If you own a home or business in Houston or the surrounding suburbs, chances are high that you understand the unique soil conditions of our state. Because of its high moisture content and clay composition, cement slabs and concrete foundations in our area are highly susceptible to damage that often requires the assistance of a foundation leveling contractor. In today’s blog, we’ll take a look at a couple of problems that are common to Texas foundations and what you can do to fill the void beneath your slab once the foundation crew has left.
At Tilted Concrete Solutions, we pride ourselves in providing high-quality cement leveling and lifting services to the Greater Houston area. If you have a sunken driveway, patio, or sidewalk, or if you have a void after having your foundation lifted, we’d love to help you out. Call us today to get a free estimate!
What Causes Foundation Problems?
Property maintenance issues, including foundation problems requiring cement leveling, can be a headache for business owners because of the time it takes to arrange for repairs and the potential downtime while the work is being completed. There are many things that can cause foundation problems, including the most common problems: settling and heaving.
Settling
When a cement slab gradually sinks down below its original, intended level, we say that it has settled. Settling may occur in the event of poor soil compaction, erosion, shrink and swell cycles due to high water content in the soil, and decaying of organic materials. It may also be caused by a void left by animals burrowing beneath the slab, or by the vibration of heavy equipment.
Heaving
When a run of concrete gradually rises or shifts upward from its original position, we say that the concrete is heaving. A heaving cement slab is usually caused by the displacement of the soil beneath it. The supporting soils may shrink and swell in cases of high water content or freeze and thaw cycles, or the soil may be disturbed by invasive tree roots.
Benefits of Polyjacking After Foundation Leveling
If the foundation of your Houston-area home or business has begun to experience settling or heaving, it may be necessary to call in a reputable foundation repair company. These contractors use a variety of techniques to lift or level the slab back to its original position. Unfortunately, once their work is completed, you may have a void left beneath the cement slab, and if there is a void, it is essential to fill it as soon as possible. Tilted Concrete Solutions offers innovative services to fill the void with a self-expanding polyurethane foam. We’ve detailed a few of the benefits to this service below.
Restore Load-Bearing Qualities
This might just be the most important benefit to filling the void that is left behind after foundation cement leveling. Once your foundation has been repaired, you want to do everything you can to prevent future settling, and that means making sure the slab is properly supported from beneath. The quality foam that we use supports significant loads without adding unnecessary weight to already-unstable soil conditions.
Employee and Guest Safety
In the absence of adequate support beneath the slab, you run the risk of the slab sinking again in the future. Even worse, the slab could completely collapse into the void beneath. If you own a business, this is a safety issue for your guests, employees, and anyone else on your property. For homeowners, this presents a safety concern for your friends, family and other guests.
Minimal Downtime
As a business owner, it is very important to avoid interrupting your operations if at all possible. If you choose to rely on traditional mudjacking to fill the void, it may take up to three days for the concrete slurry to solidify and dry. Our innovative, self-expanding foam is efficient with minimal curing time, reaching 90 percent rigidity in as little as 30 minutes.
Prevent Future Erosion
If you’ve had foundation work completed on your Houston home or business, you want more than just a temporary fix. When considering your options for filling the void beneath the slab, you deserve an option that will help prevent future erosion of soil. The foam compound we use is lightweight and impermeable to water. This means that it won’t let any moisture vapor through it, which provides an eco-friendly erosion solution.
Quality Houston Polyjacking
If you have sunken concrete surfaces, Tilted Concrete Solutions can lift them, restoring both safety and beauty to your Houston home or business. We offer cement leveling services on patios, driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, walkways, and more! While it may require a specialized contractor to lift the foundation of your home or office, we are happy to provide subsequent services to fill the void that is left behind. To learn more about our eco-friendly, efficient services, call today!
