As much as a well-maintained patio can improve the overall appearance and feel of your house, one that’s poorly maintained can do the opposite. If your concrete patio is cracked or sunken at various spots, it not only affects the aesthetics of your property but also poses serious trip and fall risks.

Most homeowners focus on making the interiors of their houses top-notch without realizing that working to keep the outdoors in top shape is equally important.

A patio can be a major attraction of your property – if you do all things right. If it’s been a while since you got the patio repaired, this might be the right time to go for it. If you aren’t sure if it really is the right time to invest in your patio repair, you’ve come to the right place.

Below are the signs that a concrete patio repair is in order.

Prominent Cracks

Concrete is highly prone to cracks. You just can’t prevent cracks from forming. If the cracks on your patio are only minor, you need not worry. However, once you notice the cracks increasing in size, that’s when you need to be alerted and consider getting your concrete patio repaired. There’s a possibility of weeds growing between the cracks, and this would worsen the cracks. Cracks will also serve as an entryway for water to seep beneath the concrete. Water will freeze and thaw, and it won’t be long before your concrete patio is all cracked.

Pools of Water

Ideally, water shouldn’t form puddles on your patio. If you do notice water puddles, know instantly that something’s not right. It’s a sign that you’ve got underlying drainage issues, and if not addressed, it’ll lead to extensive damage to your patio concrete. Water damage is extremely prominent, and you just can’t get away without getting your patio repaired.

Worn-Out Patio

One of the most obvious signs that you need to get your concrete patio repaired is its worn-out appearance. If your patio concrete looks aged and aesthetically unappealing, it’ll only take the value of your property downhill. You might not realize how important concrete repair is until you put your property up for sale – not many people will be willing to buy a house that has a cracked and damaged patio.

Concrete Chipping Off

If pieces of your concrete patio are chipping, it not only looks unsightly but poses safety risks as well. You may trip over the chipped or broken spot and hurt yourself. If one part of your concrete patio has started to chip, it’ll only spread throughout with time. If you don’t want the damage to become widespread, it’s best if you opt for concrete repair right in time.

Hiring professionals for concrete repair before the concrete patio becomes an eyesore is a wise thing to do. A well-maintained patio can be a valuable part of any property, and you shouldn’t let it go to waste just like that!

If you have an uneven, cracked, or sunken slab, there are two options you can choose from: correcting it with concrete lifting or tearing the whole thing out and replacing it with a new slab. The concrete lifting process is also known as leveling or slab jacking, it can turn the surface into a stable or even one.

When you get into the concrete lifting vs. new slab installation debate, you will find that the former is a vastly superior option! It can repair a settled or damaged slab at a much more affordable price than new concrete slabs. It is a better option for garage floors, sidewalks, patios, steps, and even driveways.

Here are some reasons why the former wins in the concrete lifting vs. new slab installation debate.

1. It is less expensive

Usually, it will cost you around $500 to $1,200 to get concrete lifting. The price can vary depending on the job’s nature and size of the project. If the damaged slab is a little difficult to access or the project is large, it will obviously cost you a bit more.

However, you can bet the bill will definitely be more if you try to demolish the entire thing, remove the old concrete slab, and then have a new slab installed. The replacement will cause you 2 to 3 times more than concrete lifting will. It will even help to stabilize the foundation of the soil in a way that replacing concrete just won’t do.

2. Repairs are practically invisible

For concrete lifting, the team will drill some small holes into the damaged concrete slab. The lifting material will be pumped into the holes before they are sealed and caulked. There will be no marks to signify the repair lines.

If you replace the slab, it will definitely look different from the concrete slabs in the surrounding area. The concrete may even have a different color from the ones around it, and the texture could be different too. This may not be a big deal if you are having the entire thing replaced, but for single slabs or a small section, the mismatch can look quite odd.

3. Quick and easy

Removing and replacing the slab is a lengthy project that will also involve a lot of dirt, dust, and noise. With concrete lifting, you don’t have much to worry about. It is simply more convenient and quicker than getting a replacement. At max, it can take up to two hours to complete. You can even use the area as soon as the project is done. While you may need to wait for a few hours before putting weight on it, it still doesn’t compare to the days a new slab would take.

