How to Level a Slab Foundation?

Slab foundations can be leveled using slab jacking, foamjacking, or slab foundation repair methods like the URETEK Method. To carry out the process, several holes are drilled into the slab, and expanding high-density polymer is injected.

The slab is slowly raised as the expands, compacting the loose soil, and the holes are plugged. URETEK Gulf Coast uses a patented polyurethane concrete-lifting polymer that expands to create the lift necessary for stabilizing your slab.

When Do You Need Concrete Leveling?

Level surfaces are especially important for concrete driveways, walkways, and sidewalks, where uneven slabs could cause people to trip or catch the wheels of scooters and bicycles.

You may also want to fix sinking outdoor patios where you spend a lot of time. Tearing up and replacing a slab can be messy and time-consuming—not to mention tough on your lawn and landscaping—so you may prefer concrete lifting if conditions are right.

Often, you’ll be able to see where a section of the concrete slab is no longer at the same level as the slabs next to it. Any slab that has settled at least a quarter-inch below its original level may be able to be fixed using concrete leveling.

You may also notice water issues in your basement when it rains, which can sometimes be caused by concrete patios settling next to your house. Other signs are less obvious. Voids can develop under concrete without causing immediate problems. Look for slabs that rock when driven over or stepped on or make hollow sounds when tapped.

LEVELING

There are many issues that can occur in your home due to an uneven or damaged concrete slab without you even realizing it. Call a professional to inspect and level your concrete if any of these issues are occurring within your home:

Your porch or deck appears misaligned or is beginning to “pull away” from the house.
Cracks develop within your chimney.
Hardwood floors within your home are beginning to warp.
Tile floors within your home are cracking, lifting or sinking.
Walls have hairline cracks leading to the floor or are starting to unseal from the floor, resulting in a gap.
Cracks have developed in your driveway.
The exterior brick or siding on your home is beginning to crack or become misaligned.

Why Concrete Leveling Can Last So Long

Most concrete leveling customers typically don't have a problem with the concrete itself, but rather a problem with the soil, backfill, or gravel underneath their concrete. When these materials settle or wash out, they take the concrete slab with them.

During a concrete leveling repair, we drill through the section of sunken concrete and replace the soil or substrate material that settled or washed away with our injected leveling compound. That material spreads out underneath the section, fills up any voids, then lifts the concrete back into place.

The reason concrete leveling can last so long is that if the material underneath our injected material is done settling, then our material won't go anywhere either.

Can you pour self leveling concrete over existing concrete?

You can pour self-leveling toppings or self-leveling overlays over concrete surfaces you didn't think were salvageable, saving time and money. “It's faster and easier than pouring new concrete,” says Paul Koury, president of Westcoat Specialty Coating Systems.

What is the cheapest way to level a concrete slab?

The easiest way is to use a self-leveling compound, also called liquid floor underlayment or floor resurfacer, within sections of level-cut rails. The material flows out like thick syrup, then hardens into a smooth, perfectly level surface, sometimes in less than an hour.

Why Is My House Unlevel?

Homes become unlevel because of differential settlement. When your home is first built, the foundation should naturally settle into the soil in a uniform manner. Differential settlement is when sections of your home settle at different rates, hence the name. This unbalance causes all sorts of problems.

What Causes Differential Settlement?

Buried material – Any buried construction or organic material can break down over time, creating voids where the material once was. If pockets are formed underneath a section of your home, that section will settle into the pockets or voids.
Poorly compacted/backfilled soil – Before your home is built, the builder uses a steam roller to compact loose soil, creating a stronger base for your foundation to sit on. If this important process was skipped or done incorrectly, differential settlement could occur.
Poor soil conditions – If your foundation was built on top of expansive soil, differential settlement could be an issue. Expansive soil contains a lot of clay and experiences a constant swelling-shrinking cycle that puts stress on your foundation. When the soil gets wet, it expands, and when it dries, it shrinks.
Poor drainage – Water in your soil can cause a variety of problems. Depending on the type of soil, water can wash it away leaving voids behind. Or, if the soil is expansive, it could swell and push against your foundation.
Tree roots – Tree roots can drink the moisture from your soil and create voids under your foundation.
Soil creep – Soil creep is when soil slides down a hill and causes lateral movement against your foundation.
Natural disasters – Earthquakes, floods, droughts, and sinkholes can definitely cause differential settlement.
Renovations – Adding a new story to a section of your home will increase the weight on your foundation and the soil beneath it. More weight equals more settling.