Category Archives: Blog

Porch Concrete Lifting

Porch Concrete Lifting Offers Quick, Effective & Affordable Results

Is the porch at your Salt Lake City home sinking? Concrete lifting can solve the problem, restoring the safety, stability and appearance of your porch without breaking the bank.

Sagging porches are a common sight throughout northern Utah, and many homeowners think the only solution is replacement. That’s not the case – concrete lifting, also known as mudjacking, is a reliable repair method, one that’s been in regular use for decades. Read the following, and you’ll understand why it’s the best option for your sunken porch.

Restore Your Porch in a Few Hours

Concrete lifting takes almost no time – professional mudjacking contractors can typically get the job done within a couple of hours. And, when they’re done with your porch, it will be ready for immediate use.

Not only does the mudjacking process make concrete slabs safe and level, but with caulking, it also leaves little evidence. The repair will be barely noticeable, and you will be free to invite guests over without worries of someone tripping and falling.

In comparison, a replacement project could take several days to complete. And if you decide to go that route, don’t expect your porch to be usable for at least a week.

Enjoy Your Porch for Years to Come

Mudjacking isn’t a short-term fix – with concrete lifting, you can look forward to using your porch for at least a decade.

Voids or empty spaces in the soil below are the reason your porch is sagging, and those will be gone after you get mudjacking. As such, the slab will have the necessary support to remain stable for quite a long time.

Replace your porch, and you likely won’t see the same results. The concrete will be new, but the voids will remain. So, the problem could return at any point.

Benefit by Choosing a Low-Cost Repair

Concrete lifting isn’t just fast and effective – it’s also the most affordable solution for a sunken porch.

Project costs can vary depending on the scope of the work, but the average price is just under $1,200. With a serious sag, the cost of concrete lifting may be higher due, but the total will still be much less than it would be if you opted to replace your porch.

Go that route, and you’ll almost certainly have to pay at least $2,000 to $3,000. Given that mudjacking is a more effective fix, does spending more make sense? Probably not.

Are you ready to restore your sunken porch? At Lift-Up Concrete, we’re proud to be known for high-quality mudjacking and exceptional customer care. And with us, mudjacking comes at a surprisingly low cost. For more information, or to schedule a free, no-obligation concrete lifting consultation at your home in Salt Lake City, Utah, contact us today.

Concrete Repair in Utah

Concrete Repair in Utah – Answers to Common Questions

Do you have sinking steps, a cracked driveway, a settled sidewalk or another concrete problem at your Utah home or business property? Discussing your options with a local company that specializes in concrete repair is a smart move, but you may want to learn more first – that way, you won’t enter the conversation unprepared.

Planning a concrete repair project can be a challenging task, but with the right knowledge, you can manage the matter with confidence. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions about concrete repair and maintenance practices.

What Causes Concrete Damage?

When a slab sinks, settles or cracks, the damage could be due to base construction errors – like too little or too much water in the concrete mixture or not allowing enough curing time. That said, most damage results from soil-related issues, such as significant changes in moisture levels, repeat freeze-and-thaw cycles and improper land grading.

Why is Concrete Repair Important?

Slabs with wide cracks and uneven concrete pose serious hazards to anyone who visits your Utah home or business property. Trips, painful falls and injuries can occur – and with that can come expensive liability claims. Also, by addressing the problem, you can keep the damage from escalating to the point where a more costly solution is required.

How Do Contractors Repair Concrete?

Concrete repair requires expertise and professional skill to properly execute, but the process is relatively simple. First, contractors use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to find empty spaces in the soil. Next, they drill small holes through the affected slab, reaching the soil voids. Then, using a hydraulic pump, they send a stabilizing material – either a cement slurry mixture or polyurethane foam – through the holes and into the subsurface voids. Once the spaces are filled, pressure lifts the slab back, restoring it to a stable and level position.

Which is Better — Mudjacking or Polyjacking?

Both can provide long-lasting results, but concrete repair by means of mudjacking, using the cement slurry mixture, is generally seen as the better choice. Not only does polyurethane foam contain additives that can be harmful to the environment, but the nature of the material – the way it expands after being injected and how it hardens more quickly than the cement slurry used in mudjacking – makes it difficult to raise a slab to the right position. Plus, with polyjacking, concrete repair is much more expensive, and while the drilled holes are slightly smaller than those needed for mudjacking, there’s very little difference after caulk has been applied. With all of this in mind, polyjacking is rarely the right solution.