Mud Dog Jacking is a great company that can repair your concrete slab in an efficient and effective manner!

Most, if not all, phenomena in the world are subject to misinformation and misconceptions. Similarly, most home repair procedures have several fallacies floating around that keep homeowners from trying those out. One typical example of such home makeover projects is mud jacking.

Mud jacking is a concrete leveling process used to fix cracked pavements and uneven driveway slabs. While it’s a highly effective procedure, many people remain unaware. As a result, quite a large number of homeowners have to look for alternative solutions to fix their driveways and the adjacent pavements.

To ensure you don’t miss out on a useful method, we decided to debunk the most widespread misconceptions about mud jacking. Here we have a list of common mud jacking myths with the truth.

Mud Jacking Is Expensive

Picture this:

You decide to give mud jacking a chance to fix your driveway, but then Paul from down the road tells you it will break your bank. As a result, you begin to look for alternate solutions to fill up the cracks in your entryway.

We’d love to be the one to break this news to you that mud jacking isn’t going to put a dent in your bank account.

Caulking Is As Effective As Mud Jacking

Newsflash: no, absolutely not!

Caulking is a temporary fix that covers the cracks on pavements from the top. But that doesn’t repair the issue responsible for a broken driveway. On the contrary, with mud jacking, the root cause is treated, which leads to years of smooth pavements.

Concrete Leveling Destroys the Landscape

One of the most common misconceptions about mud jacking is that it ruins the landscape around your property. People assume that the equipment and process needed to execute mud jacking will damage the nearby plants. But it’s yet another groundless fallacy that has no relation with reality. The only thing that said myth has ever achieved is stopping people from getting their driveways mud jacked.

If you also believed that caulking would fix your pavement issues, then let us tell you the truth; caulking is not as effective as mud jacking as the latter is perhaps the best solution.

Anyone Can Do Mud Jacking

Although the internet has benefited the human race immensely, it has also led to severe misconceptions. Since anyone can post tutorials or blogs online, viewers often become bait to misinformation. Consequently, laypeople begin to believe that anyone can carry out complex tasks, such as mud jacking. But the truth is that mud jacking is a professional service that should stay in expert hands.

If you thought you could also wing your way through mud jacking, then you’re gravely mistaken. Professional contractors learn their trade and specialize in all aspects of it, which is why they know their job inside out. If you try to be the expert, the chances are you will do more damage than good to your driveway.

Ending note

Don’t miss out on such an effective home repair process because of the fallacies spread by a handful of people. Reach out to reliable contractors to try the oh-so-popular-among-the-experts method of mud jacking.

Even though mudjacking is not the only concrete leveling technique, but it is the best one nonetheless. Many homeowners consider mudjacking to stabilize their cracked or damaged concrete including the driveway.

Listed below are some of the many benefits of mudjacking for your driveway:

1.      Less Damage

Among the many concrete leveling techniques, mudjacking causes minimal damage. This is due to the fact that it doesn’t entail the use of heavy equipment. It does consist of drillings which are usually done away from your landscape, so it’s unlikely for this process to cause any damage.

2.      Saves Money

Mudjacking is, by far, the most budget-friendly repair method out there. If you opt for this repair option, your repair cost will be just half or a third of the total slab replacement. In this regard, concrete repair is the best option for economic homeowners who wish to repair their driveway.

3.      Speedy Process

Unlike slab replacements, mudjacking is the least time-consuming task. Having said that, bigger projects may take time, but usually mudjacking projects do not take more than an hour or so.

A mudjacking project becomes far easier and quicker when done by well-qualified and experienced workers. Hire a professional company that will assess your driveway and evaluate how long it takes to level your concrete.

4.      Durable

Mudjacking is strong and dense. It can keep the slab in place for many years – up to 8 – 10 years. Most homeowners report mudjacking to last for long periods, making it the most reliable and durable concrete repair.

5.      Eco-Friendly

Mudjacking is the best eco-friendly repair option. The concrete used to lift the slab mostly consists of natural material, usually a gooey mixture of clay, sand, and Portland. This results in minimal environmental waste since the concrete slab is natural. Plus, the concrete slab is irreplaceable and non-disposable.

Homeowners looking for lowering their carbon footprint should definitely consider mudjacking for their driveway.

