Rain and Your Concrete

When it rains, even when it rains a lot, you might not really think about the safety of your concrete. After all, the driveway and sidewalk are there when you move in and then they’re just. There. They don’t really do anything other than exist, right?  

Not always. 

If you’re experiencing soil washout in your yard as the soil oversaturates, there’s a non-zero chance you’re getting some washout underneath your driveway or sidewalk slabs, too. This puts your concrete at risk of cracking and sinking and becoming a safety hazard and an eyesore.  

If the act of settling degrades the bond between slabs, you’re at even further risk of washout as water gets between slabs and floods out the soil. This speeds up the whole process and can lead to larger areas and greater depths of sinking. Before you know it, you have a jagged patchwork of topsy turvy sidewalk and driveway slabs making it difficult to ride a bike or even back out of your garage without causing damage. 

Once washout and sinking occur, the best solution is PolyLevel. PolyLevel is a waterproof polymer that expands to fill the void left behind and lift the settled slabs to their original position. Unlike mudjacking, which uses a combination of concrete and mud to achieve lift, PolyLevel resists further washout because it’s not affected by water, so once it’s in place, the supported slab is secure. 

PolyLevel also has a quick curing time, often ready to bear normal weight within an hour. That means your car can go over the driveway and back to the garage, and the neighborhood kids can ride their bike across your sidewalk. Minimally invasive and disruptive, PolyLevel is the best choice for busy neighborhoods and lives. 

Once the slabs are lifted, we use NexusPro joint sealant to create a new bond between the slabs. This prevents water from getting between and under the slabs and causing issues - without it, remaining soil could be washed out and cause sinking in new places. 

Your driveway might seem like it’s just always there and impervious to problems, but that isn’t always true. With some basic observation and quick action, though, you can keep it in tip top shape no matter what the rain has in mind. Call today for your free inspection and stop worrying about your concrete making it through another rainy season.