In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the various different concrete finish options you might have available to you for your surfaces. Impacting everything from aesthetics to practical factors and repair needs in some cases, concrete finishes can involve several different primary themes.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re here to provide residential, commercial and municipal concrete lifting and leveling services for a variety of concrete surfaces and finishes. How does a given finish impact everything from your basic aesthetic to practical needs, and what are some of the common settings where these various concrete finishes are used? Here’s a primer on a few additional finish types and what they mean for your surfaces, plus why you might consider them for new concrete areas.

Stamped Concrete

For those looking for highly durable concrete surfaces that also feature nice aesthetic designs and patterns, stamped concrete is often the way to go. This process involves the placement of panels with inlaid designs onto concrete during the curing process, allowing these designs to be imprinted onto the concrete permanently.

Brick and stone are two of the most common design formats used here, meant to mimic other materials. At the same time, you retain the strength, durability and durability qualities found in concrete, so you’re getting the best of both worlds. Stamped concrete is also durable and protects well against moisture seepage and damage risks.

Salt Finish

Salt finish is a bit more of a specialty concrete finish type, generally used for one prominent need: Swimming pool decks. When concrete is still wet and in the curing process, rock salt will be applied to the top of the surface, then washed away at the precisely correct time.

This leaves a variety of small pits on the finished surface. These pits are ideal for traction around wet surfaces, first of all, but also provide a well-known aesthetic for pool areas and make them distinct and unique.

Grinding and Polishing

Finally, for a combination of great aesthetics and limited maintenance, grinding and polishing are ideal processes often completed. These require a completely level service first, so our pros are often involved in this process, but they bring fantastic smooth surfaces that actually are more slip-resistant than non-polished surfaces. The material used for grinding will depend on the precise type of finish that’s desired, with both abrasive or finer diamonds available for the polishing process that will create different finishes.

For more on the finishes available for concrete surfaces, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting and leveling services and how the finish impacts them, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

One of the top areas of value for concrete surfaces, and for concrete repair solutions offered on them, is aesthetics. And when it comes to the way your concrete surfaces look and the impression they leave on visitors to your property, few areas are more important than the finish used on your surface.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re proud to offer a variety of commercial and residential concrete lifting and leveling services, with one of the primary purposes of these repairs often being to restore a concrete surface to its previously spotless aesthetic. What are some of the finishes that might be present on concrete surfaces, and how does this area impact everything from basic aesthetics to concrete repair needs when present? This two-part blog series will go over a number of different concrete finishes and how they impact your surfaces.

Trowel Finish

The simplest and likely most common concrete finish you will see, particularly in public spaces, will be the trowel finish. The name here comes from one of the original formats of creating this finish, which involved the use of a hand trowel, or a flat steel blade with a handle attached to it. This trowel would be pulled across the surface during concrete pouring.

Today, however, several methods might be used for the trowel finish. These include hand methods in some cases, but larger concrete surfaces will generally require a power trowel used to finish them. Trowel finishes will generally be found on sidewalks, walkways, patios and similar surfaces.

Broom Finish

One potential drawback of the trowel finish in some settings: It can be somewhat slippery in many cases, especially when moisture is present. For those in commercial or municipal areas, such hazards can come with liability risks.

In this case, one of the most common additional finishing techniques will be the broom finish. Just after troweling is finished, a broom will be dragged across the surface of the concrete to create small ridges, which offer traction control to those walking in the area even when it’s wet. For those looking to maximize safety and limit hazards, the broom finish is an ideal choice.

Textured Finishes

This is actually a broad category – there are several forms of textured finish you might consider for a concrete surface. One well-known option here is the exposed aggregate finish, which is found on many city sidewalks – you can actually see the edges of natural stone aggregates in this concrete, or possibly pebbles or shells. Such a finish is slip-resistant and can be made using a variety of stones, and other related finishes are commonly utilized in such areas.

For more on the various concrete finishes available today, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting and leveling services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

As any homeowner who has arranged for services on their property is likely aware, an important part of this process is to canvass a few options for pricing estimates. These estimates, which will also contain prudent information about services offered and other vital bits, help you make your decision on which contractor or service provider to go with for all your basic needs.

At Lift-Up Concrete, we’re happy to provide detailed estimates and other information about any of our commercial or residential concrete lifting and leveling services. Today’s blog will go over several important factors that help determine concrete leveling costs and estimates, helping you understand what goes into the estimates you receive from our professionals or any other concrete lifting and leveling contractor.

Fixed Costs

The final cost of concrete lifting and leveling services can vary pretty widely, but one group of costs that will remain relatively standardized for most basic jobs will be known as “fixed” costs. We’re talking here about simple factors present in virtually every job we perform, from the tools we bring with us while working on your structure to the training, licensing and insurance of all our employees.