6.      No Waste

With mudjacking, there isn’t any excess grout. All the material is perfectly measured so none of the waste is produced. This way, there’s no excess to dispose of.

7.      Saves Energy

Mudjacking also results in minimal energy. It takes less power of only a few tools. This is different from the extravagant energy costs of excavators that are used for tearing out concrete. In that sense, mudjacking saves a lot of energy.

These are the seven reasons to consider mudjacking for your driveway. Get in touch with Mud Dog Jacking for an efficient and cost-effective mudjacking procedure.

Mud jacking is a common technical procedure used for raising and stabilizing damaged or broken concrete slabs. The repair method is also known as slabjacking, concrete lifting, or slab leveling. Over the years, the repair technique has come into focus for its many benefits – cost-effective, quick and clean repair, etc. In this blog post, we have gathered the most common questions asked by our customers regarding mud jacking.

1.    When Should I Consider Mud Jacking?

Mud jacking is required when there are visible cracks in the concrete of your driveway, walkway, patio, basement, garage floor, pool deck, and the likes. The best way to determine whether or not you should consider mud jacking is by getting your concrete surface inspected by a foundation contractor. They will be able to check the surface for its cracks and crevices and suggest if mud jacking is mandatory in your case.

2.    How Long Does Mud Jacking Usually Take?

This depends on the type of mud jacking job you are dealing with. Generally, mud jacking takes no more than 1 – 4 hours. However, extensive projects take much longer, but are wrapped up within a day.

3.    What Surfaces Can and Cannot Be Mud Jacked?

All types of concrete can be mud jacked including patios, driveways, sidewalks, patio flooring, garage floors, basement floors, parking lots, warehouse floors, loading bays, school floors, and any other concrete surface. However, in some cases, mud jacking concrete may not be possible. This is when the concrete is beyond repair. It’s usually better to get the concrete surface replaced rather than repairing it. To check whether or not a surface can be mud jacked is to consult a professional.

4.    How Much Does Mud Jacking Typically Cost?

The mud jacking cost varies from company to company. When choosing a mud jacking service, make sure you ask for the estimate first. Generally, the cost of leveling a concrete surface typically ranges from $550 – $2,000. However, in some cases, the cost may not be more than $300. It all depends on the size and condition of the surface that needs to be leveled up.

5.    What Can I Expect After Mud Jacking Is Done?

You can expect a smooth and evenly leveled surface. However, if the ground is not properly compacted, you may see a slight movement. Also, if the process is performed incorrectly, the concrete may further break down and cause severe damage to the floor.

Conclusion

Mud jacking is a neat and quick process to fix or level your concrete surface. If you are on the lookout for a trustworthy and reliable mud jacking company, look no further than Mud Dog Jacking – Utah’s Concrete Lifting Experts!

Driveways are one of the most frequently and roughly used parts of any property. They bear extensive pressure and resistance from the innumerable vehicles that drive through it every day. Not only this, but driveways are also exposed to sunlight, snow, water, dust, dirt, and all other external elements that you can think of that make it highly prone to damage.

Installation of a new driveway can be very costly, and something, not every homeowner can afford. However, what everyone can do is do everything it takes to maintain their driveway and keep it in the best condition. If you’re interested to know how you can keep your driveway looking great, the below-listed driveway maintenance tips are going to help you a great deal.

1. Prevent the Formation of Cracks

One of the most common reasons why cracks develop on your driveway is the growth of tree roots that push the driveway up from underneath. Moreover, the water from rainfall, washing of the driveway, or watering of nearby plants can penetrate the driveway and freeze in winter, leading to cracks in the driveway. The good news is that you can prevent the crack formation by getting your driveway seal-coated every year or every few years and getting rid of the plants growing around the driveway.

2. Fill the Already Formed Cracks

Another way to keep your driveway looking great is by filling the cracks that have formed already as soon as you see them. Delaying the filing of cracks only worsens them enough to the point that replacing the entire driveway remains the only option. However, if you manage to get the cracks in your driveway fixed in time, your driveway will stay in excellent condition for many years to come.

