge their loads directly into the pump’s hopper at one central location, creating a more efficient jobsite traffic flow.

These versatile, portable units are typically used to pump not only structural concrete, but also grout, wet screeds, mortar, shotcrete, foamed concrete, and sludge.

Pump manufacturers offer a variety of different line pumps to meet a wide variety of needs. Line pumps typically employ ball-valve-type pumps. While the smaller models are often called grout pumps, many can be used for structural concrete and shotcreting where low-volume output is suitable. They"re also used for repairing underwater concrete, filling fabric forms, placing concrete in heavily reinforced sections, and building bond beams for masonry walls. Some hydraulically driven models have pumped structural concrete at outputs exceeding 150 cubic yards per hour.

Cost for ball-valve pumps is relatively low and there are few wear parts. Because of its simple design, the pump is easy to clean and maintain. The units are small and maneuverable, and the hoses easy to handle.

Separate concrete placing booms can be used when a boom truck is unavailable, or in situations where a boom truck may not be able to conveniently access the pour site. Combined with the right concrete pump, these placing booms provide a systematic method of concrete distribution.

For instance, contractors can use the truck-mounted pump with a placing boom in its conventional mode for part of a day on slab pours or other ground level placements, then quickly remove the boom (with the aid of a tower crane) for remote placements later in the day. Typically, the boom is remounted on a pedestal, which can be located hundreds of feet from the pump and connected with a pipeline.

Aside from normal jobsite precautions, there are a number of safety concerns specifically related to concrete pumping, such as keeping you machinery in good working order, truck positioning and stabilization and proper cleaning procedures. Learn more about concrete pumping safety.

Insulating concrete forms are hollow blocks or panels that are filled with concrete and used to create insulated walls used to build houses and other structures. Get more information and pumping tips for ICF’s.

Mudjacking disadvantages – need to have a supplier of consistent material and a place to store it, messy, small mixer and versa-pump needs to be refilled often if it’s a large job, material must be mixed on site and pump, mixer and work site cleaned immediately or material can cause problems as it dries in pumps and hoses, material can be too thick or too thin, jobs take a while, material doesn’t generally flow well under the slab causing point loads that can crack the slab, easy to over lift, hard to fill between injection points so lots of pyramids of material under the slab, noisy, larger holes to patch and more of them, confined spaces such as interior work uncomfortable, hard to get to and hard not to make a mess.

Only when settling is severe and large amounts of material are needed and final appearance not as important would Mudjacking be a better choice in our professional opinion due to its low cost material.

In the vast majority of cases the speed in which jobs can be completed with Geo-polymer Slabjacking allows this process to be the same cost as the much less costly material used in Mudjacking.

Bottom line, why accept all the disadvantages of Mudjacking when you can choose the superior method preferred by Municipalities and Property Managers as well as Industrial and Commercial entities all across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho?

Warehouses can be subjected to structural problems in their lifespan that can affect their operational, management, and safety procedures. These problems can be related to damaged structural building components of the warehouse such as the interior and the exterior walls, the columns, the foundation, the concrete slab, etc. One of the most common issues related to the concrete slab is the differential settlement that some warehouses may develop over time. If you’re wondering about concrete repair, sunken concrete, or are involved in building a warehouse, this article will be of help.

Uneven concrete slab settlement can lead to some complications within the warehouse. It can affect the efficiency of mobile machinery operations and most certainly result in unstable and out-of-plumb equipment such as shelving and rack systems. Replacing the concrete slab or adding shims under the column baseplates to level the racks may sound like appealing solutions, but both come with difficulties. Both will cause operational problems for the warehouse and pouring a new concrete slab can be very expensive and time-consuming. This article will present two separate solutions to concrete slab settlement, giving an in-depth comparison and analysis.

Differential settlement can happen due to a variety of factors, including inhomogeneous subsoil properties, non-uniform load patterns on the floor, poor-quality soil reports, and inadequate site preparation. Since the soil under the slab will ultimately be bearing the load throughout the facility’s lifetime, it is imperative that adequate preliminary soil testing is done. This will indicate if there are issues with the structural stability of the soil, and if so, what can be done to improve it. All these factors, and more, can influence the degree of the slab settlement and how critical the issue will be in the future.

In some cases, like in shipping/receiving areas of the warehouse, pallets may be constantly placed and even stacked on the floor. Due to large weights being placed in a concentrated area, it may be more susceptible to settle over its lifetime than the slab around it. Another common practice in some warehouses may be to push pallets directly across the floor using the lift truck. This method is used by drivers to save time by not having to stack pallets. However, this can damage the concrete slab, possibly resulting in an uneven settlement in the future. Keep this in mind when managing your pallet racking systems.

Sometimes even if all these steps are taken into consideration, and an experienced construction crew provides a flawless installation, other factors can still cause the concrete slab to settle. For instance, soil settlements or concrete creep – deformation of concrete due to long-term pressure or stress- are both time-dependent. Potential problems might arise after a period of 2 to 5 years after construction.

Mudjacking is the process of hydraulically pumping or injecting a mixture of water and high compression strength materials. These include pond sand, sandy loam, limestone, topsoil mixtures, or Portland cement inserted under the concrete slab to raise it back to its initial level.

Like the concept of mudjacking, foam leveling injects a mixture into the drilled holes to lift the concrete slab. However, instead of cementitious grouts, polyurethane is used. Polyurethane is a two-part polymer (resin and activator) that results in a closed-cell polymer foam. This foam is formed when two separate liquids travel down the hoses and mix in the nozzle to create cells sealed from each other. Hence, the foam will not retain water or moisture, and it will not be subjected to erosion after being placed. It is challenging to measure how much polyurethane should be pumped underneath the slab and how much foam will expand. The process should be performed by a professional technician with years of experience in the field.

Having out-of-plumb racking systems in the warehouse due to uneven or settling concrete slab can cause safety concerns and lead to additional problems with material handling equipment within the warehouse. Therefore, instead of replacing the settling concrete slab or using pier systems to uplift it, which will be much more expensive and time-consuming, mudjacking and polyurethane are the two most common solutions used today to solve the settling concrete slab issue. They both follow a similar concept of uplifting the slab by injecting a mixture beneath the concrete, raising it back to its original level.

Mudjacking uses the pumping pressure of cementitious grout to raise the slab. On the other hand, polyurethane leveling relies on expanding the closed-cell foam to achieve the same results. It’s important to have experts in concrete leveling perform both solutions to have the desired slab flatness and levelness.

For a quick and durable repair, polyurethane leveling would be a good option, as it takes less than an hour for the concrete to cure, and once it is installed, it will be there permanently. Yet, mudjacking is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.