Do I have to be home for you to perform the work?

Typically no, unless we are lifting concrete where we need access to the garage or inside the home, like in the basement or on a slab on grade interior floor. But if the homeowner would prefer to be home during the repair we will certainly be happy to coordinate schedules to make that possible.

Does the concrete crack when you lift it?

The concrete can crack during the lifting process, it is not very common however. Generally when a crack occurs in a concrete slab during the lifting process it is because the slab bound up on something as it was lifting, typically an adjacent piece of concrete or a concrete foundation wall. This is another reason why it is important to have an experienced technician lift your concrete. I am very aware of what causes concrete to crack during the lifting process and always do my very best to prevent that from occurring.

Does the weather affect your ability to do the work?

The only weather restriction with lifting concrete is extremely cold weather for exterior concrete. Once there is a deep frost in the ground it can literally freeze the concrete to the ground, making it nearly impossible to lift and can cause damage to the concrete slab if attempted. The only other weather related restriction with the services we offer is for caulking concrete cracks and joints, and applying penetrating surface sealers. The surface of the concrete must be dry for both of those preventative maintenance services to be performed.

How big are the holes that you have to drill through my concrete?

The injection ports that we use only requires a 3/8” hole be drilled; that’s smaller than a dime, that’s also one of the smallest injection holes in the industry. This makes it very easy to patch and blend the injection holes with the existing concrete, making it very difficult to know that there was ever any work done to the concrete.

How do you lift the concrete?

The lifting force is generated as the material is injected through the concrete via a small 3/8” pre-drilled hole; as the material is introduced under high pressure in a liquid state it spreads out under the bottom of the concrete. When the chemical reaction begins to occur, the material expands approximately 15-25 times its liquid volume, this expansion of the material produces pressure that has a lifting capacity of 6,000 lbs. per square foot under the concrete slab. Its important to have a highly experienced technician perform this work as it’s critical to know exactly how much material to inject and where you should inject the material to achieve the desired amount of lift in the proper locations. You can only lift concrete once!

How long do I have to wait before I can use my concrete?

With the structural polyurethane foams that we most commonly use now the concrete can be put back into service within 15 minutes! The foam reaches 90% of its cured hardness in 15 minutes and is 100% cured to full hardness in only 90 minutes. This time frame applies to both foot and vehicular traffic.

Does it have a warranty?

Yes, our standard warranty is 5 years from the date of completion of the work being performed (unless other warranty terms have been written into the contract). The warranty covers resettling of the lifted concrete; as long as any of the identified causes for the settling of the concrete have been addressed properly. For example, if there is a section of the driveway that was lifted, and the identified cause was that the expansion and control joints are all open and letting water flow under the driveway and cause erosion and material displacement; the open cracks and joints would need to be properly sealed to prevent that from occurring in the future. Or if a gutter downspout was placed in an area that does not allow for the collected roof water to properly drain away from the existing concrete, that would need to be properly diverted so it does not cause the same problem with the concrete in the future.

How long does it last?

The materials that we introduce under the concrete and into the soils to not break down, or degrade. So if the underlying issues that caused the concrete to settled in the first place have been properly addressed then the repair is a permanent solution for the life of the concrete. We will perform a thorough evaluation of your property as part of our free estimate; and determine if there are problems with the layout and design of your concrete, surrounding structures, and landscaping that caused or contributed to the concrete settling issues you are experiencing. We will also give recommendations for solving those issues, and what methods and materials should be used to properly maintain your concrete, in order to prolong its service life, and increase the looks and value of your property.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been lifting concrete full time here in Spokane as an owner operator for over 10 years now. I have personally lifted thousands of pieces of concrete, both residential and commercial, and have been working in the construction industry for over 16 years. I have extensive experience with both cement based CLSM materials used for void filling and lifting concrete, as well as structural, closed cell, two component, polyurethane foam and all its applications.

Why did my concrete settle?

Q: Why did my concrete settle?

Concrete settlement can occur due to various factors, often a combination of them. One primary cause is inadequate compaction of the base beneath the concrete. Insufficient application of compactable material and failure to achieve full compaction before pouring can result in a weak foundation prone to cracking and settling. Another prevalent reason for concrete settlement is water infiltration. Over time, water can compact soil and displace material beneath the concrete, leading to void spaces that contribute to cracking and settling. Certain materials, like fine sand, are particularly susceptible to displacement and erosion, exacerbating the problem. To mitigate settling issues, especially with vulnerable materials, it's crucial to seal concrete joints and cracks effectively. Additionally, managing water flow and drainage on your property is essential to prevent future settlement problems. By understanding these common causes and implementing proactive measures, you can safeguard your concrete surfaces against settlement, ensuring durability and longevity. Keywords: concrete settlement, prevent cracking, compaction techniques, water management, seal concrete joints, prevent settlement issues

Why did my concrete settle?
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Do I have to be home for you to perform the work?
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Does the concrete crack when you lift it?
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Does the weather affect your ability to do the work?
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How big are the holes that you have to drill through my concrete?
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How do you lift the concrete?
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How long do I have to wait before I can use my concrete?
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Does it have a warranty?
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How long does it last?
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How long have you been doing this?
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