Now, these fixed costs may vary somewhat between different concrete repair contractors around the state or country. But they won’t range too far apart in most cases – if you do happen to notice a contractor offering far lower baseline costs for these areas, this actually might be a red flag that indicates low-quality services.

Disrepair State

We mentioned that concrete repair costs often vary widely, and the area that tends to determine this fluctuation is the state of disrepair the concrete in question is in. This makes inherent sense: Concrete that has very few issues will be much simpler and more affordable to remedy, while significantly damaged concrete will take a greater effort and, therefore, will cost more.

There are several factors that go into determining damage and disrepair levels, including the depth of the concrete and whether it was cracked versus other major concerns like sinking or large splits. For more detail here, speak to one of our concrete repair specialists.

Insurance Considerations

One additional factor that it’s worth noting in its own section here is insurance. Any concrete repair contractor you hire should have proper licensure and insurance for all their workers – this is to protect both the company and its clients from potential liability in case anything goes wrong. Any contractor you receive an estimate from who does not include insurance coverage as part of their end of things should be questioned about why, and should not be hired if their answer is not sufficient.

For more on the factors that play a role in determining concrete lifting and leveling cost estimates, or to learn about any of our concrete repair services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete today.

If concrete in any major area of your home or building is cracked, sinking or undergoing other specific issues, you may be wondering whether the prudent decision is to repair or replace the area in question. Concrete can become damaged for a variety of reasons, and you might be looking at both avenues from a cost efficiency and timing standpoint.

At Lift-Up Concrete, we’ve provided numerous residential, municipal and commercial concrete repair services to clients throughout Utah, and we’re here to tell you that the modern options available for concrete lifting and leveling are almost always the better choice when it comes to damaged concrete. Our services allow for simple, non-invasive concrete repair that holds several distinct benefits over the large-scale process required to replace entire slabs of concrete on your property. Here are a few reasons why concrete repair is generally the preferred option here.

Saving Time

For starters, many simply do not realize the time and hassle often associated with entirely replacing large slabs or sections of concrete. Not only do you have to remove the old concrete, which takes a good amount of time on its own, the soil has to be prepped and leveled, the new slab has to be poured, finished, allowed to cure and then dried for several days before it can even be used.

Our concrete repair services, on the other hand, are easily applied without any of the mess or hassle. They can generally be performed in just hours, from start to finish, whether you require a quick injection for soil maintenance or a full-on lift of an entire slab.

Limited Cost

Another major area that many home and building owners alike gravitate toward is the affordable cost of concrete repair. This is especially true for minor jobs, but still the case for major repairs as well.

Not only do you save money on labor costs due to the shorter working time, you also save on materials (concrete repair requires less of them) and long-term issue risks.

Material Cost and Buildup

Not only is cost savings on materials a significant factor in your choice, the buildup of such materials during the project itself should be considered. Concrete replacement involves numerous materials, from moisture for the mixture and base materials to the actual mixture, plus all the old concrete that’s being removed and placed in a pile. With concrete repair, you keep native materials in place for the most part.

Aesthetics

Finally, it’s often very difficult or nearly impossible to precisely match concrete color and shading when you add new concrete slabs to your existing surfaces. When performing concrete lifting and leveling, however, it’s easy to create a seamless finish here that keeps your aesthetic quality just as high as it was before, if not higher.

For more on the advantages of concrete repair over concrete replacement, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting or leveling services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete today.

For those considering selling their home in the near future or merely concerned with their property’s value moving forward, the home’s foundation is a huge factor here. Issues with the foundation can lead to major reductions in home value, while a robust and strong foundation will be a major selling point in many cases.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re here to help with numerous municipal, commercial and residential concrete lifting and leveling services offered for several home areas. In many situations, foundation damage is due to improper concrete materials or seals in areas that allow moisture or other elements to seep down into the foundation itself – ensuring you spot such concrete issues and refer them to our team for concrete repair is vital for protecting the foundation and ensuring your home value stays high. Let’s go over several of the direct ROI benefits when it comes to concrete lifting and leveling on your home with property value in mind.

Home Value and Life Expectancy

When it comes to making repairs on certain home areas with home value in mind, the operative term is return on investment, or ROI. Ideally, you want repair projects where the increased value of the home meets or exceeds the amount you pay on the repairs.

Simply put, concrete repair is a great option when it comes to ROI. When it comes to various concrete areas, buyers are attracted to flawless surfaces that have clearly been recently sealed and leveled – they make them feel like they’re getting better value for their dollar. Even if other homes they’re looking at don’t have specific foundation issues, seeing recent work done on concrete will ensure a longer life expectancy for these areas and will incentivize buyers to consider your home.

More Affordable Than You Might Think

One big reason why ROI is often so high here? Because concrete repair is more affordable than many assume. Our concrete repair contractors will only recommend the truly necessary repair jobs required on your property, and you’d be surprised how simple and affordable our materials and labor costs are. Inquire with our team to learn more about just how simple this process often is.