How Long Does Concrete Repair Take?

The time it takes to repair concrete is dependent on several factors, including the scope of the underlying soil voids and the extent of slab damage. Most projects are finished within a couple of hours – and while that may seem like a long time, it’s nothing compared to a concrete replacement project, as that can take weeks. Furthermore, when repair work is done, the concrete is immediately ready for light use and capable of handling heavy weight by the next day.

Are the Holes Visible Afterwards?

After concrete is repaired, the drilled holes and any cracks in the slab are sealed to prevent water infiltration. Caulking also ensures that the holes become barely noticeable, particularly from a distance. Many of our customers must get close and search for the holes when looking at a repaired slab, as the concrete looks just like the surrounding slabs.

How Long Do the Results Last?

Because the concrete repair process addresses instabilities in the underlying soil, the results are long-lived. In Utah, most slabs that are repaired remain level and stable for at least ten years – and with proper caulking and periodic resealing, concrete may be problem-free for far longer.

How Much Does Concrete Repair Cost?

Expenses can vary, of course, which is why professional contractors provide customized concrete repair estimates based on the soil voids present, the size of the job, any difficulties in accessing the work area and additional services requested. According to HomeAdvisor.com, the cost of mudjacking typically runs between $661 and $1,846. The price for polyjacking is hundreds of dollars higher, as polyurethane foam costs four to five times as much as the cement slurry mixture used for mudjacking. Replacing a damaged slab is even more expensive, coming in at two to three times the total for a mudjacking project.

Is Concrete Repair Always an Option?

In Utah, professional contractors routinely repair cracked sidewalks, sunken patios, uneven driveways, lopsided garage floors, tilted parking lots and other outdoor slabs. However, when concrete shows a considerable amount of cracking, weathering or crumbling, the only fix may be replacement.

Let Lift-Up Concrete handle your project, and we’ll provide detailed recommendations on how to approach the problem. With us, you can count on a convenient and cost-effective solution for your slab damage. For more information on concrete repair, or to schedule a consultation at your Utah home or business property, contact Lift-Up Concrete today.

mudjacking Ogden

Steps to Take After Mudjacking to Make Your Concrete Repair Last

Hire an experienced professional contractor for mudjacking repair, and your settled concrete will be leveled and stabilized within a short time. In Ogden, Utah, most mudjacking projects are complete in just an hour or two.

But what comes next? Is there any work you need to do when the mudjacking professionals are done with theirs?

As a matter of fact, yes – if you’d like your concrete to stay firmly in place for the longest possible amount of time, these are the steps to take after mudjacking repair.

Caulk the Concrete Right Away

The process of mudjacking involves drilling several small holes through the settled concrete. The holes, placed to allow the air pockets under the slab to be filled with a cement slurry mixture, remain when the repair work is done. The same is true of any cracks in the concrete.

Immediately after mudjacking repair, the drilled holes and concrete cracks should be caulked. Caulking doesn’t just minimize evidence of the damage to a slab – it also helps prevent water from penetrating the surface in the future. If you prefer, your professional mudjacking contractor can handle this task.

Reseal the Surface as Needed

As any mudjacking professionals in Ogden, Utah, could tell you, restored slabs should be resealed every one to three years. Doing so provides increased protection against water penetration, helps prevent future cracking and improves the appearance of the concrete.

Sealer can be purchased online or at a local home improvement store, and you can apply the product with a sprayer or roller. For even coverage, the surface might need two or three coats – but as with caulking, the task of resealing your restored slab is one you can leave to your professional mudjacking contractor.

Solve Problems that Lead to Concrete Settlement

Although mudjacking is the least expensive solution for settled concrete, paying to have the work done twice in a short period of time wouldn’t be ideal. To defend against future concrete settlement, check for the following problems around your property:

  • Water drainage – Verify that your rain gutter system is undamaged and that all downspouts are directed away from your concrete.
  • Property grade – If land slopes toward a section of concrete, build up the grade to keep water from draining in that direction.
  • Vegetation – For any trees and shrubs that are growing close to your concrete, install root barriers or consider a new location.
  • Critters – Take care of any voles, moles or groundhogs on the property to stop their burrowing behavior from causing concrete settlement.

