If you have concrete outside of your home that's showing symptoms of sinking or settling, the problem can be very frustrating.
As porches, walkways, driveways, concrete steps, and similar structures sink, they can crack and create uneven surfaces. Sinking concrete is unsightly, and it can create a tripping hazard. Fortunately, this problem often can be quickly and effectively repaired by a process called mudjacking.
If you're interested in repairing your outdoor concrete, contact us today for a free mudjacking quote. Our free quotes are available throughout our Maryland service area, including Frederick, Gaithersburg, Baltimore, nearby areas including Bowie, Rockville, Annapolis, Salisbury, Cumberland, College Park, Hagerstown, and the surrounding regions.
Concrete steps like those shown above can sink and tilt away from the house if the soil beneath the steps settles or gets washed away.
This creates a safety hazard that needs to be corrected right away. Instead of replacing the stairs, a mudjacking repair can lift the concrete.
At Basement Systems Maryland, we recommend repairing settling outdoor concrete by mudjacking the slab. This will fill any voids underneath the concrete while lifting the concrete up towards its original position.
What is Mudjacking?
Mudjacking (also known as slab jacking, concrete lifting, concrete raising, grout pumping and slab leveling) is a repair technique for lifting slabs and other concrete elements that have settled over time.
Mudjacking involves pumping a mortar-based mixture of "mud" or "slurry" underneath a settling slab. This injected material is a mixture of water, soil, sand and Portland cement that cures to become a solid, stable fill.
As the mixture is pumped underneath the concrete slab, it fills all empty spaces and creates pressure on the slab that lifts it upwards.
Once injected, the slurry will then harden into a solid fill that's more stable than the soil, yet lighter than concrete.
Mudjacking can also be used as a secondary support for sinking concrete floors by filling voids underneath the concrete as the slab floor is lifted by a slab pier system.
With this method, the slab is supported by piers in contact with load-bearing soils much deeper in the ground. Instead of leaving voids beneath the slab after piers have been used to lift the slab back to its original position, the contractor fills these empty areas with a masonry slurry. This two-part repair is especially common in finished rooms and commercial buildings where a permanent solution is required.
| Sidewalks | Steps | Walkways | Driveways |
| Patios | Pool Decks | Concrete Staircases | Porches |
| Parking Lots | Streets | Paving Stones | Highways |
Benefits of Mudjacking
When is Mudjacking NOT Appropriate?
Mudjacking is effective for heavier concrete structures when used in conjunction with slab piers. It should not be considered as a standalone solution to lifting a settling footing or floor slab in your home.
In most cases, mudjacking alone will not be able to lift both a slab and the heavy partition walls that sit on top it.
If mudjacking does lift the concrete slab, it may be difficult to control where mudjacking lifts the walls, causing them to lift unevenly.
More importantly, this kind of solution is temporary. Even with the voids filled, the soil below is likely to continue settling over time.
Ultimately, you'd have to call your contractor to your home over and over again to repeat the mudjacking process -- or call someone who can use a different solution that can fix it once and for all!
Mudjacking is also not appropriate as a "do it yourself" repair. Mudjacking requires special equipment and professional experience. All work should be done through a trained, professional contractor who has excellent knowledge of local soil conditions.
More about our foundation services.
At Basement Systems Maryland, we use mudjacking to repair settling foundation slabs throughout our service area, including Baltimore, Frederick, Gaithersburg, and nearby areas in Maryland.
If you'd like a cost quote on mudjacking for your home, or you'd like to learn more about our services, call or e-mail us today! We offer free mudjacking quotes at no obligation to you.
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