Stress Reduction

Finally, those specifically planning to sell their home – or who have already begun this process – don’t need any further stress on their minds. Selling can be enough of a hassle on its own without worrying about foundation cracks or concrete issues that potential buyers or home inspectors might spot. Put your mind at ease by remedying these issues in advance, while increasing your home value simultaneously and killing two birds with one stone.

For more on the value of concrete lifting and leveling for home value, or to learn about any of our concrete repair services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

Winter is a period where outdoor pools are generally out of commission, but this makes it a perfect time of year for certain repairs and upkeep services. In particular, pool owners who have noticed sinking taking place, either within the pool itself or the deck area surrounding the pool, the cold season can be the perfect time to address this.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we offer a wide range of residential concrete lifting and leveling services, including for decks and surrounding areas like pools. Let’s look at some of the causes and signs of pools or their decks sinking or experiencing other concrete damage, plus how concrete leveling this winter often makes a perfect remedy.

Pool Sinking Causes

Pools themselves may sink for a few different reasons, with weight being one of the most common. We don’t often think about the weight of the water in a pool, but it’s significant – one gallon of water is just over eight pounds, after all, and concrete weighs nearly 150 pounds per cubic foot.

In addition, water from the pool may seep into the soil nearby over time, saturating it and allowing it to settle. This can lead to unequal sinking in many cases, where differing soil conditions cause one side of the pool to drop while the other remans level. This, in turn, creates further cracking and leaking risks, a cycle that will persist until something is done about it.

Pool Deck Cracks and Sinking

Pool decks can also become uneven due to similar effects, with cracking being a particular risk for these surfaces. Gaps in deck surfaces can expose the soil beneath, leading to further saturation from water and exposure to the elements.

Over time, as hollow areas start to collect, pop-ups appear on the deck surface, sinking certain slabs and chipping other surfaces. Once again, this is a condition that will simply worsen with time, making the surface both ugly and unsafe.

How Concrete Leveling Helps

There are numerous benefits to concrete leveling when it comes to repairing sinking pools or decks:

• Cost: Compared to replacing a pool deck or pool, concrete lifting and leveling are generally half the price or less.
• Waterproofing: We’ll use waterproof sealing solutions that limit erosion and soil settlement risks.
• Quick: Our services allow for quick injections to lift and level the surface, without major downtime you have to worry about.
• Safe: Our materials are safe and eco-friendly, with no risks of chemicals seeping into the soil or the pool.
• Consistency: Our lifting and leveling services bring reliable, consistent results you can count on for any area that needs to be raised.

For more on concrete lifting for your pool or pool deck, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting and leveling services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

As winter approaches, homeowners everywhere are busy preparing their homes for the upcoming cold season. This means checking on everything from HVAC to plumbing and many other maintenance areas, ensuring everything is prepared to handle the snow and ice that are common during Utah winters.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re here to tell you about one additional area you’d be wise to consider before winter hits if your home is in need of it: Garage floor concrete repair services, which we offer throughout the year as part of our overall concrete lifting and leveling program. If you suspect your garage floor is in need of any concrete repair whatsoever, here are a few reasons why attending to them now, before first snow of the year hits, is the right move.

More Frequent Use

For starters, it’s important to remember that you’re almost certainly going to be using the garage floor surface more often during winter. More homeowners choose to store vehicles in the garage during winter to keep them a bit warmer and avoid any risks of weather-related damage, and this additional weight on the garage floor causes greater strain. If you already have small cracks or holes present, the risk of these expanding into larger problems is higher during this period.

Busy Season

Another reason to consider such repairs now rather than later: The early winter is a busy season for many people. What with major holidays and common scheduling conflicts, you may find yourself putting off concrete repair services for weeks or even months – again, allowing for minor issues to grow into major ones that require more hassle and a higher cost to repair.

Freezing and Thawing Cycles

If your surface has cracks or other openings in the concrete, snow or ice that are present – even in small amounts tracked in by a vehicle or your shoes – will seep down into these openings. When the temperature is above freezing, they will remain in liquid form.

But when the temperature drops below freezing, this moisture will freeze again and expand. This can significantly worsen existing damage and even create new cracks in some situations.

Protection for Surfaces and Foundation

In addition to all of the above, repairing concrete before winter allows it to stay protected. Paint, epoxy and various coatings block road salt and water, but the floor has to be in good condition first.

Relatedly, such protection also keeps the foundation of your home in good shape. A poorly functioning garage floor may allow water to make its way down into the foundation, causing significant structural damage. But you can avoid this altogether with proper preparation and concrete repair.

