Why Foam Is An Ideal Material For Concrete Leveling
Foam Has Unique Advantages That Make It A Smart Choice For Denver Homeowners
If you’re thinking that foam sounds like an unusual way to raise concrete, we understand it might sound strange at first. But we can assure you it’s been used commercially for more than a decade with great success. Here are four reasons polyurethane foam is uniquely suited for fixing sunken concrete.
#1 Fast To Use, Fast To Cure
Compared to mudjacking or concrete replacement, using foam is faster, easier, and less invasive. Even better, it begins to harden in minutes. It can reach 90% of its final rigidity and strength in less than a half-hour. The full process of foam jacking can take anywhere from a few hours to a day, depending on the size of the area that needs to be raised. This means in most cases you can begin to use the area immediately after we’re finished. In general, foam jacking is a faster process than mudjacking, which can take up to 24 hours to complete.
The first step in foam jacking is to drill small holes into the concrete slab. The holes are typically about the size of a dime and are spaced about 12 inches apart. Once the holes are drilled, a special type of polyurethane foam is injected under the concrete slab. The foam expands and lifts the slab to the desired level.
The foam jacking process is relatively simple and can be completed in a single day. However, there are a few factors that can affect the amount of time it takes, such as the size of the area that needs to be raised and the type of concrete.
#2 Better At Lifting
This foam is manufactured to provide tremendous lifting force. This is why foam is used commercially – it can lift huge amounts of concrete. Foam can easily lift sunken driveway sections and handle other residential jobs – both large and small.
Foam jacking is an effective method for lifting heavy weights. The foam expands and fills in voids under the concrete slab, lifting it to the desired level and can even support weights of several thousand pounds per square foot, making it a strong and durable solution for lifting heavy concrete slabs.
#3 Very Strong For Its Weight
Even though it’s got great lifting strength and remains hard and rigid after application, foam is a relatively light material. Compared to “heavier” solutions like mudjacking, it puts less stress and weight on the soil underneath.
The foam used in foam jacking is a polyurethane foam that is designed to be durable and long-lasting. The foam is made of a combination of isocyanate and polyol, which react to form a rigid foam. The foam is typically injected under the concrete slab at a pressure of about 100 psi, which helps to ensure that it expands evenly and fills in all of the voids and cracks.
#4 Stable
Once cured, this material is super strong and rigid. It won’t absorb water and it won’t change dimensionally. It’s also stable in the sense that it is completely inert and won’t bleed chemicals into the surrounding soil.
The durability of the foam in concrete leveling depends on a number of factors, including the type of foam, the density of the foam, and the environmental conditions. In general, polyurethane foam is a very durable material that can last for many years. However, the foam may degrade over time if it is exposed to harsh chemicals or extreme weather conditions.
Polyurethane foam is a great material for concrete leveling – the fast and more affordable solution for Denver area homeowners.