Concrete slab leveling is a process that most homeowners have to consider at one point or another. It could be because you have a floor that is cracked or uneven. This can be dangerous because it could cause people to trip and fall. When this happens, you risk suffering from a minor but painful accident, like twisting your ankles, or other bigger problems. Another problem that uneven concrete can cause is water runoff. This can be very frustrating to deal with, and it potentially causes other damages to the surrounding areas.
The natural tendency of the soil to settle and sink after a certain period of time. When this happens, the structural integrity of the concrete can be compromised. If this is not addressed right away, you are making the ground susceptible to bigger problems and possibly higher costs for you.
Concrete Slab Leveling Process
The process of leveling concrete slabs requires a couple of tools, both small and big. Some of the things needed are a trowel, a shovel, a hammer drill, and a chisel. These are just some examples off the complete list. The person doing the job must also be equipped with safety tools like a dust mask and safety goggles.
The materials needed are heavy-duty construction items. These include a masonry crack filler, some cement
(ideally supplied by Steve’s U-Cart Concrete), gravel, latex bonding agents, among others. Limestone also plays a big role in the slurry mixture.
The process starts with mixing the slurry. This is then pumped under the slab of concrete. The pumping in of the material causes the slab to be raised to the desired height. Once the job is done, the holes on the concrete where the slurry was pumped in are then sealed.
When To Do and Who To Hire
This job can potentially save you a lot of money because if you let the concrete degrade naturally, you might have to spend more on replacement costs. Leveling the concrete will save you at least 50% on the cost of a complete overhaul.
Concrete slab leveling is best done when it is not raining or the temperature outside is not too cold. When you choose to do this project during times like these, you will have problems with the consistency of your slurry mixture.
When you choose a contractor to do the concrete leveling for you, make sure that they are using environmentally friendly products. The entire job should be finished in a couple of hours, and you should be able to use the concrete right after. The quality should be good enough that the concrete will be stabilized indefinitely as long as proper sealing and drainage is practiced.
Go for a contractor who provides a warranty for their services. Generally, you can find those that offer a five-year warranty. If there are any problems with their work, it should materialize after six months or so. Stay away from those that force you to pay before they do the work. A legitimate contractor should be able to provide you with a quote and a written agreement. See references from other clients they have had.
Finally, use the handy Concrete Calculator at Steve’s U-Cart Concrete here http://u-cart.ca/concrete-calculator/ to calculate how much you’ll require for your DIY project.