Signs of sunken concrete (and how to effectively stabilize it)
Sinking sidewalks, driveways, and concrete floors aren't just eyesores—they can quickly turn into safety hazards. You shouldn't have to worry about whether or not your family and friends will trip on your property or if the sinking concrete will devalue your house when it's time to sell.
It's time to enjoy your home again!
What is sunken concrete?
Your house rests upon many different layers of soil, each with varying layers of thickness and weight-bearing power. When a soil's load-bearing capacity is exceeded, the soil will compact and settle. It's also possible for the soil beneath a slab to settle and compact of its own accord. Soil that contains large amounts of clay or silt will shrink substantially when it gets dry.
Not to mention, the soil that is underneath your driveway, patio, or concrete steps may not necessarily remain there to provide adequate support for the concrete element.
As water moves underneath your concrete slabs, it can wash away the soil that's supporting the weight of the concrete. As this happens, it creates a void, or empty space, underneath. Over time, with nothing to support it, your concrete slab can begin to sink or cave in.
Whether you have interior floor slabs, a driveway, patio, pool deck, sidewalks, stoop, or porch, there's a possibility that the area will "sink" or "settle," leading to uneven concrete and sidewalks, sunken patios and pool decks, washout of soils under concrete patios or slabs, and major tripping hazards.
It's crucial to repair these cracks before you or a member of your home becomes injured.
How do you fix sunken concrete?
AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists uses SettleStop Concrete Lifting, which is a simple, affordable, and safe process that injects pressurized structural-grade polymer beneath the concrete slab and, in most cases, raises it back to its original level. It's less intrusive than complete replacement and far less expensive. After SettleStop lifts the concrete, the space can be used right away.
There are many benefits to using the SettleStop system, such as:
Less holes and smaller holes than other repair options. Holes in the slab are virtually unnoticeable once complete. Plus, there are no mismatching concrete colors.
Lightweight. Less than 4lbs per cubic foot compared to 120lbs for concrete or mud jacking!
Quick cure time. SettleStop can be driven on within 15 minutes after installation.
Material is waterproof and will not wash out beneath the slab in the future.
High capacity lifting strength. Typical lifting force ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds per square foot. In other words, it can lift very heavy structures!
Reduces trip hazards and restores property value
Environmentally friendly material that will not rot or deteriorate underground.
Call the experts at AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists to repair or raise the sunken concrete on your property. Visit them online at www.AFSrepair.com or call 205-453-1110.