Take the appropriate steps following mudjacking repair, and your formerly settled slab can remain in a stable and level position for a decade or longer – assuming, of course, you hire an experienced professional mudjacking contractor like Lift-Up Concrete.

A local leader in the concrete repair industry for over a decade, Lift-Up Concrete offers exceptional workmanship, affordable pricing and a full satisfaction guarantee. For a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss mudjacking at your home or business property in Ogden, Utah, contact us today.

concrete lifting permit

What Is Concrete Lifting?

Concrete lifting is the preferred solution for concrete slabs that have gradually sunk or settled. Also known as mudjacking, the repair method is highly effective – and with the right Salt Lake City contractor, it’s surprisingly affordable.

Naturally, if you have never researched concrete repair before, you might not know that concrete lifting is an option. You may even assume that replacing a damaged slab is the more sensible approach. That is not so. When you notice sagging, cracked or settled concrete at your home or business property, you’ll want to know all there is to know about solving the problem. Read on to learn how concrete lifting works and why it’s a smart choice.

How Concrete Lifting Works

Concrete slabs sink and crack due to changes in the soil underneath. Sometimes, improper soil compaction or substandard workmanship during construction is a contributing factor, but water drainage issues, serious plumbing leaks, wintertime frost heave, tree root growth and underground critters can also make a slab unstable.

Whatever the cause, concrete lifting works to restore a slab’s integrity. And the repair method takes a short time — typically less than two hours from start to finish, though larger mudjacking projects may take a bit longer. Here’s what the technique involves:

Step 1: The process starts with a ground penetrating radar (GPR) scan to identify subsurface voids, or pockets of air, under the concrete.

Step 2: Guided by the results of the GPR scan, professional contractors drill a few small holes through the affected slab to reach the soil underneath.

Step 3: Using a hydraulic pump, a cement-based slurry mixture is injected through each hole, filling the empty areas in the soil under the slab.

As the subsurface voids are filled, the concrete slowly shifts back into its original position. Once the slab is level, the drilled holes and surface cracks are sealed to prevent water infiltration and future damage. When the work crew leaves, the slab is ready for light use. Within a few hours or by the next morning, it can handle heavy weight.

How Concrete Lifting Compares to the Alternatives

In Salt Lake City, Utah, concrete lifting isn’t the only option for a sunken or settled slab, but it outshines other concrete repair methods.

Polyjacking is a similar technique that uses polyurethane foam instead of a cement-based mixture to restore slab integrity. The holes drilled during the process are smaller than those required for mudjacking, and the foam does work to raise and stabilize a slab. Given the higher price – and the synthetic materials that can be harmful to the environment – a slight difference in hole size is a trivial matter.

Slab replacement, or the process of tearing out a damaged slab and pouring new concrete, seems as if it would be the best solution. In reality, this approach costs much more than mudjacking – and since the soil isn’t usually stabilized with a slab tear-out and replacement project, settlement is likely to reoccur.

Why Experienced Contractors Recommend Concrete Lifting

As mudjacking works to restore the integrity of the soil while also raising a sunken or settled slab back into position, concrete lifting has several advantages over other repair options. Professionals recommend mudjacking for residential and commercial properties because it:

  • Costs less – The price for mudjacking is a fraction of that for a slab tear-out and replacement project, and since the materials used are inexpensive, this method of repair is more budget-friendly than polyjacking.
  • Solves the problem – During the mudjacking process, voids in the soil under the slab are filled, thereby making the concrete stable and secure. This doesn’t happen with a slab replacement.
  • Takes little time – Mudjacking projects are usually complete within just an hour or two. The slab replacement process can take weeks, and that doesn’t count the month or more for the new concrete to cure.
  • Delivers lasting results – Because mudjacking works to eliminate inadequacies in the underlying soil, it offers a long-term solution. In most cases, slabs remain secure for at least 8 to 10 years.

When Is Concrete Lifting the Right Repair Solution?

