Repair Uneven Driveways With TFS
Have you noticed cracking along your driveway? What about sinking steps on your front porch? If you have, don’t worry. You are not alone. Just about every home has concrete, which means just about every home has concrete cracking or sinking at some point. Between driveways, sidewalks, patios, steps, and pool decks, there is a lot of concrete around under and around your home. Find out the best way to repair uneven driveways with TFS.
Concrete cracking/damage is a normal occurrence in homes. However, just because it is normal does not mean that you should have to deal with it. In fact, we believe that you deserve to enjoy your patios and pool decks without worrying about the tripping hazards that uneven concrete can create. Whether it be lifting, stabilizing, replacing, or repairing, there are enough options available to where you can feel secure and confident in your concrete.
Where do concrete issues come from?
Concrete cracks can form in a variety of ways. Over time, there will be natural aging and damaging issues that occur. Additionally, intense weather can expedite the need to repair uneven driveways. While any weather can create issues, most homeowners find that their concrete suffers the most damage during the winter months. As you probably know, winter can be a bit volatile. Forty degrees and rainy one day and freezing with ice the next. This does not make ideal conditions for concrete preservation.
Aside from the winter months, heavy rains can also impact the quality of your concrete. When your area has intense rainfall, the water seeps into the soil under your concrete. As a result, this causes destabilization and damage to the concrete. Seeing as the rain is not a controlled flow of water, the soil erosion will not displace evenly. As a result, this means your concrete will not settle evenly, putting tension on certain pressure points. Eventually, the concrete is not strong enough to withstand the pressure, and it cracks, causing the need to repair uneven driveways.
Unfortunately, dryer areas are still susceptible to concrete cracks. As stated above, the condition of the soil under your concrete plays a large role in the quality of the concrete. Dry areas mean dry soil, which contracts due to the absence of moisture. When the soil contracts, it leaves voids underneath your concrete, and you know what that means. More pressure and more cracks. Now that some of the root causes have been identified, let’s talk about how to eliminate these issues and repair uneven driveways.
Repair vs Replace
When it comes to repairing uneven driveways, there are two options: repair or replace. Without question, repairing your concrete is the preferred plan. Here’s why: While repairing concrete fixes the cracks in the current slab, replacing your concrete would be replacing all of the concrete in an area. The process of replacing the concrete is going to cost you time and money, according to Spaulding Concrete.
Spaulding states that a replacement process can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $14,000, making it an expensive option. Additionally, it can take a month for the concrete to be usable, making it a lengthy process. Comparing that to repairment options, which generally cost a fraction of that total and allow you to use the concrete the same day as treatment. As a result, everything points in favor of repairing rather than replacing. Furthermore, new concrete is going to crack at some point. Replacement should be a last-resort option!
How do I fix my concrete?
Generally speaking, there are three different methods you can employ to fix your concrete.
The first option for repairing uneven driveways is going to be mudjacking. Mudjacking is the process of filling in damaged concrete with a sand, mud, cement, and water mixture. The four elements are compacted together into a single mixture and then filled into the damaged portions of the concrete. This process is one that is generally messy and time-consuming and does not provide a great chance, even concrete. While those drawbacks exist, the process is relatively cheap; it’s something that a homeowner can easily do, and it works best with severely damaged concrete. However, if you fix the concrete before it deteriorates to the point of mudjacking, there are more beneficial alternatives to mudjacking. One of those options for repairing uneven driveways is the use of PolyLevel under your concrete.
The Best Method For Concrete Repair
PolyLevel Polyurethan Injection certainly sounds like a mouthful, but the process is much simpler than it seems. As the most efficient and newest method for repairing uneven driveways, PolyLEVEL polyurethane injection is a state-of-the-art approach to concrete lifting and repair. PolyLEVEL takes the original concept of slab jacking and combines it with modern knowledge and technology. Rather than using a mixture of concrete and mud, PolyLEVEL utilizes high-density polyurethane to raise slabs back to the desired level. This is done by drilling penny-sized holes in the slab and injecting a structural-grade polymer that expands to fill the void. Finally, the small holes are grouted and sealed, and the slab is completely restored.
Once your concrete is lifted, you can take preventative measures to extend the life of your concrete repair. NexusPro is a sealant that is used in joints and cracks on your concrete. As previously mentioned, most concrete damage happens because water seeps into your concrete and soil through loose cracks or joints in the material. When you use NexusPro to seal your joints and cracks, you are preventing that water damage from occurring in the first place. NexusPro, aside from being extremely proactive, has been proven to last over 20 years, holds up strong against any weather conditions, and the installation process is curated in a way that makes your concrete have a sleek, high-quality look.
How do I know if I should repair or replace my concrete?
If you aren’t sure where your concrete stands on the scale of repair to replace, get an expert to check it out. We offer free home inspections and can easily let you know whether replacing or repairing is the best route for you. Additionally, our installations come with a lifetime warranty. Along with that, we have a customer care club that provides another level of support to ensure that your home is in the best shape it can be.
Schedule Your Free Inspection Today
Protect your home by scheduling a free inspection for homeowners today with TFS, The Foundation Specialists! You deserve to spend more time enjoying your home than worrying about the safety of your home. Contact our in-office customer care team and get back to enjoying your home!
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