3. Don’t Salt Your Cement Driveway

One of the most important driveway maintenance tips is to avoid using cement salt and other de-icers on your driveway as these can lead to the formation of cracks. You can use a shovel or snow blower to get rid of the ice on your driveway. You can also use other de-icing alternatives like kitty litter, coffee grounds, or alfalfa meal to make your driveway less slippery.

4. Ensure the water Doesn’t Remain on Your Driveway

You should ensure that water doesn’t remain standing on your driveway for extended periods, be it from melting of the ice or washing of the driveway. The longer the water remains stagnant on the driveway surface, the more damage it’ll cause.

5. Regular Cleaning and Upkeep

Just because driveways are meant for rough usage doesn’t mean you don’t need to clean them or ensure their upkeep. It would be best if you cleaned your driveway regularly for tough stains and accumulated debris. Moreover, hiring a concrete professional to inspect your driveway for signs of damage every now and then and fixing any settled concrete regions is also a great way to keep your driveway looking great for years to come.

Summary

Driveways are usually the first part of any property that visitors see and should be maintained in the best condition. Following the above-listed driveway maintenance tips, including taking care of its maintenance, avoiding any practices that can lead to driveway damage, and regular inspection and upkeep from concrete professionals, are sure-shot ways of keeping your driveway looking the best!

The sweltering heat of the summer season can take a toll on trees. And even if someone doesn’t live in an excessively parched region, their plants can still take an irreparable hit in the warm weather. Therefore, having a meticulous tree care routine is essential to have green saplings and viable aged trees by the next season.

Many people shy away from looking after shrubbery in the summer, believing that no matter how much effort they put in making the trees luscious, it is not going to bear results because the heat from the sun can be unforgiving when it comes to plants. Why some people believe so is beyond us-maybe because they have had bad experiences- but if you make smart choices and follow an effective tree treatment routine, your trees will nothing but thrive throughout the season.

Yes, the heat can enervate the soil under trees and cause the foliage to wilt, but that’s precisely why you need to take preventative measures well in advance so that the greenery around your property remains luxuriant for a while. And trust us, if you go by our following tips, your trees will sparkle under the sun instead of withering and sagging.

Conserve And Provide Sufficient Water

The first thing you need to ensure when looking after trees in the summer is an unhindered water supply to the roots during irrigation. To do that, check your watering system for leaks or blockages.

Try deep watering. Regular lawn irrigation-sprinkling water for 5-10 minutes-doesn’t provide sufficient moisture to growing trees and eventually leads to yellowing, leaf curling, and browning. For deep watering, provide water below the surface along with the regular spraying of water. Doing so will give strength to the roots, which will lead to better nutrition to the trees.

Check Soil Moisture Once A Week

While a shortage of moisture in the soil is harmful to trees, an excess can also be detrimental. Therefore, you need to check the humidity underneath your trees every few weeks, ideally once a week. To do that, feel the mud 4-6 inches below the topsoil; it should be damp but not dripping wet. If you come across excessively damp soil, cut back a little on your watering.

Replenish The Mulch

If you forget to replenish the mulch under your trees during spring, you can do it in the summer. Mulch renewal is vital for moisture restoration in the root system. And If your trees aren’t surrounded with mulch, start adding it little by little to provide adequate moisture to your shrubbery.

Prune Your Trees

Pruning is crucial for healthy tree growth as it exterminates all damages bits in a plant, ensuring clean and healthy foliage. Scan your trees for dead bushes, wilted leaves, and diseased branches; once you spot them, take them down. Removal of unhealthy parts on a tree not only stimulates healthy growth but also rids the trunk of excessive weight.

Look For Pesticides

Summer is the best time for revamping trees. While the crown is full, inspect your trees for any signs of pest damage. If you see any, talk to an expert to help you tackle the issue. And if you can get rid of the affected branches yourself, then, by all means, do so.

In a nutshell, you need to primarily concentrate on three aspects of tree care during summer. Firstly, providing sufficient water, next pruning dead bits, and lastly dealing with pest damage. If you do so regularly, you will have a healthy, swaying landscape in the next season.

How many times have you tripped over the unleveled concrete surface of your driveway? Settled concrete floors and surfaces not only look unappealing, but they also pose a serious trip hazard. If any of the concrete surfaces at your property have settled or become unleveled, we suggest you get concrete lifting done as soon as possible.