In all honesty, when isn’t concrete lifting the right choice would be a better question. The concrete repair technique works for most damaged slabs, including the following:

  • Sunken sidewalks
  • Lopsided driveways
  • Cracked porches
  • Fractured steps
  • Sagging pool decks
  • Uneven parking lots
  • Slanted garage floors
  • Settled shipping areas

Mudjacking can work to lift and stabilize nearly any concrete slab, but the technique isn’t considered for foundation problems. Also, when damage is extensive – as in a slab that is badly crushed or crumbling – replacement may be the only option.

Schedule a Free Concrete Lifting Consultation Today

If you have sagging, cracked or settled concrete at your home or business property, mudjacking is likely the right fix – but to find out for sure, you’ll need to get an opinion from an experienced contractor. For advice in Salt Lake City or the surrounding northern Utah area, call on the professional team at Lift-Up Concrete.

A long-time local industry leader, Lift-Up Concrete has a well-earned reputation for top-notch workmanship, stellar customer care and affordable pricing. For more information on concrete lifting, or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at your Salt Lake City home or business property, contact us today.

concrete repair Salt Lake City

How to Make Concrete Repair an Affordable Project

Do you need concrete repair? Fixing the uneven sidewalk, cracked driveway, lopsided steps or any other settled concrete slab at your home or business in Salt Lake City, Utah, isn’t just about curb appeal – completing the project can also help restore the safety of your property.

However, you probably already realize this. What you want to know is how to keep your repair costs at a minimum, right? Here are our best tips.

Go For the Right Method of Concrete Repair

Contrary to common belief, the only way to fix a cracked or settled slab isn’t to plan a tear-out and replacement. That’s an option, but you won’t like the cost – removing and repouring a slab is the priciest method of repairing concrete.

Mudjacking is far easier on the wallet. Choose this fix, and you’ll pay half or even a third of the amount you would have spent on a tear-out and replacement project. And since mudjacking resolves soil instabilities, the results ordinarily last for at least 8 to 10 years.

Choose the Right Concrete Repair Company

For the best outcome from mudjacking, you need to put the project in the hands of a well-qualified Salt Lake City contractor. Let someone with a lack of expertise complete the work, and the results are likely to be subpar.

Choosing a leading local concrete repair company may mean budgeting a bit more than would be necessary with an amateur. But if you go with an experienced contractor, you can look forward to professional service, exceptional workmanship and results that last.

Why Not Give DIY Concrete Repair a Try?

If you want the cheapest fix for your damaged concrete, you might think going the do-it-yourself route is your best bet. After watching a few videos and reading one or two instructional guides, you should be ready to complete the repair. Right?

Not really. Mudjacking takes time and effort to master, and if you go it alone, you may not restore the slab’s stability or your property’s curb appeal. Plus, after renting or purchasing the required equipment, you’ll find that the DIY route isn’t more affordable.

Schedule a Free Concrete Repair Consultation Today

Many professional contractors in Salt Lake City, Utah – including Lift-Up Concrete – offer complimentary consultations. Call us, and you can get repair advice and an estimate for your project without spending a dime and without any obligation.

Why choose Lift-Up Concrete? Our team has the right credentials and extensive experience, and while nearly all our mudjacking projects are problem-free, we guarantee our work. For more information, or to arrange for a free concrete repair consultation at your home or business property in Salt Lake City, Utah, contact us today.

concrete lifting Ogden, Utah

Have an Uneven Garage Floor? Concrete Lifting Provides a Solution

Settled sidewalks, sunken porch steps and lopsided driveways are just a few examples of the issues homeowners in Ogden, Utah, commonly face. Concrete lifting can solve these problems, and the repair technique works for uneven garage floors, too.

Why does it matter if your garage floor isn’t even? What caused the problem? Why is concrete lifting the best course of action? Get the answers to your questions below.

The Problems with an Uneven Garage Floor

A tilted garage floor isn’t just an eyesore. Left unaddressed, the defect could result in serious repercussions.

Whether a corner is starting to sink, or the floor has settled lower than the surface of the driveway, rain and melting snow may drain back into the garage, leaving pools of water. Puddles are a nuisance, to be sure, and they can also become breeding sites for mosquitos. And for anyone who uses the garage as a workshop, using electrical tools when standing on a wet floor is quite dangerous.

