Once concrete lifting has been completed, your responsibilities to your concrete are fulfilled. Or are they?
It’s not ideal to have cracked and sinking concrete, but luckily, with conscientious concrete lifting, your surface can be restored so it’s smooth and even. This is ideal, especially because the costs are so much lower than if you had to replace the concrete.
However, it’s not going to be a long-lasting fix unless you take the time to understand why it happened in the first place.
What Caused the Problem?
In some cases, one concrete lifting job fixes all your concrete problems right away, such as when the sinking has occurred only due to settlement. These problems are likely not as severe, but the concrete may be pitched just enough so that you aren’t comfortable with it the way it is, and you’re willing to pay for a reasonable fix.
But when the concrete has dramatically cracked and shifted, you need to find out why. If you don’t, the problem may recur.
What Can You Do to Prevent It?
Two of the most common causes for extreme movement are inefficient drainage and critter habitation. Landscapes that don’t have good drainage systems may direct the flow of water toward your concrete, and this can quickly wash away the soil, leaving a hollow underneath that jeopardizes its stability. In this case, a redesign might be in order.
If it’s not drainage, maybe it’s a field mouse or groundhog issue. When they burrow underneath the slab, they too create hollows that could cause a collapse. Utilize pest eradication services as necessary to take care of this issue, if you suspect it’s the cause.
Aesthetic Enhancements to Improve Appearance
Of course, besides dealing with the underlying problem, there are plenty of additional aesthetic enhancements you can make to further improve the look of your concrete.
First, deal with the cracks. Use a high-quality, exterior-grade caulk to fill any gaps left by concrete shifting and sinking. Next, resurface the concrete, either by staining or painting it. This is a great way to enhance curb appeal and hide any lingering reminders of your recent concrete repair.
Remember, concrete lifting can be permanent if you deal with the cause of the problem. So once you’ve remedied poor drainage or pest infestation, these aesthetic repairs are worth it!
Get a Professional Recommendation
What’s truly at the root of your concrete shifting and sinking, causing you to call for concrete lifting? There is no better person to ask than a professional. At Lift-Up Concrete, our goal is to make it so you never have to call us again.
That’s why we give all our customers a full explanation for our opinion on why and how the issue cropped up in the first place. When you know what you need to do to prevent concrete problems, you’re ahead of the game. Depend on us for quality, long-lasting concrete lifting and our best recommendations on how to permanently correct the problem.