The question here is  – how to choose the right concrete lifting contractor do the job, right? If it’s your first time getting a concrete job done, we suggest you go through the tips listed below. You’ll surely find them helpful in choosing the right contractor for the concrete lifting job.

1.     Enquire About Experience

Concrete lifting is a very technical job. It makes use of specialized equipment that not everyone can operate. The first tip that will help you choose the right concrete lifting contractor is to enquire how long they have been working in the field. A cheaper and less experienced contractor may be able to do the job, but the quality of the service might be questionable. You wouldn’t want your concrete surface to settle again after a few months. Therefore, make sure you ask the contractor the number of years of experience they have in the field.

2.     Check If They’re Insured

Asking the concrete lifting contractor if they’re insured is very important. Concrete lifting jobs involve drilling and grinding of the concrete surfaces using heavy machinery. Anything can go wrong at any given point during the job. Therefore, you need to make sure that the contractor holds valid insurance so that any losses to your property or injuries to the workers are covered by the contractor’s insurance. You certainly wouldn’t be held liable for something that you could have done nothing about.

3.     Take Quotations from Multiple Contractors

Don’t settle for the first contractor that you meet for doing the job. The right thing to do is to meet multiple contractors, take quotations, and compare them. Select the concrete lifting contractor that offers the most transparent and reasonable quote. A quote too low or too high should be considered as a red flag!

4.     Evaluate Customer Service

The right concrete lifting contractor will offer excellent t customer service. You should only settle for a contractor that is good at communication, respectful towards you and is responsive to your queries. If a contractor fails to satisfy you in this regard, never hire them. You’ll only call stress and regret upon yourself.

5.     Check Customer Reviews

One of the smartest things to do when you’re looking for the right concrete lifting contractor is to check the reviews previous customers have left on their website. If the customer reviews are good, you can trust the contractor with the concrete job you’ve in hand for them.

Summary

Choosing the right concrete lifting contractor is the basis of a high-quality concrete job. You can’t expect an inexperienced contractor with a poor reputation to deliver the quality you expect. You get what you pay for when it comes to concrete lifting jobs, so choose wisely.

Driveways can add a lot of value to a house. Aside from providing an entryway to the garage, a paved driveway can also significantly increase a home’s aesthetic appeal. But many homeowners fail to realize the importance of a well-kept driveway, thinking that it’s only a functional structure and nothing else. This misconception often leads to cracked and untidy-looking ramps in homes.

Repairing a damaged driveway can be a lot more costly than maintaining it. Therefore, the wise thing to do would be looking after your ramp to save your hard-earned money. Maintaining a driveway is not at all challenging. It only requires a little cleaning and precautionary measures, which do not take up more than an hour. It’s a win-win deal; you get to save money and have a pristine driveway by only giving some minutes of your day. Who wouldn’t like that? Certainly not anyone prudent.

But that begs the question of what needs to be done to reap the said benefits? Well, continue reading and find out.

Here are four tips for effective driveway maintenance.

Cleaning the Driveway

Stains caused by motor oil and radiator fluid do not just look unappealing but also damage the structural stability of a driveway. Ramps in homes frequently become the landing plane for car fluids that seep into the floor and destroy the material underneath. Motor liquids can penetrate your driveway and soften asphalt, leading to a mushy ramp eventually. Therefore, cleaning the driveway and washing away any chemical stains is essential to keep the entryway to the garage in a prime condition.

Preventing Cracks

One of the most common driveway troubles are cracks in the concrete. Once cracks appear on a driveway floor, fixing them can be a tiresome ordeal. In order to escape this common ramp issue, the best tactic is to apply a sealant after every few years to keep the floor intact.

Filling Cracks

If you do spot some cracks or holes, do not let them get bigger and immediately get ready to fill them up. Buy a top-quality patching compound if you don’t already have one and level up your driveway.

But remember to clean the cuts and cracks before spackling the ground. To do that, use a masonry chisel and remove any loose asphalt pieces. Once the fissures are tidy, add the compound. And then seal the driveway to prevent it from getting cracked again.