If the concrete is cracked, everything underneath the surface of the garage – which might include living areas as well as plumbing and electrical systems — could be at risk. Water pooling in the garage could reach the cracks, causing extensive damage.

In addition, with an uneven floor, the garage door may not operate as it should. As time goes on, the door leading into the home could become misaligned. Foundation damage can also occur, posing a threat to the stability of the entire structure.

How a Garage Floor Becomes Uneven

When a garage sinks or settles, concrete lifting is often the ideal solution – but why does the floor become uneven in the first place?

In some cases, poor grading practices during home construction is the reason. If the property isn’t sloped properly, rainwater and melting snow will stream into the garage instead of flowing down the driveway and into the sewer system.

For the most part, though, lopsided concrete is the result of soil settlement. This can occur due to sudden soil washout from a plumbing leak, flood or heavy rainfall. Wintertime frost heave, or pressure from subsurface ice, could also be to blame, as could misdirected gutters and downspouts, tree root growth and burrowing animals.

Whatever the cause, shifting soil can create voids or air pockets under slabs. Lacking adequate foundational support, concrete begins to sink.

Why Concrete Lifting is the Ideal Repair Option

Concrete lifting, also known as mudjacking, effectively raises settled and sunken slabs by injecting a mud-like slurry underneath. The process is straightforward, involving three basic steps:

  • Step 1: After conducting a ground penetrating radar survey of the affected slab, a few small holes are drilled in strategic locations to fill the voids beneath.
  • Step 2: Using a hydraulic pump, the slurry mixture is sent through the drilled holes, filling the voids and creating enough pressure to lift the slab.
  • Step 3: Once the concrete reaches the proper position, the holes and any cracks in the surface are sealed to help prevent future water infiltration.

Why is concrete lifting the right choice for a garage floor? Ogden homeowners have a few good reasons:

  • Price – Mudjacking is the least expensive fix for a slab that is settled, sunken or cracked, costing less than polyjacking and slab replacement.
  • Time – Concrete lifting is a quick, non-disruptive method of repair, and most garage floor projects take just a few hours to complete.
  • Results – Because the repair method stabilizes the soil under a slab, concrete lifting is an effective fix for an uneven garage floor.

Why not add a floor drain? Wouldn’t that be a smarter solution? Probably not. Installing a drain without tearing out the floor of a garage is a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. And as the slab continues to settle, the drain may not work all that well. Furthermore, building codes in some parts of northern Utah prevent homeowners from placing floor drains in garages, as there is a potential for hazardous waste to contaminate the local water supply.

But assuming you could install a functional drain system in your garage, going that route may not be the best plan. Concrete lifting is far more affordable – and since the mudjacking process will eliminate the voids in the soil under your garage floor, further settlement issues will be unlikely.

Schedule a Free Concrete Lifting Consultation Today

Most professional mudjacking contractors in the northern Utah area – including Lift-Up Concrete – offer free, no-obligation consultations.

If you contact a reputable concrete lifting company to inquire about fixing an uneven garage floor, a representative will visit your property to assess the extent of the damage. Afterwards, you will be given an estimate, based on the severity of the soil instabilities and the overall scope of the project. To ensure you pay a fair price, experts recommend getting a few concrete lifting estimates.

If you are looking for a highly skilled and experienced professional mudjacking contractor serving Ogden, Utah, reach out to the team at Lift-Up Concrete. We are proud to have a reputation for stellar workmanship, quality results and exceptional customer service. And with us, you can expect fair, affordable pricing. Contact us and request a free consultation to discuss concrete lifting for your uneven garage floor today.

concrete leveling Salt Lake City

Why Concrete Leveling Is the Superior Solution for Sunken Steps

Sunken steps aren’t just an eyesore – they’re unsafe, putting your family, friends and everyone else at risk anytime they visit your Salt Lake City home. Concrete leveling, or mudjacking, offers a solution, as the repair method can restore your steps to an even and stable position.

If your entryway or porch steps are sinking, you could choose to replace them. But why make that move when mudjacking is the better option? Keep reading, and you’ll see that concrete leveling is the right remedy for your sunken steps.

Concrete Leveling Is a Low-Cost Fix

Mudjacking is an affordable method of concrete repair, one that is far more budget-friendly than replacing an entryway or porch steps.

