14 Jan Why Mudjacking is Important

“Mudjacking” is a term that you will often come across if you have issues with sinking or settling concrete. It is a method of lifting or leveling concrete using a slurry mixture that is injected underneath the slabs through holes drilled through the cement.

This concrete leveling method has been around for many decades and is a popular way to repair settled or sunken slabs. While other techniques of repairing concrete have popped up throughout the years, mudjacking remains important for several reasons.

Read on to learn if mudjacking lives up to the hype and is worth investing in.

Mudjacking Maintains Appearance and Safety

There’s no denying that having sunken or settled concrete can be an eyesore. Imagine the concrete surfaces of your garage floor, driveway, patio, or sidewalk sinking or settling unevenly. It lessens the curb appeal or beauty of your property.

But, more than appearances, uneven concrete slabs create safety hazards. Uneven surfaces can trip people and may cause accidents. That’s medical bills or, if it’s a commercial space, a lawsuit waiting to happen.

In addition, this technique is non-invasive. Unlike other concrete repair methods, such as slab replacement, mudjacking poses minimal disruption. This means, you won’t be seeing equipment and debris scattered in your yard while the repair is ongoing. Because of this, you can go about with your daily life without much disturbance.

It Offers a Quick Way of Leveling Uneven Concrete

Mudjacking is well known for its quick process. Compared to alternatives or other concrete repair options out there, mudjacking offers a fast fix. It’s so quick, in fact, that you can typically use the repaired concrete a day after the repairs were made.

This is possible because of how mudjacking works. As already mentioned, this method uses a slurry mixture which is pumped underneath the uneven, sinking, or settled concrete slabs to make it level with the rest. All contractors need to do is to drill holes that are around 2 inches in diameter to inject the concrete slurry under the slab surface. So, a big chunk of time is saved because they don’t have to break up the concrete, pour a fresh surface, and wait days or weeks for the new concrete surface to dry.

Furthermore, since mudjacking can be done any time of the year, you don’t have to wait for the perfect time to get your uneven concrete fixed.

Mudjacking is Cost-Effective

Aside from being quick, mudjacking is also an affordable option. According to Angi (formerly Angie’s List), an American home services website, “Mudjacking will cost almost a third to half the price of other traditional repairs or replacements.”

Depending on the extent of the damage, you can expect to pay between $570 and $1,500 for a typical mudjacking job. The average cost per square foot for mudjacking is only $3 to $6, while for polyjacking or polyurethane foam injection, it’s $5 to $25 per square foot, on average.

Compared to other concrete repair methods, such as concrete replacement, mudjacking doesn’t require the use of heavy equipment, additional materials, or lots of labor time. This passes on to you as savings.

It is a Durable and Long-Term Solution

When done right, mudjacking can last for a long time. The concrete slurry used in the process is typically made from a mixture of soil, sand, cement, and water. After the slurry has been injected beneath the sunken concrete slab, the mixture hardens. The solidified mixture provides stability to the leveled concrete slab.

In addition, the solidified slurry mixture isn’t water absorbent nor is it prone to expansion. This means that it will not be particularly affected by freeze-thaw cycles that can cause the shifting, sinking, or settling of concrete.

After mudjacking, your repaired concrete surface will now be able to withstand foot traffic and even vehicle loads and other stressors. In general, the leveled concrete will last for many years, roughly between 5 and 10 years or more. And, if anything goes amiss, professional mudjacking companies often offer warranties.

In addition, part of the mudjacking process is a comprehensive assessment. Professionals analyze the specific soil conditions and underlying cause of the sinking concrete in your property, such as erosion or soil settling, and address the issue to avoid any sinking or shifting of the concrete in the future. The evaluation ensures a more durable and long-lasting outcome.

It Is Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable

Mudjacking has several benefits to the environment. First of all, it reduces your environmental footprint by extending the life of your existing concrete.

Unlike a full concrete replacement, mudjacking requires no demolition. You’ll still have your old but perfectly usable concrete slabs—They’re just reinforced with a concrete slurry underneath.

Mudjacking also produces less waste. Unlike concrete replacement, there are no old slabs to dispose of. These old slabs just usually end up in landfills anyway.

In addition, because concrete replacement is out of the picture, mudjacking helps conserve resources. Since you’re repairing rather than replacing concrete, you don’t add to the demand on concrete production. Manufacturing new concrete slabs requires a ton of energy and raw materials.

Speaking of raw materials, mudjacking’s resource requirement is lower than producing new concrete. And, the materials it does use are sustainable. As already mentioned, the mudjacking slurry only contains a mixture of soil, sand, cement, and water.

Is Mudjacking for You? How to Determine if Mudjacking is Suitable in Your Case

Mudjacking is a good solution to lift sunken concrete; however, it isn’t one size fits all. Several factors, such as budget, time, long-term goals, and the severity of the concrete’s settling, will determine if mudjacking is the right solution for the issues you’re facing.

For instance, if you’re dealing with footings, floor slabs with wall partitions on top, or other larger structures, then mudjacking might not be the right solution. However, if you’re issue lies with driveways, sidewalks, patios, and other smaller surfaces, then mudjacking might be the answer you’re looking for.

Employ a professional to evaluate your sinking concrete problem. They will be able to identify the root of the issue and prescribe a suitable solution, whether that involves mudjacking or not. In any case, a professional can guide you to the method that will yield the best results.