Cracks, sunken areas, and uneven concrete can make any property look unkempt and neglected. After tripping over a sunken chunk for the hundredth time, you start looking into concrete repair in Wichita, KS. Arise Concrete Leveling explains mudjacking vs. polyjacking — two common concrete stabilization methods — below.
How Does Mudjacking Work?
Also called slabjacking, mudjacking services involve combining cement, water, and sand into a mud slurry. The crew injects the slurry beneath the broken-up concrete slab via a 1” hole they drilled for this purpose. The combined materials will fill in any open areas, which lifts and stabilizes the surface as a result.
What About Polyjacking?
Polyjacking typically involves a type of polyurethane foam called PolyLevel. The foam strengthens the soil beneath the concrete slab to keep it from sinking and eroding later. The foam’s hydrophobic properties make it a long-lasting solution for concrete repair.
Your technician creates a small hole in the concrete — about the size of a coin. They then slide the nozzle of the injector equipment into the hole. They inject the foam into the void beneath the concrete to stabilize it and keep it from sinking again.
Both Have the Same Goal
Before we dive into the pros and cons of mudjacking vs. polyjacking, let’s find out what they do. Both concrete repair methods have the same effect:
- Soil stabilization
- Lifting the concrete material for an even slab
- Preventing the concrete slab from sinking again
However, you might choose one over the other depending on what you want to accomplish and the resources you currently have on hand.
Mudjacking vs. Polyjacking: Which One Should You Choose?
Since mudjacking and polyjacking each play a crucial role in restoring sunken concrete, understanding where they diverge is crucial. When you know their pros and cons, you can select the best method for your needs:
- Curing time: Mudjacking takes up to three days to cure, whereas polyjacking only takes 15 minutes. If you need your concrete repair material to cure quickly, choose polyurethane foam.
- Freeze-thaw cycles: Mudjacking requires stable soil to work. Temperature fluctuations can cause this method to fall apart as the soil shifts.
- Durability: Mudjacking might hold you over for a few years. Meanwhile, you’ll get up to half a century out of polyjacking.
- Type of voided concrete: Many technicians recommend mudjacking for very large voids. Polyjacking methods are more effective for smaller voids. We will always tell you when repairing your concrete is running close to replacement cost.
- Service budget: Polyjacking may cost more than mudjacking, so you should consider your budget when choosing the best method.
- Eco-friendliness: Both methods are eco friendly.
- Service difficulty: Mudjacking requires more time and technical skill to properly apply than its counterpart.
So, which technique will yield the best results on your property?
Ask Arise Concrete Leveling for Concrete Repair Guidance in Wichita, Kansas
Let’s talk more about concrete repair services and whether mudjacking vs. polyjacking is right for you. Arise Concrete Leveling also accounts for the weather effects on concrete when recommending the best technique. Call us at 316-867-6565 for years of concrete leveling experience in Wichita, Kansas.