If you go with a tear-out and replacement project, you won’t simply be paying for new concrete – you’ll be paying to have the old concrete removed. You might also have to budget for the services of a structural engineer to ensure the foundation is stable. All things considered, the total for the project will likely be two to three times what you would have paid for mudjacking.

Steps Can Be Repaired in a Few Hours

With mudjacking, sunken steps can be lifted and restored in very little time – and afterwards, they’re ready for immediate use.

Replacing the porch or entryway steps at your Salt Lake City home has a far different result. This type of project typically takes a few weeks to complete, not just a few hours like concrete leveling. Furthermore, once the work is done, you must allow the concrete to cure. Your steps may be unusable for several weeks, and that might be rather inconvenient for you and your family.

Mudjacking Offers Long-Lasting Results

Choose mudjacking, and you can expect your restored steps to remain safe, stable and even for a prolonged period – 8 to 10 years is the average.

If you opt for replacement of your sunken steps, you really can’t look forward to lasting results. While the mudjacking process addresses instabilities in the underlying soil, the culprit behind most sunken concrete, that’s not the case with a tear-out and replacement project. And with unstable soil conditions under your steps, there’s a strong chance they’ll sink again in the future.

Are You Ready to Fix Your Sunken Steps?

Lift-Up Concrete, a leading mudjacking company serving Salt Lake City, Utah, has the expertise to evaluate your entryway or porch steps and recommend the right repair approach. In most cases, that’s concrete leveling, but we’ll steer you toward another solution if that is necessary.

If you’re ready to fix your sunken steps, Lift-Up Concrete is ready to step in and get the job done. For a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss concrete leveling at your Salt Lake City home, contact our office in Kaysville, Utah, today.

mudjacking Ogden, Utah

Mudjacking or Polyurethane Foam Concrete Lifting: Which Is Better?

In Ogden and the surrounding northern Utah area, mudjacking and polyurethane foam concrete lifting are the most widely used concrete repair methods. Both can be effective for residential and commercial applications, but which is the better choice?

The answer depends on who you ask. According to contractors who offer polyurethane foam concrete lifting, otherwise known as polyjacking, that method is superior to mudjacking. In our view, the opposite is true – and after reading about how the two techniques differ, you’ll likely agree.

Performance

Concrete lifting by means of mudjacking or by polyjacking can provide long-lasting results, but our experienced professional contractors have a few concerns about the latter option.

First, the mud-like slurry used in mudjacking has no harmful additives – it typically contains Portland cement, pulverized limestone, shale and other organic materials. In comparison, the polyjacking method of concrete repair relies on polyurethane foam, which contains flammable chemicals and synthetic materials that can be hazardous to the environment.

Another concern we have with polyjacking involves control over the concrete lifting process. After the polyurethane foam is injected into the soil, it continues to expand, making it difficult to lift the slab to the proper position. At the same time, the material sets more quickly than the slurry used in mudjacking, and it can harden before the soil voids are properly filled.

Appearance

When completed by experienced professional concrete repair contractors, mudjacking and polyjacking both offer attractive results. Either can effectively restore a settled or sunken slab back to its original stable and level position.

The polyjacking method of concrete repair requires the drilling of several small holes, each roughly 5/8 inches in diameter, to inject the polyurethane foam into the soil voids under the affected slab. The mudjacking process is similar, as holes are drilled through the concrete for the purpose of filling the voids with the mud-like slurry mixture. However, the holes required for mudjacking are larger, measuring about 1 ½ inches.

Needless to say, polyjacking is less invasive than mudjacking – but after caulk is applied to the drilled holes and any concrete cracks, there’s not much of a difference. Little evidence of the repair work can be seen with either method, particularly from afar. So, when it comes to appearance, mudjacking and polyjacking are much the same.

Cost

According to HomeAdvisor.com, a trusted online home service marketplace, the average cost of repairing a settled or sunken slab through mudjacking is $1,210. Small-scale projects may only run $300 or so, while large or complex concrete repair jobs might be somewhere near $2,200. In most cases, the price for mudjacking falls between $638 and $1,783.

How does polyjacking compare? With this method, concrete repair is quite a bit more expensive – the polyurethane foam material costs about four to five times as much as the slurry mixture used in the mudjacking process. So, any Ogden homeowner or business owner who goes with polyjacking instead of mudjacking can expect to pay hundreds of dollars more for the repair work.

