Mud Jacking and Slab Jacking in Michigan

As patios, walkways, driveways, and concrete steps sink, they can crack and create uneven surfaces. Sinking concrete is unsightly, and it can create a tripping hazard.

Traditionally, this problem is often repaired by a process called mud jacking.

Mud jacking: a repair technique for lifting concrete slabs that have settled over time with a mortar-based mix.

Mud jacking involves pumping a mortar-based mixture of "mud" or "slurry" underneath a settling slab. This injected material is a mixture of water, soil, sand, and Portland cement that cures to become a solid, stable fill.

As the mixture is pumped underneath the concrete slab, it fills all empty spaces and creates pressure on the slab that lifts the surface upwards. Once injected, the slurry will then harden into a solid fill that's more stable than the soil, yet lighter than concrete.

Ayers Basement Systems offers a fast, effective, and less invasive approach to concrete leveling with PolyLevel®. The PolyLevel® system involves injecting an expanding polymer foam under the concrete for a durable, long-lasting solution. If you're interested in learning about what PolyLevel® can do for you, call us for a free estimate in Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and nearby.

This front stoop has started to sink and separate from the foundation. There is noticeable cracking and sloping.

PolyLevel® expanding foam was used to level the steps and the cracks and sloping have been repaired.

When is mud jacking NOT appropriate?

These concrete steps have suffered from severe settling over time and have separated from the foundation structure.

Mud jacking is effective for heavier concrete structures when used in conjunction with slab piers. It should not be considered as a standalone solution to lifting a footing or floor slab that has settled in your home.

In most cases, mud jacking alone will not be able to lift both a slab and the heavy partition walls that sit on top of it. In cases where mud jacking isn't effective, we often recommend installing slab piers instead.

If mud jacking does lift the concrete slab, it may be difficult to control where mud jacking lifts the walls, causing them to lift unevenly.

More importantly, this kind of solution is temporary. Even with the voids filled, the soil below is likely to continue settling over time. Ultimately, you'd have to call your contractor to your home over and over again to repeat the mud jacking process -- or call someone who can use a different solution that can fix it once and for all!

Mud jacking is also not appropriate as a "do-it-yourself" repair. Mud jacking requires special equipment and professional experience. All work should be done through a trained, professional mud jacking contractor who has excellent knowledge of local soil conditions.

Ayers Basement Systems is Michigan's trusted concrete leveling contractor. Schedule an estimate in Elkhart, Battle Creek, South Bend, Muskegon, Mount Pleasant, Traverse City, Jackson and nearby to learn more about why PolyLevel® is our top choice for repairing sunken driveways, sidewalks and more!

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