Soil and concrete are constantly moving. When you have poor compaction and erosion involved, things REALLY move. Sidewalk slabs are forever shifting and one of the quick and inexpensive "fixes" is to grind the concrete down to level. One of the problems is that grinding leaves unsightly marks on the finished surface, which some people don't necessarily mind. But for those that have decorative finishes on driveways and pool decking, this is a serious concern that they should know about ahead of time. The real concern here is that the REASON the concrete settled in the first place. Most likely poor compaction or erosion has affected this area, causing slab movement. When grinding the slab, you are essentially shaving off the top side to make level for walking. Nothing is done to stabilize the soil beneath the slab, and so there is a very good chance for resettlement in the future. Especially since water has now found it's way past the walkway or path of least resistance. By injecting structural grade polyurethane material below the slab and lifting the slab back toward original position, you've now pushed down (or compacted) the compromised soil, void filled where soil has been eroded out, and lifted the slab back up. From the top, the sidewalk looks like it did years ago, the colors all match and the slabs are fully supported. Believe it or not, lifting and leveling sunken concrete pricing is very cost effective. We always suggest that homeowners look at all of their options before making a decision. Compare the pros & cons, pricing and estimated time the fix will last.
To find out more about lifting and supporting settled concrete slabs, contact us today 770-558-5862 or email [email protected]
21 Comments
A sunken concrete slab whether a sidewalk, driveway, pool deck or patio, will eventually need a concrete repair or replacement. The decision will often come down to the cost, benefits and capability. Concrete Repair
Concrete ReplacementPlanning to replace your sunken concrete, yourself? If so, keep in mind that you'll need to not only pour a new slab, including building a form and finishing the new concrete, you'll need to remove the old concrete. This means breaking it up and hauling it away.
Another point to remember is, WHY did the settlement occur in the first place? When replacing concrete, it is important to make sure the soil base is solid. Otherwise, your newly poured concrete may move and settle again in the near future. Lifting And Supporting Sunken Pool Deck Slabs With Polyurethane FoamIf you're like most in-ground pool owners your concrete pool deck has settled in one or more places causing trip hazards and unsightly conditions. You may have considered having it torn out and replaced but have been holding off due to the expense and inconveniences associated with doing so. With the use of structural grade Polyurethane Foam, we are capable of lifting and leveling settled concrete slabs around pool decks with very minimal disruptions and typically for 1/2 the cost of replacement. Why Has My Concrete Settled?After your pool has been constructed the area around the pool is often back-filled with dirt preparing it for the concrete decking to be poured. In most cases, this soil is improperly compacted and over time as it settles or erodes it no longer supports the weight of the concrete sections,ultimately causing them to settle How Can I Tell If I Have Issues?When the concrete begins to settle you will be able to see signs such as cracks in the slabs, puddling water, trip hazards between sections and/or excessive sloping from and separation at the pool coping. Signs may occur within months or take years to develop but the sooner you identify them, and stabilize the soil, the less damage there will be to the concrete and your pool. We Can HelpWith Concrete Corrections, you have a cost effective alternative and a less disruptive solution to repairing your settled concrete. Often times, pool deck projects can be completed in 1 day and the areas are cured and ready to use immediately. So, you're under a time crunch with selling your home or planning that Labor Day Party, we can work with you on a timely schedule.
We lift and support settled concrete, void fill and stabilize soil all over Atlanta and North Georgia. Call Today 770-558-5862 So, yesterday after seeing our mountain neighbors having some trees cut, for better views off their back deck, we were inspired to discuss: The Effects Of Cutting Trees & Erosion. How trees stabilize soil and prevent erosion, particularly on slopes. How your concrete walkways, pool decks and driveways, EVERYTHING around your house, is effected by erosion and cutting all the trees away from your house, indeed has an impact. Even just ONE tree. We thought, well maybe they could've just cut some of the branches off or topped the tree (to make it shorter) and see over it, in an effort not to kill it completely. And did they plant any trees anywhere else, to replace the ones that were cut? Obviously there are "problem trees" out there that need to be addressed (disease, locations, etc), and in an effort to not get too personally involved we will stop there, but we found some interesting reading out there. So take a look and maybe take 1 or 2 things away from this today.