Budgeting a larger amount of money would make sense if polyurethane foam concrete lifting offered a better solution for a sunken or settled slab. In our opinion, it doesn’t, as the expansion of the foam is unpredictable and the material comes with environmental and safety concerns. Mudjacking is more affordable, and the method works. Really, there’s no good reason to pay more for concrete repair.

Hire an Experienced Professional Concrete Repair Contractor

Ultimately, whether you decide to go with mudjacking or polyjacking for a settled or sunken concrete slab, getting estimates from at least a few local concrete repair companies is a good idea. Professional contractors have varying fees, of course, but if you base your decision on price alone, you may end up with buyer’s remorse.

Effectively raising and stabilizing a concrete slab requires knowledge and expertise, and if you hire someone who lacks sufficient training or experience, a repeat repair could become necessary in a couple of years. Consequently, the overall cost of mudjacking or polyurethane foam concrete lifting will be much greater than what the cost would have been with a highly qualified professional contractor.

Are you ready to restore the concrete at your home or business property in Ogden, Utah? Mudjacking may very well be the best solution – but to know for certain, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with the team at Lift-Up Concrete.

A long-time trusted local industry leader, Lift-Up Concrete is known for providing concrete repair services that are both effective and affordable. We have extensive knowledge of both polyjacking and mudjacking, and after assessing your sunken or settled slab, we can explain your options and offer expert advice to ensure the repair meets your expectations.

With Lift-Up Concrete, you can count on outstanding workmanship, stellar customer service and competitive pricing. We stand behind our work, too, offering a full satisfaction guarantee. For more information on mudjacking and polyurethane foam concrete lifting — or to schedule a free, no-pressure concrete repair consultation at your home or business property in Ogden, Utah – contact us today.

concrete lifting

How Commercial Concrete Lifting Can Reduce Your Liability Risk

Is the concrete at your Orem business premises in poor condition? If so, you should contact a local commercial concrete lifting contractor soon.

Cracked, settled and sunken slabs are definite eyesores, making your property look rundown. More important, though, is that this sort of damage creates a safety concern for everyone frequenting your business. And if you don’t resolve the matter, you could wind up in court. Read on to learn more.

What are the Risks Associated with Concrete Damage?

Consider the concrete surfaces at your Orem business and how they’re used, and you can understand how damaged slabs might be trip hazards. Repairs are needed when a commercial property has:

  • Uneven driveways
  • Cracks in the parking lot
  • Slanted sidewalks
  • Lopsided steps
  • Settled shipping areas

These situations, among others, raise safety concerns. If someone visiting your property doesn’t tread carefully, they might trip and fall. In the winter, the risk is even greater – with damaged concrete, there can be hidden spots where water pools, and icy patches can remain unseen under the snow.

What is Your Potential Liability for Damaged Concrete?

Let’s say you hold off on calling an Orem concrete lifting contractor, but then the worst happens — someone takes a tumble while at your business property. What is your potential liability here?

As the owner of a commercial business, maintaining the safety of the premises is your responsibility. If a visitor falls and suffers an injury because the place isn’t safe, you could be sued.

Should the court find you to be negligent, the injured person’s medical bills will be yours to pay. Furthermore, you may also be liable for lost income, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, future medical care and other damages related to the injury. All things considered, you may end up shelling out much more money than you would have for commercial concrete lifting.

Can Concrete Lifting Work to Make Your Property Safer?

Chances are, the safety concern at your Orem business property can be resolved through commercial concrete lifting. The repair method – which restores the integrity of a slab by stabilizing the soil underneath — works for most damaged concrete surfaces, including driveways, parking lots, sidewalks and steps.

Concrete lifting is both highly effective and quite affordable, with a far lower cost than that of other repair options. But while we’d like to say it’s the right choice for every cracked, settled or sunken slab, that isn’t the case. When concrete is crumbling, crushed or riddled with cracks, it typically needs to be replaced.

Lift-Up Concrete, a leading local professional contractor, offers free, no-obligation consultations to homeowners and business owners in Orem and the surrounding northern Utah area. For expert advice on commercial concrete lifting to reduce your liability risk, contact our office today.