Keeping Water off

Water can penetrate driveways and spoil the material in the ground. Make sure you make proper runoff arrangements at the side of your ramp to allow water drainage during the winter and rainy seasons. Also, make sure your downspouts empty in your yard and not the driveway.

Plowing with Care

If you live in a region that receives a lot of snow, you must have to plow away the blanket of powdery snow from your driveway frequently. But doing so can lead to scratches on your ramp if you’re not careful. Make sure you keep the implement above the surface so that the ground isn’t scraped.

If you vow to follow the tips mentioned above, we promise you that your driveway will sparkle for a long time.

Trees lose their vigor during the winter season, which means they need a little more pampering than usual. Many people give up on the trees around their property in the chilly weather, assuming that the once-mighty plants will not survive no matter what. But that’s distorted tree truth. The reality is that if you look after trees the right way during the winter, you can have them in all their glory during the next season. Also, tree care is not too challenging. It might entail a lot of tasks, but those are easy to do and can be done without an expert on board.

While DIY tree removal is a big no-no, DIY tree care is completely safe as long as a person uses the right implements.

So how does one take care of trees in the winter? Read on to find out.

Here are four tips on taking care of trees during the frosty season.

Pruning

Pruning is a significant component of tree care regardless of the season. However, doing it in the winter makes the job a little easier. Why? Because the cold atmosphere puts trees into a dormancy mode, which means the hardy limbs and twigs become flexible. So, you can easily trim the hard parts of trees during the winter.

Remove all the dead debris and foliage. Thoroughly check trees for disease or damage to ensure that you do not miss out on a weak branch or spoiled leaves because if that happens, you might run into fallen scions and sprigs later. Therefore, look after the trees close to your estate to keep them thriving.

Protecting From the Cold

It might seem bizarre to some people, but covering specific plants with a burlap sheet or wrap is a time-old method of keep susceptible trees alive in winters.

Moreover, the soil can also lose its effectiveness due to the cold weather. It needs to be warm to be a growing medium for plants. But keeping the ground warm when the breeze is freezing everything it touches is quite difficult.

However, there are ways in which a person can keep the soil considerably warm. And that is hydrating the soil. Moist soil is much better at retaining heat, and it also reheats itself at night. Therefore, you must ensure that the ground holding up the trees around you is adequately hydrated to stay heated as much as possible.

Mulching

Mulching is the best way of keeping the soil from eroding and leaving moisture. Use organic mulch to give the necessary tender love and care to the soil support trees.

Watering

Just because the weather is cold doesn’t mean trees don’t need as much water as in the summer. Trees need to be watered diligently even in the chilly weather to stay taut and survive the harsh season.

Don’t let misinformation about tree care in the freezing weather stop you from taking the necessary measures. Give trees another chance at growth. Follow the mentioned steps, and your trees will survive the winter without losing their health.

As the stairs get older, they become cracked and uneven. Crumbling stairs are not only a visual eyesore but are very dangerous too. You or anyone at your home can trip over uneven stairs and hurt themselves badly. If your house is very old and your stairs have started to look aged, you need not worry. It is possible to get your stairs repaired at a very affordable cost with the help of concrete stairs leveling.

What Is Concrete Stairs Leveling?

As you can tell by the name, concrete stairs leveling is a long-lasting solution for broken and uneven stairs. It is a technique that allows you to restore your concrete stairs to their original shape without having to spend a fortune.

When Should You Get Concrete Stairs Leveling

Not all types of stairs damage call for concrete stairs leveling. Certain signs indicate that you need to get your concrete stairs leveled. Water pooling after rainfall is usually the first sign that indicates a bigger underlying problem. It suggests that your steps have tilted as a result of shifting. Other signs include the appearance of prominent cracks on the underside of the stairs. It shows that the structure has moved away from the original stable position ad you need to do something about it soon.

The Need to Get Your Concrete Stairs Leveled

Occasional pools of water or cracks on your stairs may not seem like that big of a problem, but what you need to understand is that these signs indicate serious underlying issues. Any visible damages to your staircase are not just superficial. They are a sign of instability. These damages are progressive in nature, and they will only get worse, putting the integrity of the structure and your safety at a massive risk. It is the reason why getting concrete stairs leveling on time is so important.