Read Here about the Value Of Living Trees - at the living tree educational foundation The Seven Deadly Gutter SinsBad rain gutters are the number one mechanical contributor to the deterioration of your home. Over years of experience, we have seen the main contributing factors are one or more of the following: 1) poor design, 2) defective installation, and 3) nearly all are so poorly maintained that they have suffered damage or premature deterioration. Because gutter maintenance can be difficult and time consuming for home owners, it is a commonly procrastinated chore. Many gutters are difficult or near impossible to access and require putting yourself at risk. According to the World Health Organization, around 164,000 American’s end up in hospitals for ladder-related injuries each year. Proper gutter maintenance for homes with trees usually requires three to four cleanings a year (although for dry years, two cleanings should be enough). A more difficult to understand fact has to do with defective gutter installations. Missing flashing, leaking seams, standing water, and improperly placed or missing downspouts are the most frequent issues. We routinely discover improperly sized gutters, bad down spout placement, sloppy sheet metal work, and defective support mechanisms. The long term integrity of a home’s structure is dependant on the effectiveness of its gutter system, but many builders and designers tend to overlook their importance. Unsure if your gutters have been installed correctly, or are in good shape? Check out our list of Gutter Sins below: 1. Clogged GuttersClogged gutters cause water to stand and stagnate at the bottom of the gutter and often overflow. Consequences: erosion, mosquitoes, rust through, roof damage, foundation damage, siding damage, and damage to the gutter and roof support system from excess weight. 2. No Drains or Splash BlocksWhen water leaves the downspouts it needs to be directed away from the structure. Newer homes usually have underground drainpipes connected to the downspouts while older homes carry the water safely away by means of “splash blocks” installed at the downspout’s. Without either of these, water will find its way into and under the foundation. Consequences: standing water in the crawl area, mold, mildew, foundation settlement, erosion and dry rot. 3. No Flashing At EavesLack of flashing between the back of the gutters and the wooden support structure of the roof is a very common problem. Without flashing, bare wood is exposed to the water and debris passing through the gutters. Consequences: Dry rot, termites, roof rot and insect infestations. 4. Defective PitchDefective gutter pitch prevents water from flowing to the downspouts. This slows the water’s evacuation and can create areas of standing water. Consequences: erosion, mosquitoes, rust through, roof damage, foundation damage, siding damage and damage to the gutter support system and roof from excess weight. 5. Poor Downspout PlacementImproper location of downspouts, or not having enough of them, can lead to standing water and overflows during heavy rains. Consequences: erosion, mosquitoes, rust through, roof damage, foundation damage, siding damage and damage to the gutter support system and roof from excess weight. 6. Overgrown GuttersAllowing shrubs and trees to overgrow the gutters can cause considerable problems. We have seen first hand examples of Wisteria plants that have completely removed the gutters from the structure and filled both gutter and downspouts with vines to the point they are no longer functioning. Consequences: gutter, roof and structural damage, foundation damage, siding damage, window and door damage, termites, ants. 7. Loose, Damaged or Non-existent GuttersThese problems allow water to flow off the roof uncontrolled. When this occurs, water will find its way into the siding, trim, windows, doors, foundation and other areas where it is not wanted. Consequences: erosion, dry rot, foundation damage, landscape damage, siding damage, window and door damage, crawlspace moisture, mold and possibly structural damage.
Having "healthy" gutters will help keep your home's foundation strong, keep erosion and voids to a minimum and overall deterioration a little more manageable. We see concrete settlement and soil movement around homes or businesses that can be repaired instantly. Call Today for your Free Estimate 770-558-5862 Construction Practices & Soil Conditions That Lead to Settling Slab FoundationsSettlement of concrete floor slabs can be a major problem and can cause serious damages to a home or building. Some of the most common causes for slab settlement include drying and shrinking of soil under a slab, poorly compacted fill soils, and washout of soil. Each of these conditions create a void under the concrete slab. If the concrete is not strong enough to span the void, the slab will crack, break, and settle into the void. The following paragraphs offer some additional information for some of the more common reasons for slab settlement: Drying and Shrinking of Soil Under the SlabConcrete floor slab settlement is often the result of changes in moisture content or density of the supporting soils. Soils beneath a concrete slab foundation can dry and shrink over time due to extended drought-like conditions. When this happens a void is created under the slab, causing the slab to sink and crack. Along with a settling slab, interior partition walls may settle and cracking in drywall can occur. Poorly Compacted Fill SoilsDuring construction of a home or building, layers of soil are commonly moved around or spread out to bring grade to the desired level. When the structure is built, footings may be deep enough to extend below the fill soils, but the slab may remain on the fill. Over time, loosely compacted fill soils will consolidate beneath the weight of the slab or fill layers above, causing a void to form below the slab. When this happens, the slab will begin to crack and break as it settles into the void. Soil Washout - Plumbing LeaksA common building practice is to install plumbing lines below concrete slabs. In some conditions, plumbing lines under a slab can leak, causing erosion and soil is pushed away from under the concrete slab. This displaced soil creates a void beneath the slab, causing the slab to crack and settle. We are available to help with stabilizing soils and filling those voided areas. If you think you might be experiencing any of these issues, please contact us right away for a free inspection and foundation repair quote.
Call Today 770-558-5862 or email [email protected] |
Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|