If you’ve got a sunken driveway, sidewalk, or patio, you might be thinking about fixing it with mud jacking. But maybe you’re holding off because you’ve heard that the concrete could heave afterward. You’re thinking it might raise up even more and leave you with a worse problem than before. That’s a fair concern, and you’re not alone in wondering about it.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve been raising and leveling concrete flatwork in the Bryan-College Station area since 1998. In all that time, we’ve only seen one case of concrete heaving after a mud jacking job, and we knew exactly what caused it. So we feel pretty confident when we say this kind of issue is extremely rare, and we know how to help prevent it.
In this article, we’ll explain what mud jacking is, what causes concrete flatwork to heave, how to prevent it, and what we do during a repair to reduce your risk even further. You’ll come away with a better understanding of what’s going on with your sunken concrete surface and what steps you can take to fix it the right way.
Will My Driveway Heave After Mud Jacking?
Before we dive into the primary question, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what mud jacking actually is. Mud jacking (also known as slab jacking or concrete raising) is a repair method used to lift sunken concrete back into place. It works by pumping a slurry mixture (usually made of water, dirt, and cement) underneath the slab to fill the empty space and gently lift it.
Now, here’s the worry:
If we pump something under the slab to push it up… couldn’t it keep going up?
Short answer: no, not unless certain conditions are present. Concrete heaving is the upward movement of a concrete surface caused by excess moisture in expansive clay soils. This type of soil swells when wet, and if the water has nowhere to go, it can push the slab upward.
But in nearly every case, heaving doesn’t happen just because of mud jacking. It happens when:
- There’s expansive clay soil beneath the concrete (we can’t seem to avoid this part), PLUS
- An abundance of water or moisture that accumulates over time.
Mud jacking itself doesn’t cause heave. But if you have poor drainage, bad irrigation, or water pooling problems and they go unaddressed, that’s where trouble with heave can begin.
What Causes a Concrete Surface to Heave?
Concrete heave is the opposite of settlement. Instead of the piece of concrete sinking from lack of support underneath, it gets pushed up by expanding soil due to water absorption.
For heaving to occur, these conditions must exist:
- Expansive clay soil, which swells when it gets wet, and
- An excessive and persistent water source, like a broken sprinkler head, poor drainage around your home, or runoff pooling against the slab.
In our Central Texas region, expansive clay soils are common. But that doesn’t mean every sidewalk, driveway, and foundation is doomed to heave. Water is the trigger. Without a steady and never-ending supply of moisture building up under the slab, heaving is quite unlikely, even in clay-heavy soil.
What Can I Do To Prevent My Driveway From Heaving?
Good news: heave is preventable with a little planning and maintenance. Here’s what you can do to keep things stable:
- Check irrigation systems regularly for leaks, especially around driveways and sidewalks.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear and functioning, and redirect water away from your concrete surfaces.
- Look at your grading: make sure the ground slopes away from your home and flatwork so water drains properly.
- Fix known drainage problems, like areas that hold standing water after a rain.
These small fixes go a long way in protecting your concrete (and your foundation, too).
How Do We Minimize the Risk of Post-Mud Jacking Heave?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we don’t just show up and pump mud under your driveway and call it a day. We take steps to avoid creating new problems while solving the one that brought you to us.
Here’s how we lower the risk of heave during our mud jacking process:
- We fill all the voids under the concrete, so there’s no room for water to collect and cause soil expansion later (the same cannot be said for polyjacking – which is another type of concrete raising).
- We avoid mud jacking during extreme drought conditions if we know you’ve got gutter or drainage issues. This is because a sudden shift from dry to wet can increase movement risk.
- We ask the right questions and look for signs of water issues before we begin, so we’re not just treating the symptom. We’re also helping you address the source.
The Real Problem Isn’t Heave . . . It’s Settlement
We understand the concern about heaving, but let’s put things in perspective. Concrete settlement is the much more common (and costly) problem and that’s what you’ve got right now. It causes:
- Dangerous tripping hazards,
- Damage to homes, garages, and even your vehicles,
- Annoying drainage issues, and
- Eyesores that lower your property’s value.
While heaving is rare and preventable, settlement is what’s actively hurting your home and your wallet at the moment. Fix the sunken concrete issues you’re facing, and then take reasonable steps to avoid new ones, like heave.
Ready to Move Forward With Mud Jacking?
By now, you’ve got a good sense of what concrete heave really is and what causes it. Mainly, it’s constant, excess water plus expansive clay soils. You also know that heaving is not something that typically happens after mud jacking unless those specific conditions are in play. With proper drainage, intact irrigation, and a little attention to water flow around your home, you can avoid this problem altogether.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve lifted countless concrete surfaces with mud jacking over the years and never heard the heave complaint (except that one time). We always aim to give you long-lasting results while avoiding new problems down the line. Your driveway, patio, or sidewalk should be safe, level, and worry-free.
If you’re ready to learn more about how mud jacking works, check out our article on the mud jacking process. Or if you’re ready to take care of that sunken concrete, reach out to us for a free mud jacking estimate. Either way, we’ll help you move forward with confidence.