At Acme Concrete Raising & Repair we only use high-density polyurethane foam to level and raise concrete throughout the Chicago area. We specialize in the concrete foam jacking method because it is proven to be faster, cleaner, cheaper and longer-lasting.
Although concrete raising results between polyurethane foam injections and old “mudjacking” methods may appear similar, there are significant differences between polyurethane and mudjacking methods. From the repair process to the materials and equipment used, our Smart Lift System® proves to be a far superior and sustainable repair method in the long term.
If you have an uneven sidewalk, driveway, or patio, contact the experts at Acme Concrete today for a foam injection quote. We’ll get your concrete slab repaired and level in no time at all!
How Does Polyurethane Foam Concrete Lifting Work?
As Chicagoland’s first contractor to focus specifically on raising sunken concrete with polyurethane foam, we developed the Smart Lift System® to provide our customers with the Ultimate Solution for Settled Concrete! The simple yet advanced foam injection technology allows Acme Concrete to raise sunken concrete with a three-step process:
Holes about the size of a dime are drilled into the settled concrete slab. Special injection ports are then installed allowing a clean, controlled injection of the polyurethane lifting foam.
A polyurethane injection gun is securely attached to the ports. Controlled injections are performed resulting in a two-part polymer flowing through the space between the structure and its failed subbase. The polymer forms a structural foam that fills voids while raising and leveling the settled structure.
Once the concrete has been raised, the lifting material is fully cured in about 15-minutes, allowing immediate, unrestricted use of the area. The injection ports are then easily removed and the holes are filled with a high quality grout leaving them virtually unnoticeable.
Check out the video below to see just how quick and simple it is to raise and level all types of concrete with our superior polyurethane foam concrete lifting equipment.
What to Expect When Lifting Concrete with Poly Foam
Our professional concrete lifting and leveling services are simple and effective. Research shows our state-of-the-art foam jacking process provides customers the highest-quality, and best-looking results possible. Also, we’re commitment to Health, Safety & the Environment! See below to learn more about our process of revitalizing sunken concrete and how Acme’s modern, quick and efficient poly foam injection method outperforms mudjacking.
| Acme Concrete Raising & Repair Polyurethane Injection | Typical Mudjacking |
Modern Poly Foam EquipmentPolyurethane Foam Injection Polyurethane foam concrete lifting projects typically require a small box truck or pickup truck & small trailer. The required poly foam equipment and materials are located in this single vehicle – no heavy construction trucks or equipment are needed. Our concrete lifting foams are centrally located and ready to use on demand. There is no manual mixing required, saving labor and time. |
Mudjacking Most mudjackers use heavy duty construction vehicles. Dump trucks may also be used in mudjacking. |
Small Holes for Less Invasive Concrete LiftingPolyurethane Foam Injection To begin, we create a few small holes (about the size of a dime) in the concrete allowing us to inject the polyurethane foam lifting material. Once the holes are placed in strategic locations, special injection ports are installed creating a secure, sealed connection between our lifting equipment and the concrete. This unique feature prevents the poly foam from leaking or spilling during the concrete raising process. The overall benefit of injection ports is a cleaner work area and much smaller patches. Learn more about injection hole patches. |
Mudjacking Mudjacking will typically require much larger holes – ranging anywhere from 1” to 2” in diameter. Most mudjackers do not use injection ports. Material spills and leaks can occur causing a messy work area and require cleaning. |
Injection Hole QuantityPolyurethane Foam Injection Polyurethane is injected as a thin liquid and travels easily between the slab and subsurface, therefore requiring fewer holes to obtain the required coverage. |
Mudjacking Most mudjacking operations utilize a very viscous or thick mixture that is unable to travel as easily as liquid polyurethane. |
Polyurethane Slab Lifting ProcessPolyurethane Foam Injection We then connect advanced, computer-controlled equipment to the injection ports and inject a two-part polymer. The materials travel laterally beneath the concrete, reacting and expanding to permanently fill voids while simultaneously raising and leveling the sunken concrete. The polyurethane slab lifting process is quite simple. |
Mudjacking Depending on the contractor, mudjackers pump various wet mixtures below the concrete. (every mudjacker uses their own "recipe") Slabs are sometimes “over-raised” to account for future shrinkage. |
Clean & Fast Equipment RemovalPolyurethane Foam Injection Following the lifting process, injection ports are removed, leaving a clean repair and neatly maintained work area. Since the bulk of our poly foam injection equipment is remote and self-contained, equipment removal is as simple as rolling up a hose. And due to the nature of our clean repair technology, cleaning of equipment or the work itself is extremely minimal. |
Mudjacking Since the mudjacking repair process can be a bit sloppy at times, mudjackers typically need to wash down the repaired surfaces before material dries. They may also need to wash mud mixers and pumps before material dries and clogs up their equipment. |
Ready to Use Quickly After InjectionPolyurethane Foam Injection The poly foam jacking material we use to lift and level concrete is fully cured in about 15-minutes after injection. It doesn’t matter what type of structure we raise; a sidewalk, garage floor, driveway, parking lot, etc. When the job is complete, the concrete is free to use without restriction. |
Mudjacking Some mudjacking slurries can require 24 to 48 hours to fully cure. Normal use of the concrete may need to be avoided for days following a repair. |
