Expanding Foam For Concrete Leveling
- Small dime-sized holes are drilled into your concrete slab.
- The expanding foam is injected into the holes. (If you have a sidewalk, experts can use a jack to lift your concrete and then inject the foam from the side.)
- The expanding foam will make its way through any voids under your slab, spreading throughout the weak soil.
- Once your concrete is level, experts stop pumping the foam and wait for it to harden. After 15 minutes, your concrete is now usable again, allowing you to walk or drive over your slab.
Benefits Of Expanding Foam
Some articles claim that you should avoid expanding foam for your concrete leveling needs. Most of the time, these articles are written by mudjacking companies who want to deter you away from advanced technology. They want to you to call them and use their older and less effective option. Here are six benefits of expanding foam and why it’s the best option for concrete leveling.
- Expanding foam is fast – As we mentioned above, once the expanding foam hardens, you can use your concrete in just 15 minutes. That’s fast! On the other hand, mudjacked concrete needs at least 24 hours to dry. Sometimes, you’ll even have to wait 72 hours!
- Expanding foam doesn’t require heavy excavation – All that’s needed to pump the foam under your slab are small dime-sized holes. You don’t need a crane to lift up your slab or an excavator to dig around it. Once the foam hardens under your slab, the holes are patched, and any excess foam is cleaned off.
- Expanding foam is lightweight – The real reason your concrete slab is sinking is because the soil underneath isn’t strong enough to hold its weight. Expanding foam only weighs about 2.5 to 4 pounds per cubic foot. That means that the foam will support your concrete slab and avoid adding extra weight to the soil.
- Expanding foam is non-toxic – Expanding foam is what experts call “inert.” This means the foam won’t shift and leech chemicals into your grass or soil.
- Expanding foam is cost-effective – Expanding foam actually solves the real issue behind concrete sinkage. The foam will last indefinitely, so you don’t have to worry about doing it all over again. Mudjacking and slab replacement will require you to repeat the process, costing you more money in the end.
- Expanding foam is waterproof – Expanding foam is hydrophobic, meaning the polyurethane won’t wash away when it comes in contact with water. The slurry used in mudjacking will wash away with water movement. Experts still recommend correcting any drainage issues that are causing water to flow towards your concrete slab.
How Much Does Expanding Foam Cost?
The average cost of expanding foam depends on what sort of slab you need lifted. Sidewalks usually start around $800. Driveways, patios, and interior slabs start at around $1,500. Call a concrete leveling expert to get the best price estimate.
Can You DIY Concrete Leveling?
Experts do not recommend DIY concrete leveling. The process involves very special equipment, and unless you have access to polyurethane or injection pumps, it’s going to be very difficult to achieve the same level of work as a professional. The tools and machinery needed are not available in your everyday store. Most foundation repair experts also provide concrete leveling, such as The Real Seal.
How Not To Level Concrete
10 Responses
I know you are in the Chicago area.
If my client is willing to pay, would you travel future afield
Hi Uriel! It depends on how far away they are. Give us a shout and we can take a look. Otherwise, we know good companies in different areas of the country we would be happy to recommend!
I need to re level my front sidewalk from my front porch to the driveway.
Hi Violet!
We’d love to help. Give us a call if you’re in the Chicagoland area at 847-756-7987.
Can you recommend a company in the St. Louis MO area that does this work?
Hi Pat!
Unfortunately we do not have someone in the St. Louis area we know. I would suggest going on Yelp, Angie’s List, BBB, and Google and comparing reviews. The company that can maintain a good standing on ALL platforms is a good choice.
Can you recommend someone in the Charlotte NC area?
Hi Doug!
Unfortunately we do not know anyone in that area. Best bet is to compare reviews (read the reviews not just the rating) across Angie’s List, Yelp, BBB, and Google.
Great article
Thanks for search in my area
Thanks Doug! Sorry I couldn’t find someone for you!