Cracked Patio

Concrete Repair or Slab Replacement for a Cracked Patio?

If you have a cracked patio at your home in Ogden, Utah, you’ll need to consider concrete repair or slab replacement at some point.

A cracked slab isn’t just an eyesore and a safety risk – it also affects your home’s resale value. And while you may not be looking to put your house on the market anytime soon, a lower property value could impact your ability to refinance your mortgage or secure a home equity line of credit. This being the case, the situation isn’t one you should ignore.

So, what’s the preferred plan of action for a cracked patio?

Slab replacement might seem to be the obvious solution, but tearing out the old concrete and pouring a new patio slab is the most expensive way to take care of the problem. Concrete repair, or mudjacking, comes at a much more affordable price – and it’s a highly effective fix. Read on to learn more.

How the Concrete Repair Process Works

As many Ogden homeowners aren’t all that familiar with mudjacking, an explanation of how it works is in order. The concrete repair technique has three steps:

Step 1: Drilling

After completing a ground penetrating radar (GPR) scan to locate the voids or air pockets in the soil, professional contractors drill a few strategically placed holes through the cracked concrete slab. Each of the holes is roughly two inches in diameter, and the number needed depends on the scope of the mudjacking project.

Step 2: Pumping

Using a hydraulic pump, the mudjacking slurry mixture – made of Portland cement and water combined with other materials, like sand and pulverized limestone – is sent through the holes to fill the voids in the soil underneath. Once all of the air pockets are eliminated, pressure works to raise the slab into the proper position.

Step 3: Sealing

When the concrete is stable and level, professional contractors clean any leftover mudjacking slurry off of the slab. Then, the cracks and the drilled holes simply need to be sealed to prevent future water penetration. Some Ogden homeowners handle this task themselves, but it can also be built into the mudjacking project.

Why Concrete Repair is the Preferred Solution

As you can see, mudjacking is a relatively simple method of concrete repair. The price reflects this, as professional contractors in Ogden, Utah, typically charge just a few dollars per square foot. In contrast, the cost of slab replacement is closer to $50 per square foot. But, financial savings isn’t the only reason to choose concrete repair for a cracked patio. Consider these benefits:

Mudjacking saves you time.

Most residential mudjacking projects are completed within an hour or two, and a patio that has been repaired can withstand heavy weight a few hours later. With slab replacement, the process is much longer – tearing out concrete and pouring a new slab can take several days. What’s more, no furniture or anything else can be placed on a newly poured patio for at least a week or two.

Mudjacking is an effective fix.

The most likely cause of cracking in a concrete patio is the formation of air pockets in the soil underneath. After mudjacking, the voids are gone, and the repaired slab remains stable and secure for at least eight to ten years. Not so with slab replacement – the process doesn’t typically address the soil voids, and since they still exist, cracks could easily develop in a newly poured patio.

Mudjacking is eco-friendly.

The materials that make up the mudjacking slurry are completely natural, and the concrete repair process requires a single truck equipped with a high-powered drill and a hydraulic pump. Little energy is needed to stabilize a cracked patio, and no resources are wasted. Comparatively, slab replacement involves power-hunger equipment, landfill waste and a much larger carbon footprint.

When Slab Replacement is the Right Choice

As much as we’d love to say that concrete repair is always the right solution for a cracked patio, unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

For a slab in poor condition, replacement may very well be the only option. So, if your concrete patio is riddled with cracks or starting to crumble – or if it has significantly settled – mudjacking isn’t advisable.

Additionally, if the situation with your cracked patio is affecting the integrity of your home foundation, slab replacement may be necessary. While effective, concrete repair is no substitute for foundation piering.

Schedule a Free Concrete Repair Consultation Today

Are you ready to fix your cracked patio? For an expert opinion on whether mudjacking or slab replacement is the right solution, contact a reputable local professional contractor – like Lift-Up Concrete.

As a leading concrete repair company, our team has years of experience handling all kinds of residential and commercial projects. We’ll tell you if we believe mudjacking is your best bet, and if we think your slab is beyond the point of saving, we’ll let you know. We’re happy to offer honest advice, and we invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

To learn more about mudjacking for a cracked patio, or to arrange for a concrete repair consult at your home in Ogden, Utah, contact Lift-Up Concrete today.