Frequently Ask Questions
HOW DO I KNOW IF I SHOULD RAISE OR REPLACE MY SUNKEN CONCRETE DRIVEWAY OR SIDEWALK?
Depending on whether or not the surface is in good shape and there are not lots of cracks. If it is in good shape then raising it is the best solution.
HOW DO I FIX MY SUNKEN CONCRETE DRIVEWAY OR SIDEWALK?
You can either replace or lift the concrete. We specialize in providing our customers with the best solution to lifting your concrete and fixing your driveway or sidewalk.
IS SLAB JACKING WITH POLYURETHANE FOAM THE SAME AS MUDJACKING?
No, they are not the same. Raising and levelling your concrete using polyurethane foam is different then mudjacking. In slab jacking, lightweight polyurethane foam is injected through the holes to fill in and lift the concrete. In mudjacking, the mixture of clay, sand and sometimes cement is used and is much heavier and may cause further sinkage.
IS POLYURETHANE FOAM ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?
HMI leads the market on being environmentally friendly, in fact, our dual component polyurethane foam is made from over 40% recycled materials, making it the “greenest” polyurethane foam on the market!
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DON’T LIFT MY CONCRETE
Other than the undesirable esthetic look of sagging concrete, homeowners have a responsibility to make sure that they are providing a safe sidewalk for other people when they visit your home. If the problem continues over time, other landscaping and foundations could be affected. Water flooding could occur in your basement if rain is not re-directed away from the foundation walls. Increased costs of fixing a major problem could be alleviated if sinking concrete is fixed early on.
IS POLYURETHANE FOAM SAFE?
We use HMI foams and they do not use toxic chemicals. Major toxic chemicals, often associated with some types of polyurethanes, such as some blowing agents, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene are NOT used in HMI foams. Most of what is warned against on the Internet pertains to these chemicals. HMI’s Dual Component Polyurethane Foam and its’ separate component parts are inert..
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF RAIN OR STANDING WATER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE POLYURETHANE FOAM?
Because of high-density polyurethane characteristics, this foam-like material is resistant to water penetration. In fact, specially designed High-Density Polyurethane is Hydrophobic and can even be used in underwater or wet applications and have the same chemical reaction..
CAN I RAISE MY SUNKEN CONCRETE MYSELF AS A DIY PROJECT?
While this may be possible, it is not recommended. Without proper training, it is possible to use too much foam or to put it in the wrong places. This may result in an over-raised slab or improperly sloped slab which will then need to be torn out and completely replaced. As there are hundreds if not more than a thousand different types of polyurethane foam available, you need to make sure that the proper foam is used.
IS SLAB JACKING WITH POLYURETHANE FOAM JUST A TEMPORARY SOLUTION? HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
Using high-quality polyurethane foam is a permanent solution. Poly Boss uses top quality HMI polyurethane foam. We recommend avoiding contractors that use lower quality foam.
WILL MY CONCRETE SINK AGAIN AFTER BEING RAISED WITH POLYURETHANE FOAM?
Unlike mudjacking, where the material is quite heavy (100 lbs per cubic foot), polyurethane foam is much lighter (2lbs per cubic foot) so it is unlikely to contribute to any further sinkage.
IS RAISING MY CONCRETE WITH POLYURETHANE FOAM EXPENSIVE?
It is usually about half the cost of tearing out and replacing the concrete.
WILL MY CONCRETE LOOK NEW AFTER BEING RAISED WITH POLYURETHANE SLAB JACKING?
Though the surface itself will not look much different, having a levelled surface with reduced visibility of cracks will be a great improvement in the esthetic appeal of the concrete. Once your concrete is raised, the tripping hazard will have been removed and the risk of water pooling in the wrong places close to the foundation will also be mitigated.
WHY IS POLYURETHANE SLAB JACKING A BETTER CHOICE THAN MUDJACKING?
Polyurethane slab jacking is a better choice for the following reasons: the lighter material (2 lbs vs. 100 lbs per cubic foot) means there is a much lower chance of the concrete sinking again, there are fewer injection holes and they are smaller (5/8” vs. 1 5/8”) and the cure time is 15 minutes so down time is minimal.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION WE DIDN’T COVER HERE?
Unlike us, our quote page is up 24/7 and once you provide us with your question and contact information we can follow up at a time that works for both of us, or if you’d like to just call us, visit our Contact Us page.
Talk to you soon!