How Concrete Stairs Leveling Works

Many homeowners think that patching or filling up the cracks or evening out the tilted steps will fix the problems. The reality is somewhat different. The only way to fix the problem is to re-stabilize the structure, which can only be done through concrete stairs leveling. Technicians drill holes on the surface of your concrete stairs and inject a grout beneath the surface of the stairs that raises the sunken portion of the staircase. It not only restores the staircase but also strengthens the foundation for years to come.

Summary

Ensuring the structural integrity of your house and the safety of your family should always be your first priority. While you can address the safety concern by filling in or leveling the concrete stairs yourself, the underlying structural instability is something of a much serious nature. You should call a reliable concrete professional as soon as you observe the signs of stair damage to ensure the problem doesn’t get worse.

Sunken concrete slabs in the driveway, on the pavement, or in the garden, are a common occurrence in suburban homes. Almost every property owner faces the issue of dipped concrete bricks on the ground. Although it’s a common problem, there aren’t many cheap solutions for it. If you have enough money, you can replace the entire slab and make the issue disappear like it never existed. However, not everyone has excess cash lying around in the bank. So those who can’t afford costly replacement go for concrete leveling that lifts the sunken pieces by injecting mud underneath, known as mudjacking.

Mudjacking is the most popular method of fixing concrete depressions in the floor. However, there is a new contender in town that uses the same technique as mudjacking, but with a different material. It is known as polyjacking. Both methods are effective and yield the desired results. But if you still need the low-down on them, then here is an extensive guide on mudjacking and polyjacking.

Mudjacking

Mudjacking has been used to lift concrete floors for decades, and it has been exceptional at doing its job. But how does it work? Well, here’s how.

A concrete slab sinks because of the air that comes between the soils underneath. When the support (i.e., the soil) holding up the cement tablet disappears, the pathway dips down, resulting in an unleveled floor. What mudjacking does is that it fills in mud in the spaces that had become empty and caused the slab to sink.

Contractors drill dime-sized holes into the concrete floor and pump in the mud using a specialized hydraulic pump. Once the clay dries up, it becomes hard enough to support the slab, resultantly leveling back the floor.

Mudjacking is a surefire way of lifting concrete floors without breaking the bank.

Polyjacking or Polyurethane Concrete Leveling

Polyjacking is a relatively new technique to fix sunken concrete floors. Although it’s been in the market for a little while, it has gotten quite some popularity among homeowners.

Polyjacking works on the same principle as mudjacking but uses a different material to lift concrete. The material used for polyjacking is known as polyurethane, which is a type of foam that expands after placement.

Contractors drill holes into the damaged slab about the size of a thumbnail and inject them with polyurethane using an injection gun. Once the foam begins to expand, it lifts the dipped floor and compresses the soil together.

Polyjacking is also effective at leveling concrete floors; however, it can be quite expensive. If you want a cheaper option, then mudjacking is the right choice for you.

The Final Verdict

As mentioned earlier, both polyjacking and mudjacking are workable solutions for concrete troubles. You get a pretty similar end product. With that said, if money is a factor that you need to consider when fixing pathways in and around your home, you should go for the latter. Furthermore, if you are an environmentalist, then also mudjacking is the right choice for you because it uses a natural material that doesn’t release any chemicals, unlike polyurethane.

Every property has one or more concrete surfaces, be it driveways, sidewalks, pavements, etc. No matter how much care you take of these concrete surfaces, they are highly prone to wear and tear. Over time, they will crack and get damaged, which is when you’ll have to address these damages.

Mudjacking is one of the most popular methods of concrete leveling among businesses and homeowners, but have you ever wondered why? What is it that makes this method of concrete repair so common and popular? Let’s have a look at the benefits of mudjacking that account for its unmatched popularity.

1.     Saves Money

If your driveway or sidewalk has sunken and you’re working on possible solutions, the first thing you might have thought about is slab replacement. Slab replacement is effective when it comes to leveling sunken surfaces, but it costs pretty fancy! Mudjacking, on the other hand, not only levels the concrete surfaces but also gets the job done at a highly affordable price. This is one of the major benefits of mudjacking that makes it a go-to option for everyone.

