Category Archives: water leak

April Showers Bring May…Showers

Pretty much our entire service area has been the victim of non-stop rains and long-lasting flooding this spring. This weather is taking a toll on buildings, roads, fields, and people. The rain has to come to an end, eventually, right?

The Weather’s Impact on Concrete Slabs

You can do everything right when it comes to downspouts, gutters, and other drainage solutions, but when it rains this much for this long, every system can be overwhelmed. If you already had a water issue, the problem can be even greater.

When the ground becomes as wet and saturated as it has this spring, bad things can happen to your home or business. Basement walls can begin to bow or lean, due to pressure from the water-logged soil. Foundations can shift or sink as the soil weakens from all the water. Driveways, sidewalks, and patios can sink or buckle. These problems can range from being annoying to being a danger to peoples’ safety.

Small cracks may not seem like a big deal, but water doesn’t take much to be able to enter your home or business. In addition, a crack may be small on the side you can see, but the other side may be much bigger.

You may not have a problem right now with sinking or settling slabs but when the soil dries out, you might. The soil expands when it is saturated, then when it dries out, it will shrink, possibly removing the support your concrete surface needs.

Slabs can sink, not allowing water to drain correctly or causing tripping hazards. Voids can open under the concrete, causing the soil to wash away even more, creating dangerous situations.

If you suspect that your concrete is being damaged by rain problems, you don’t want to wait. The damage won’t heal itself and the needed repairs will only take more time and money the longer they go undone.

Polyjacking Solutions Work the Best

Fortunately, you have options available to help restore your concrete’s stability and strength. Some options are better than others, so make sure you take the time to choose the one that will provide you with the best benefits.

We believe that polyjacking is the answer for many types of concrete problems. In this method, polyurethane foam is injected beneath the slab. The foam expands, lifting the concrete to within 1/10th of an inch of the desired height. In addition, the foam is water-resistant, so it won’t wash away like the slurry used in mudjacking. The foam hardens and seals the bottom of the concrete, preventing any cracks from allowing water to seep through and filling any voids below the surface. The expanding foam also compacts any loose soil that may be under the slab.

The foam is lightweight (about 3-5 pounds/cubic foot) compared with mudjacking grout (over 100 pounds/cubic foot). The added weight of mudjacking can cause problems down the road as it combines with the weight of the concrete and whatever traffic is using the surface.

The installation process is another benefit that polyjacking has over other methods. In mudjacking, the holes that are drilled into your concrete are 3 inches or bigger in diameter, whereas the polyjacking holes are only 5/8″ wide. No heavy equipment is needed, so your lawn won’t be driven over with tractors and trucks and the area won’t be full of construction pieces. The foam takes about 15 minutes to cure, so as soon as that’s done, you can use the slab. Other methods may require days or weeks to allow you to use the concrete slab.

Stay Solid

Don’t let Mother Nature’s temper tantrums damage your concrete slabs. Let us keep your driveways, patios, sidewalks, and more level and strong. Contact us to learn more about how polyjacking can help you and your home or business.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Most of the service area covered by Polyjacking.com has had a lot more rain this summer than usual. In addition to ruining a lot of outdoor plans, the rainfall may have wreaked havoc with the foundation of your home or business.

If your building wasn’t flooded, why should you be worried about the amount of rain in your area?

Water and Soil

When there is a lot of rain, it has to go somewhere. Some of it may run into storm sewers or creeks or other planned run-off areas. Most of the time, though, it goes into the soil until the ground is saturated. The water-soaked soil can cause problems for concrete slabs and foundations.

Hydrostatic Pressure

When the soil is oversaturated, it can exert a tremendous amount of pressure on its surroundings. This is called hydrostatic pressure and it can damage a foundation wall completely. If the foundation of your building is under the strain of hydrostatic pressure, the walls may begin to bow or lean. Walls and slab floors may show cracking as the soil and water pushes against the rigid concrete.

Erosion

Water will take the path of least resistance and can erode the soil around it. When the soil gets washed away, it removes the support from around the foundation or slab. Voids can open underneath the concrete, allowing the slab to sink or crack.

Flooding

If the rain falls too fast or the ground is saturated, the water can flood buildings or enter cracks no bigger than a hair. Water can weaken concrete and put your slab or building in danger.

