You’re looking for information on ways to raise and repair sunken concrete. You came across the term polyjacking and don’t know what that means. You’re looking for the ultimate overview of this concrete lifting method, hoping to figure out if it will work for you.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we know about concrete lifting methods, including polyjacking because we’ve done it. We’re not the world leaders in polyjacking but we know enough to know that it’s a fantastic option. We have the inside scoop on its capabilities, limitations, and more.
This article offers a basic understanding of polyjacking used for restoring sunken concrete surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. We define and describe polyjacking, as well as cover costs and comparisons.
By the end of this article, you will know enough about polyjacking to decide if it’s the right solution for you or if you need to keep looking for another approach.
Honesty Alert: Polyjacking is not a service that we currently offer. We’ve tried it out and decided the time wasn’t right for us at the moment. Regardless of that, we still think it is a great option to meet homeowners’ needs in many situations.
What Is Polyjacking?
Polyjacking is an industry term describing a method of concrete raising using expanding polyurethane foam.
The *poly* in polyjacking represents the foam material used in the process. The *jacking* part of the word describes how the concrete is raised. Sunken concrete is lifted from below similar to the way a car is lifted by a jack to change a tire, hence the word polyjacking.
Polyjacking is one method available to lift and support sunken concrete and return it to its original position. It has other names as well, like:
- Poly-leveling
- Polyfoam injection
- Concrete leveling
- Slab jacking
Some of these terms specifically reference the poly material while others are more generic and could be confused with other methods of concrete slab jacking. When you encounter one of the more generic terms, you may need to investigate further to find out if the contractor is using polyurethane foam or something else.
Polyjacking can be used for exterior concrete flatwork like sidewalks, driveways, patios, and pool decks (which is the application we are discussing in the article). But, polyjacking can also be used in certain slab foundation repair scenarios.
If you’re more interested in its foundation repair applications, check out this article instead: What Is Polyjacking? The Poly Foam Injection Used in Foundation Repair.
How Does Polyjacking Work?
The process of polyjacking concrete involves drilling a series of small ⅝” holes all the way through the sunken concrete to reach below the surface. Then, a high-strength injector nozzle or a series of nozzles are inserted into the holes to deliver the expanding foam underneath the concrete panel.
Once the 2-part chemical foam leaves the nozzle it instantly combines and reacts by expanding, spreading, and lifting. Then the foam quickly dries and hardens. A polyjacking contractor will continue to gradually inject foam through select holes until the surface returns to the desired elevation and slope. Skill is required to control the output of the foam and attention must be paid so that overfill does not occur.
Here’s a simple 5-step breakdown of the polyjacking process:
- DRILL holes in strategic locations through the sunken concrete,
- INJECT foam by connecting the injection nozzle to ports inserted into the holes,
- LIFT the concrete panels into position by continuing to inject foam as needed,
- PATCH the injection holes with concrete, clean up the job site, and
- ENJOY immediate use of your newly raised concrete surfaces.
The foam is similar to the poly spray foam often used for insulation walls and roof decking. However, the more familiar insulating foam is a lightweight, open-celled foam. In contrast, the foam used in polyjacking is a dense closed-cell foam with lifting capabilities to raise and support both small and extensive concrete surfaces.
The expanding foam can lift large concrete panels in residential applications and also handles the weight and heavy use of commercial-grade concrete on major roadways.
How Much Does Polyjacking Cost?
Of course, everyone wants to know how much something like this would cost. Here are some ballpark estimates:
- For a small project of a simple sidewalk or driveway panel, the cost for polyjacking could range from $400 to $600.
- For a moderately sized project involving multiple panels or something extremely sunken that will require a lot of lifting material, the costs might be anywhere from $800 to $2,000.
- For a big polyjacking project, like an entire driveway, full pool deck, or parking lot situation, you’re looking at $2,500 or much more to raise all the sunken concrete.
A big part of the costs of polyjacking comes from the chemicals and the specialized equipment needed for the work. Travel time might also play a part in the price because there are not a ton of polyjacking contractors out there as far as we know.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Polyjacking?
The fairest way to evaluate any repair method is to look at its pros and cons. Here are the positives and negatives of choosing polyjacking for raising your sunken concrete.
PROS of Polyjacking
- Eliminates unsafe tripping hazards quickly
- Cheaper than the cost of removal and replacement of concrete
- Reuses existing concrete, saving space in your landfill
- Quick repair process, most projects only take ½ to 1 day or a little longer
- Minimal noise, relatively non-disruptive repairs
- Injection holes are smaller compared to other comparable methods
- Smaller projects can be less expensive compared to other methods
CONS of Polyjacking
- Doesn’t eliminate visible cracks, only corrects sunken sections
- Leaves behind patch circles of fresh concrete where injection holes were covered
- Risk of damage to unique tiled surfaces or cosmetic top treatments
- Larger projects can be more pricey compared to other methods due to chemical costs
- Though deemed safe, uses industrial chemicals that rest on the soil
- Not as effective at thorough void filling as other comparable methods
- Lack of complete void fill can lead to additional settlement or erosion if gaps are left
What Is Polyjacking Best For Fixing?
As with any concrete raising method, polyjacking is best for sunken concrete surfaces that are still in good condition. Since polyjacking is fast, it’s a prime choice for any project you need done quickly with little disruption to your day. Because polyjacking is more cost-effective on small, rather than large jobs, it’s a good choice when you just have one or two concrete panels to raise.
Does Polyjacking Sound Right For You?
Now that you know all the basics about polyjacking for sunken concrete repair, do you feel like it’s the right choice for you? If so, check out your BCS polyjacking contractor options here.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we don’t fix things that don’t need fixin’, and we don’t try to sell you stuff you don’t need. After 40+ years in business, that’s what’s best for our Brazos Valley community and for exceptional homeowners like you. We’re here to help guide you through your home repair decisions, but you’re the one in charge.
If you’re more interested in hearing about possible alternatives to polyjacking, we can tell you about that too. We do mud jacking and it’s a very similar concept. Check out this article where we compare the two concrete raising methods head to head.