To learn more about the value of concrete lifting and leveling for your garage floor before winter arrives, or for information on any of our surfaces covered or services offered, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

When concrete slabs have settled or sunk into the soil beneath them, one of the first signs you’ll often notice to signal this is the presence of cracks in the concrete. Cracks in concrete are also often significant issues of their own, creating tripping and other hazards to those using the surface.

At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we offer a wide range of concrete lifting and leveling services for anytime this issue takes place on your concrete, whether it’s on your driveway, a patio, your garage floor or any other important surface. Cracks can be both a cause of your concrete issues and a symptom, and it’s important to understand where they come from, their severity and what you can do to prevent them in the first place. Here are some general tips.

Crack Type Based on Precursor

First and foremost, where are the cracks in your concrete slab coming from? To understand this, it’s important to look at several of the surrounding or underlying conditions present. Here are some common crack causes and the issues they speak to:

• Settling: Soil plays a big role in the quality of concrete and how it lasts over time. If soil does not have the proper moisture content and conditioning, it can compact and cause the concrete to sink and settle, resulting in cracks that form.
• Moisture and shrinkage: Moisture isn’t only important in the soil itself – it’s also vital within the concrete mixture. Too much or too little can lead to improper mixes, which in turn can combine with hot temperatures or other weather conditions to cause cracking.
• Erosion: One of the related issues here is fluctuating weather, which is very common in a state like Utah. Dry periods followed by wet ones will lead to shrinkage and loosening of soil, which can lead to instability in the subgrade and eroding support for the concrete slab.
• Inclusions: An inclusion refers to a case where one part of the concrete is far more rigid than the rest, leading to uneven tensile stress that can create cracks in random areas.

Crack Severity

In many cases, concrete cracks will be confined to the slab itself. While this isn’t a positive, of course, and requires concrete repair from our professionals to limit hazards, sinking risks and moisture infiltration, there are even worse forms of cracking.

These forms refer to when cracks continue all the way through junction points into foundation walls, potentially threatening structures. In these cases, immediate professional restoration services are needed.

Expansion Joints to Prevent Cracking

One building-related element that can significantly reduce your risk of cracks in concrete: Expansion joints, which are used to separate individual concrete slabs from other parts of the structure. They allow for movement independently between slabs, limiting many of the precursors that cause cracking. They are made from a variety of material types.

For more on understanding and preventing cracks in your concrete, or to learn about any of our concrete repair services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.

At Lift-Up Concrete, we’re proud to serve as your one-stop shop when it comes to all commercial, municipal and residential concrete lifting and leveling services. We’ve been serving Utahns with all their concrete needs for years, assisting when soil settlement, water flow, natural spring interference or other issues lead to sinking and other potential forms of damage to any of your concrete surfaces.

Like certain other jobs that require handy qualities and some expertise, such as plumbing or HVAC services, some DIY-oriented home or business owners may attempt to perform concrete lifting or leveling services on their own. But unlike those other areas, this is a realm where we virtually always recommend you leave the job to the pros – let’s look at some of the risks associated with DIY floor leveling, and why you benefit from calling our team of concrete leveling professionals.

Concrete Leveling Basics

The process for concrete leveling generally involves the following steps:

• Drilling small holes in the sunken or damaged areas, strategically planned for later filling. These holes will be about an inch in diameter.
• Pumping a slurry, one made of several possible different material combinations, into the holes to raise the slab from the foundation up.
• Filling the holes with a non-shrinking grout and leaving the slurry to come together into a solid material.

While this may sound simple on its face, the reality is that it isn’t. The steps may be easy enough to explain, but concrete leveling professionals have years of training and experience for the vital details, such as the mixture used for the slurry or what to do if certain things go wrong. You take major risks if you attempt these jobs on your own, which we’ll get into in our subsequent sections below.

Safety and Quality

For starters, hiring concrete leveling professionals ensures safety above all else – both during the concrete leveling job itself and moving forward. There are issues that non-professionals here can cause during the process that leave both themselves and others unsafe, but even more common is the potential for imperfect leveling jobs that either don’t solve the problem or actually make it worse, making surfaces lower-quality and less safe instead of the other way around.

Saving Time and Money

While hiring our concrete leveling team does cost money, it’s important to think of this from an overall standpoint. Between buying your own DIY leveling materials, taking hours out of your day to do the job and, most importantly, accounting for potential spillage or issues based on your lack of experience, the costs for DIY leveling jobs often easily exceed those of simply calling our team. Save yourself both time and money by looking to the pros from the start.

Future Stress

Finally, instead of constantly wondering whether you got the job right and hoping concrete doesn’t just sink back down again a week or two after you’re done, count on our experienced team to keep your mind at ease. We offer full satisfaction guarantees on all our leveling and lifting services, and our long history of happy customers and successful jobs speaks for itself.

For more on why you should leave concrete lifting and leveling services to the professionals, or to learn about any of our services, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete today.