Water Damage Prevention

There are steps you can take to help keep your home or business dry. You can make sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear and emptying at least 10 feet from the foundation. In addition, companies like Pro Foundation Technology, Inc. can provide you with waterproofing techniques to keep the water out of your building.

Surface Drainage

Some options that can help with surface drainage include drywells, gutters, and French drains. It is important that you have good surface drainage or the water you keep out of your building will just come right back, trying to enter your foundation.

Exterior Drainage

To properly install exterior drainage, the outside of the building will have to be excavated, exposing the footing. Most reputable contractors will roll on or spray a polymer waterproofing product. A drain pipe system should be installed for continuous drainage. The drain can empty to a sump pump system or to daylight.

Interior Drainage

One of the most important parts of a waterproofing system is the implementation of a sealed interior drain tile system. Since the system is underneath the foundation, it is important that it is installed correctly from the start. Cracks in the walls and floor will need to be sealed with epoxy or polyurethane.

Sump Pump System

A sump pump system can move water out of the building, keeping water from flooding the structure. The system consists of a sump pump, a sump pit, and we recommend a battery back-up sump pump.

My Slab is Damaged, Now What?

So after all of the rain this summer you may be facing a damaged concrete slab or foundation, so what can you do? Before you call in someone to have the slab torn up, contact the experts at Polyjacking.com. We will come out and look at your property and determine if polyjacking is the solution you need. Polyjacking a slab is a LOT cheaper than destroying it and replacing the concrete.

The process is relatively easy and doesn’t require heavy machinery. Small holes are drilled in the concrete and polyurethane foam is injected under the slab. The foam expands, lifting the concrete and filling in any voids and cracks underneath the slab. The foam is water-resistant, so it won’t erode and the foam compacts the soil, making it more stable. By the time the equipment is removed and the area is cleaned up, you can use the slab. Curing time is about 15 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long to get back to business.

Contact the pros at Polyjacking.com to learn more about how using polyurethane foam to repair your concrete is the most cost-effective and long-lasting solution available.

 

Retention Pond Repair – Case Study

Polyjacking.com was called in to help with a leaking retention pond in Lenexa, KS. The pond was leaking into a stormwater drain and had to be stopped.

The professionals at Polyjacking.com injected a polyurethane foam into the ground and around the piping, stopping the leak.

Polyjacking and Retention Pond Repair: A Winning Team

Contact the leak experts at Polyjacking.com. No job is too big nor too small!

Give us a call today to learn more about all that Polyjacking.com can do for you and your home or business.

You can see pictures below of the project.

 

 

 

Poor Yard Drainage Can Cause Problems

Poor Yard Drainage

Sometimes yards, driveways, and sidewalks in Kansas and Missouri can be flooded during March and April. Melting snow and springtime rains can lead to excess water and slow runoff. Poor yard drainage may cause many problems in your lawn, gardens, external concrete walkways, and foundations, including:

• Mud in your lawn where children and pets cannot play
• Potential lawn problems due to insects and fungi
• Poor soil where many plants won’t thrive
• Seepage into your home’s foundation and basement
• Damage to the exterior and interior concrete surfaces

Causes for Poor Yard Drainage

Lawn drainage problems are common during spring. Following are some of the causes of poor drainage:

• The wrong slope of the land where water travels to the lowest spot
• Type of soil which may or may not hold or drain water quickly
• Paved areas, driveways, sidewalks, or patios which spill water onto your lawn
• Sprinkler systems which may be leaking or running too frequently
• Neighboring yards which may slope onto yours

Solutions for Poor Yard Drainage

The solution to a yard drainage problem depends upon the underlying cause. The most important aspect of any solution for poor lawn drainage is simply finding an alternative place for excess water to go:

• Installing drains in low areas
• Digging trenches to catch standing water
• Installing pipes to route the excess
• Creating a soakaway, an area filled with rocks to absorb excess water
• Repair, seal, or level concrete floors and surfaces

When to Call an Expert

Whatever your drainage problems, it is often useful to call in an expert to diagnose and solve your water issues. If you have poor drainage from concrete surfaces or other issues with your concrete patio, driveway, sidewalks, or foundations, Polyjacking.com is the Kansas and Missouri expert at concrete leveling and repair. Call our experts anytime you need foundation leveling or repair.