Polyurethane Concrete Lifting

Raising Concrete with Confidence

When pumping a light-weight material beneath a slab, you need the confidence that it is strong enough for the application. How strong is strong enough? This is a commonly asked question by engineers that are new to slab jacking with polyurethane. Structural foams only need to be as strong as dirt, but they're actually stronger than crystalline bedrock.

The Right Strengths for Concrete Lifting

Slab lifting foams are rated on density (weight per cubic feet) and compressive strength. This testing and rating is based on the foam in a free rise state; the parts A and B are mixed together and allowed to expand freely. Our AP Lift 430 and AP Lift 475 structural lifting foams, for example, will weigh 2.75 – 3.25 lbs (AP Lift 430) to 4.75 – 5 lbs (AP Lift 475) per cubic foot. But they have a compressive strengths of 50 psi and 100 psi in a free rise state. That's equal to 7,200 to14,000 lbs per square ft of support, just in a free rise state.

Polyurethane Slab Jacking Compared to Clay and Bedrock

To put that into perspective, the National Home Builders Association and the International Building Code lists stiff clay at 4000 psf and crystalline bedrock as having 12000 psf of load bearing capacity. Consider the job site conditions where the foam will be injected into a confined area. Testing data in the lab shows that our lifting foams will increase in compressive strength: In a space confined 25% by volume there will be an increase of 31% in psi and in a space confined by 75% there will be a 79% increase in the psi.

Slab Jack for Any Job with the Right Foam

Today polyurethane lifting foams are used to level airport slabs supporting jumbo jets, equipment and building slabs supporting tremendous loads, and even railway sleepers that support the heaviest freight trains. So don't let the word “foam” fool you. These resins cure to strengths beyond what is needed to support any structure.

Soil Stabilization Techniques

Voids beneath concrete slabs can be filled with two component polymer foam designed to work in wet or dry conditions. AP Lift 430 foam can support up to 7,200 lbs per square foot and will cure to 90% full strength in 15 minutes. (Of the most resilient concrete slab jacking foams, AP Lift 430 is proven to lift concrete slabs under harsh conditions. This two-component, high-strength, high-density, hydro-insensitive structural polyurethane foam is the top slab jacking solution for concrete slab foundation repair, soil stabilization, and compaction grouting. AP Lift 430 weighs 2.75 – 3.25 pounds per cubic foot.)

Polyurethane foam conforms to void shape more accurately than cement grout, and - unlike cement - it doesn't shrink or sink over time.

One of the hidden dangers a warehouse or industrial property owner and their employees can face is an unstable or sunken slab with a large void underneath. The last thing anyone wants is injury or lawsuit resulting from an un-repaired trip hazard or worse - a complete slab collapse. Take a good long look at the photo in this blog graphic. This occureed when a forklift carrying a heavy piece of equipment crossed a slab with an un-detected void underneath. Luckily, no one was injured. These voids can be caused by several different causes but there is only a handfull of solutions. The most effective and most cost effective at the same time would be to; have structural foam injected into cavity filling the void and raising the sunken concrete back to level. These polymers can restablize the surrounding soils.

If water erosion was the cause of the issue, Level Home also offers a wide variety of waterproofing chemical grout techniques and drainage systems that can stop the water before it ever becomes a problem to your residential or commercial structure!

How Do I Know My Soil Is Unstable??

Unstable soils can have a variety of effects on a structure or concrete slabs of anykind. If you notice concrete sinking or cracking, these are good indications the underlying soils are not supporting the weight of the concrete. When structures show signs of movement in exterior siding or interior drywall; these are also signs the soil underneath is not adequate for the weight of structure. Sinking steps, sidewalks, driveways, retaining walls, and/or just about anything that can sink into the ground. With Polyurethane Foam Injection Level Home is able to raise all of the above mentioned in addition to stabilizing the underlying soils for generations to come! Get a Free Estimate 800-472-1366

Latest Foundation Repair Topics

Buying or Selling a Home?

Structural Damage is the #1 reason a real estate deal can fall through. Often times it is more cost effective to repair and support the defective foundation before a sale. This allows you to repair the home and get retail prices rather than being at the mercy of structural damage and...

Does Insurance Cover Repairs?

Home Owners Insurance only covers foundation settlement in extreme cases. There are generally stipulations and guidlines that are noted in the policy. Be sure you read carefully what your coverages are. In most cases the repairs are cheaper than the deductable would be on the homes that....

What are Foundation Problems?

Why do foundation problems occur? There are many reasons for foundation settlement. The act itself is a structure or home that is slightly settleing further into the ground. This causes an array damages throughout a structure and can only be solved by...