2.     Targets The Real Problem

The reason why concrete surfaces sink is the formation of voids under concrete slabs. While slab replacement simply replaces the older slabs, the underlying problem remains, and the slab will settle again sooner than later. Mudjacking targets the root cause. Instead of simply fixing the concrete surface for the time being, it fills up the soil voids beneath the concrete slabs and ensures that the surface does not sink again!

3.     Quick and Efficient

While other concrete repair techniques will require you to cordon-off the area for an entire day to even more, mudjacking is quick and efficient, which is one of the many benefits of mudjacking that make it so popular. Mudjacking makes the area good for use in just an hour or two!

4.     Mess-Free

Tearing of slabs and replacing them with new ones can create a lot of rubble and mess which takes plenty of time to clean. One of the benefits of mudjacking is that it is a very clean and mess-free technique of leveling the concrete surfaces. The machinery and tools that are used during the process will not damage the surrounding landscape or hardscape, and your concrete surface will be repaired without any trouble or mess!

5.     Uniform Concrete Surface

When you get an entire concrete slab replaced, it will stand out like a sore thumb. It will differ in appearance to the other slabs of concrete, which will make the area aesthetically unpleasant. With mudjacking, the existing slab is raised and leveled, without making it look odd and out-of-place.

6.     Eco-Friendly

With people turning more considerate about the environment, they look for eco-friendly options in everything. This is yet another of the numerous benefits of mudjacking. It is an eco-friendly concrete leveling technique that uses natural materials in the cement slurry, does not produce any waste, and uses very little amounts of energy.

Summary

It won’t be wrong to say that mudjacking is popular for all the right reasons, considering the numerous benefits of mudjacking that we discussed just now. Hiring the right mudjacking contractor is the key to these benefits, though!

Most people having some form of concrete work done want to know when is it safe to walk on the freshly cured concrete? You can walk on freshly cured concrete after 24-48 hours, this figure depends on the time of year. In the summer months, the length of time can be less due to the hot weather, whereas the winter has more moisture in the year meaning the concrete can take a little longer.

Concrete is a mixture that requires hydration in the from of water to bond and create the substance, so naturally the hydration levels need to dry out and set. Concrete can be used for many different types of areas in your home or in public spaces, such as driveways and sidewalks. Walking on a sidewalk versus driving on a driveway means different lengths of time for curement to take place. Again, depending on the temperature you can use a driveway 7-10 days after the concrete has been poured. Taking less time if the weather is warm versus a longer period due to cold weather or moisture in the air. However, if it is an area that has heavy traffic, eg a large weighted truck or regular use, then it can be best to wait up to 14 days to ensure the concrete has set properly.

Concrete can also be used as the base for many homes and buildings, be that to create them or to extend them. Depending on what is going on top of the concrete base, will depend on whether there is a shorter or longer period of time to wait before you can stand, walk or use the concrete area without causing damage.

How Long Does Concrete Take To Cure?

The length of time that your concrete will take to cure will depend on several different factors. 

• How strong the concrete is required to be
• What proportions have been used in the mixture
• The size and shape of the area being concreted 
• What type of weather conditions the concrete will be exposed to
• What conditions the concrete will be required to endure 

Factoring all of this, curing takes in excessive of a week to achieve a state where it has achieved 70% of its compressive strength. At this point you can start to build on the concrete. By 28 days, your concrete should be fully cured. 

Where the concrete mixtures differ, or temperatures are lower, curing can take up to two weeks. 

What Temperature Does Concrete Cure At?

Concrete slabs that you would likely find being used on pavements, driveways, flooring, and in parking lots will, as well as structural concrete as found in columns, beams, and retaining walls, will need to be maintained at a minimum ambient temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) in order to cure. 

Temperatures will impact the speed that the concrete cures at, and colder temperatures will slow down the process. Where there is a risk of frost and ice during the curing process, it is essential to insulate the foundations using a concrete blanket. 

What Happens If It Rains While Concrete Is Being Cured?

You may be concerned about weather conditions while your concrete is curing. Of course, rain is not something that you can prevent. So, if it does rain within the first four hours of your concrete being poured, you will need to protect it. Check the weather forecast before starting as showers can occur on the sunniest of days. Build a protective cover for your concrete so that in the event of rain during these crucial first few hours, nothing will be lost.