Your concrete is messed up and unlevel with tripping hazards. Or maybe water doesn’t drain off the surface as it should. What are your options? Tearing out uneven concrete and starting over is not the only answer to your misaligned concrete issues.
Many people don’t know that sunken concrete problems can be corrected with mud jacking.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been leveling concrete for almost as long as we’ve been leveling houses in the Brazos Valley area. We can tell you all about the mud jacking process because this is one of our primary services.
In this article, we will describe what mud jacking is and what kinds of concrete surfaces it can level. We’ll review the basic step-by-step process that any contractor would go through to complete your concrete leveling project.
What is Mud Jacking for Leveling Concrete?
Mud jacking is a concrete slab jacking repair method that involves pumping material (called slurry) underneath a sunken concrete surface to lift it back up to its intended elevation. Mud jacking is an elevation fix for when your concrete surface is still in good shape and worth saving because it still has some good years left to it.
If the overall concrete area is crumbling and not in decent condition then mud jacking is not an appropriate repair choice.
When is Mud Jacking Right for Your Concrete Leveling Needs?
Mud jacking is best for certain surfaces and at particular times. To sum up situations where it might be best to use mud jacking, here are three perfect scenarios where it would be your top choice.
- The surface has life left in it, just needs to be raised back up into position.
- Tripping hazards are your main concern, a few visual crack lines or circle patches in your concrete don’t matter.
- You don’t want a full replacement of concrete due to lack of funds or desire but want to do *something* proactive to make it better.
There are other methods for handling sunken concrete too if you don’t know all of the options.
What is the Mud Jacking Repair Process to Level Concrete?
To understand mud jacking, it’s best to describe the process. Here’s how the repairs happen in three simple steps.
Step 1. Drilling Holes
Drilling a series of 2-inch holes into the concrete surface is the first step. Typically, the holes will be placed in targeted locations to best lift the concrete section.
A repair crew will start with three to five holes on average. The contractors would space them evenly or regularly in a pattern or a consistent distance from the edge of the concrete. This will not be a random pattern.
In some cases, to avoid drilling holes at all, a smaller surface with adequate clearance on the sides can be mud jacked by digging underneath it. An instance where this might work is on a front sidewalk where you want it to stay looking its best.
This *side approach* isn’t always possible and depends on your chosen concrete leveling contractor.
Step 2. Lifting with Slurry
A nozzle is then inserted into the holes and a liquid-like substance is pumped into the holes through to the ground under the concrete and lifts the surface from underneath.
The mud is not really mud, but something similar to mud but not so sticky. In the construction industry, the liquid-like substance is called slurry.
Slurry is a flowing mix of Portland Cement, topsoil, and water that is combined to form a fluid that can be pumped through a hose. Not only does slurry lift the concrete surface from underneath, but this substance also fills in all the voids and pockets of space in the ground under the surface and then hardens when dry for solid support.
It should be noted that all the drilling and lifting are not done at once in two clearly delineated steps. It’s done in stages, where some holes are drilled and one section lifted at a time.
Then more holes are drilled and another section of concrete is lifted. Steps 1 and 2 repeat over and over until the job is complete. This ensures that no unnecessary holes get drilled, minimizing visual impact on your concrete.
Step 3. Finishing Touches
After the slurry is pumped under all the concrete sections needing to be lifted, the work crew will check to make sure things are back into position and have returned to the proper original slope. The 2-inch holes that were drilled into the concrete will be filled back in and leveled off.
Unfortunately, you will be able to see the circles of fresh concrete left behind by this repair. Over time, they fade and will not be so visible as dirt, weather, and water come into contact with the surface.
Ideally, a repair crew would also take time to clean up their supplies and equipment and wash off your concrete surfaces too. Leaving you with a leveled-out surface and everything back in order.
You should be able to walk on surfaces immediately and drive across them within a few hours, but wait a few days if you want to park vehicles on the newly leveled concrete.
What is the Average Cost of Leveling Concrete with Mud Jacking?
Now that you know all about the mud jacking process, you probably want to know about pricing. The cost of mud jacking depends on how much time it takes, and how many surfaces need raising. A typical mud jacking project might cost between $1,200 to $2,800 in this area to level your concrete.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been serving Bryan, College Station, and the surrounding communities like Caldwell and Navasota since 1985. We’re also the only contractor in the Brazos Valley area that offers mud jacking services for leveling concrete.
For more information about the costs of mud jacking to level your concrete, check out this article for a better idea of typical pricing for small, medium, and larger concrete leveling projects here in our area.