Protect Your Foundation!

Temperatures are rising and the rain is upon us. Rainy season is synonymous for drainage season. Without proper drainage, you may notice your homes foundation shifting and swelling more than you may like it to. Installing good drainage will not only solve....

Foundation Drains?

The point of proper drainage around your foundation is; to stop the active soils around your structure from swelling and contracting more than necessary. Water is a destructive force and when it rains, there is alot of it. There are many issues water can cause for your foundation but the bottom line is that, you should always protect your home by evaluating and installing good drainage for your home. You can always start by checking your downspouts around your home. These are the portions of the gutters that run from roof to ground. Make sure that when they discharge, it is away from the house/foundation. This can be done by simply adding longer extension at the base of downspout. More advanced options include french drains and underground drainage solutions.

Foundation Cracks & Damage

Structural issues or foundation settlement can be caused by many reasons but one thing is for sure, foundation cracks are not hard to locate. Often times home owners start to notice cracking in sheetrock on the corners of doors and windows. Others notice gaps and seperations in brick and siding on the exterior of their homes. Most structural movement will create cracks in two main directions. A crack that runs horizontally is usually a good sign you have structural movement. Also cracks that run diagonally. This goes for exterior brick/siding or inside sheetrock/drywall. Anytime the structure is shifting it lets the owner know by showing these signs. Repairing the cracks and not the structure will just lead to them getting worse and worse no matter the times repairs. However, once the structure is supported, you can repair the cracks and they will not return. Tulsa Foundation Repair

Foundation Repair & Cosmetic Repair

Cosmetic repairs are almost always a side effect of foundation damage. Things such as mortar work in the brick, or repairing sheetrock cracks inside. Once your home has been stabalized, you then can repair and replace the damaged areas without worry of the problems coming back. Alot of times, people fix the brick or drywall instead of the foundation and it comes back time and time again. If you have large gaps now and are thinking of filling them rather than getting a foundation repair, please don't. The cleaner the seperation is when you do get the structure lifted, the better gaps and seperations will close during the process. Often times people fill the gaps with foam and/or caulking and it makes it impossible to get things back exactly how we may like too. Keep in mind the problem is only going to get worse and you may be better off fixing it structuraly and then sealing once and for all. Also, being proactive on foundation repairs will always save you money. Settlement is progressive and the less of the home settles, then the less repair is necessary!

What causes the exterior brick to crack?

Is my foundation falling apart?

One of the most noticable of symptoms of foundation damage is cracks and/or seperation in brick siding. The cracking is caused by the wall sinking and/or swelling with the underlying soils. If drainage is not proper, or maybe the initial compaction of the foundation pad was not adequate; these are all reasons that the soils become active over time. In Oklahoma, a majority of our soil is clay. This means it swells and contracts with excessive water exposure. The more you allow your load bearing soils to swell and contract, the more loose they become over time. It is important to pay attention to your structures drainage for this reason. Make sure that run-off water on your property has a path away from the home. Also make sure the downspouts on the house have extensions, allowing the water an easy path 5-10 ft. away from the home. Keep watch for standing water after a good rain, and if you have water that hangs around, create a drainage plan that will remove it before it becomes an issue. Foundation settlement is a slow process but it still needs to be monitored and stopped if/when you start to see symptoms. Doing so will stop the problem from getting out of hand.

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A Few Photos (Nobody Knows What to Expect) See Below!

Should I Seal My Crawl Space?

Crawl Space Encapsulation or Vapor Barriers are a way to seal off the crawl space of your home from both moisture and/or gases, mildew, etc... Often crawl spaces that are vented properly will not need to have this done. Where venting isnt possible and/or easy, then this is a great solution. Air ducts usually run through the crawl space so if you have mold, mildew, or gasses under your home, it is likely being drawn into the house via the air ducts. By sealing off the crawl space you eliminate the mildew from being pulled into the air inside as-well as protect the wood structure from excessive moisture. Really comes down to the condition and construction of your crawl space whether or not this is needed. If it is something you are thinking about, give us a call and we will come out and evaluate the situation.

Foundation Damage Signs / Symptoms

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Adam (Wednesday, May 23 18 05:52 pm EDT)

Q: When buying a house, should I have a structural report done?

A: Structural Reports are always a great idea. When buying a home it is always best to know as much about the property as possible. Hiring a non-bias engineer is a great way to truly understand the condition of the house you are purchasing. If foundation repairs are required you can send the report to Level Home Foundation Repair and they will not only give you a free estimate but also reimburse your structural fees for using our company!