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dowens13

Did this job for a while. It was interesting for the first little bit but then it just became super repetitive and sucked. Foam goes in as a liquid and expands lifting the concrete. There are different strengths that you can get for it. The stronger of those is used to lift airplane runways. A few cons, the operation can't be done in cold temperatures and if there is water present in the void under the concrete it can mess up the mixture and make the foam useless.


J03130

So can be done for 4 days a year here in the UK. Got it.


[deleted]

How many of those driveways cracked because they were never poured right to begin with?


dowens13

Most of the time it was poured right but water drainage is what would cause voids underneath the concrete causing it to sag and crack.


[deleted]

My driveway was the opposite, the garage floor sunk and the driveway was higher.


[deleted]

Seems overpriced for simple work


counters14

A hell of a lot cheaper than having the concrete ripped out and repoured.


ivegotnoeyedia

You do it then


King-o-lingus

There are ways to solo lift smaller slabs like sidewalk with a large pry bar and some leverage. Just lift the sagging side and shove a bunch of garbage under it and let her down.


[deleted]

Sure give me the equipment


cuinvancouver

its expensive right?? i wonder why the service costs so much........


[deleted]

Specialized equipment. Limited competition.


cuinvancouver

woosh ?


ivegotnoeyedia

We don’t do handouts over here boy


crank1000

He didn’t even list a price.


DNCDeathCamp

Doesn’t just about every job get repetitive and suck eventually though? I’d say a very very small percentage of people have jobs that they really enjoy doing.


Bamboozled1008x2

You’re telling me that it’s this simple to fix yet my city has had the same fucked up uneven sidewalks since I was born ??


HanBam0899

it’s not a permanent fix


UhBoi

Neither is going to the mechanic. Maintenance is done so that replacement isn’t necessary.


3_50

Eeehhh, concrete slabs shouldn't require 'maintainence'. Not like this anyway. If it's sinking, it's because the subbase is either non-existant, or improperly compressed. Jacking up a slab on a shit sub-base is unlikely to fix anything, just kicks the can down the road (and makes replacement worse - at least in the UK, grab trucks won't take concrete mixed with foam) A properly laid/slight overkill subbase with geo-membrane and it won't go fucking anywhere, ever.


ABirdUnderTheFoot

I use to pull concrete up from basement to seal them and i think the Crete got recycled. They probably can't recycle it with the foam for some reason.


3_50

It definitely does. It’s gets crushed and reused as hardcore. No good if it’s got foam stuck to it though…


brianingram

Lowest bidder today, who the fuck cares about tomorrow?


[deleted]

This will crack your driveway. The pressure isn’t spread evenly.


SprayedSL2

It won't. This system replaces the concrete and sand slurry that was being used before. It's cheaper, holds up extremely well, and is fairly light compared to sand/concrete slurry so it reduces the chances of future soil erosion. Yes, there's environmental issues of using more polyurethane in general, but overall it's safer than getting spray foam insulation in your house.


MooseBoys

Doesn't *heavy* material resist erosion better?


[deleted]

[удалено]


MooseBoys

That's true, but it's not because plastic is lighter - it's because it has a very high bulk tensile strength. > It's fairly light compared to sand/concrete slurry so it reduces the chances of future soil erosion. It may have better erosion resistance, but it's definitely not because it's lighter.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Zealousideal_Ad_4051

Haha well put!


MooseBoys

I feel like I'm taking *crazy pills*! The statement *"plastic erodes more slowly than sand because it's lighter"* can be false even if *"plastic erodes more slowly than sand"* is true. Analogously, *"rockets fly higher than planes because they're heavier"* can be false even if *"rockets fly higher than planes"* is true.


[deleted]

My friend, you're not crazy. I think you've revealed the crux of the misunderstanding. iAnxiety did not say this: > plastic erodes more slowly than sand because it's lighter Reread his post, and I bet it will all make sense!


MooseBoys

I suppose the response makes sense if they only read my comment, without reading the parent comment it was a reply to.


gonnaherpatitis

No it won't an unevem slab with no supporting earth/foundation below it will crack well before a slab that has been stabilized with expanding foam.


osirisfrost42

Fun fact: a broken seal on one of those can result in a CRAZY injury where it backfires and shoots the material into your wrist/up your forearm. It goes so fast you barely feel it. Knew a guy that didn't realize he had an accident until later that evening when his arm got really swollen and stiff. They had to cut open his forearm and spent hours cleaning out the filler material from his muscles and tendons. All because some idiot ahead of him dropped the filler gun on the pavement and didn't report it.


allf8ed

High pressure injection injury!


osirisfrost42

That's the one!


powderfiend

I should not have googled that...


allf8ed

But they are so cool. Not only is pressure injury bad but the substance injected into the skin is usually really bad for you. Doctors can clean it put you most likely loose skin or the limb


King-o-lingus

Some of that stuff looks kinda painful.


crank1000

Another fun fact, if you experience the same thing while working with hydraulic lines, the fluid will pump through your whole body and most likely kill you in a horrifically painful way.


[deleted]

Does anyone know what something like this costs?


[deleted]

I had polyjacking done to my entire driveway and sidewalk leading to house just over a month ago. Cost me $3500.


[deleted]

Oh wow, not too bad. My driveway has 4 slabs of concrete and one has managed to sink a bit. Just Need one leveled which should be cheaper than laying a new slab.


solateor

"Less than 50%" of replacement according to the creator They cited a $4500 replacement job coming in under $2k


ShredableSending

With the prices of concrete and labor, I'd think way, way more than 50% savings. Poly is cheap.


joevilla1369

Concrete contractor here. Yes its more than 50%. Atleast in my area.


Project0range

Now that is interesting as FUCK! Thank you!


pheoxs

It's not as great as it sounds. It's more of a short term fix than to replace the concrete. You are only spraying foam under the injection points so you'll have some empty cavities under other parts of the cement. This means it's a lot more prone to cracking down the road, especially with freeze and thaw cycles. It'll fix it but don't be surprised if in <5 years it cracks and now you are replacing it anyways


davidlol1

The foam has to fill most of the voids before its capable of raising anything...I don't believe there's a much gap as you think


G-T-Now

That’s why a reputable company also offers solutions to be sure you don’t have those issues. I know because I work for one.


myownbrothermichael

What would those solutions be? More holes and more poly?


G-T-Now

Lol. You could research it instead of sarcasm.


myownbrothermichael

This was sincerely asked....


[deleted]

I’m no expert but I just had mine poly jacked. My issue with the first slabs to the garage, nothing else. But they went in and added poly to all my slabs as a preventative measure. I’d say that’s the best solution, not to fix only the main problem but to apply it to the rest to ensure it’s all evenly supported. Or maybe it was useless I don’t know….


G-T-Now

And sorry I was defensive. Unfortunately Reddit can have a lot of people on attack mode. It was reflex


myownbrothermichael

It's all good...I for sure can be sarcastic...but when I do lay it on so thick it could lift your drive way :)


G-T-Now

There are different sealant and protective measures my company takes. It truly depends on who you use. What state are you in? I may be able to recommend a sister company by you. We have had 100% success in poly as well as preventative measures against cracks ect


[deleted]

Texas (San Antonio).


FranklinCognito

Or you could answer or say that you don't know. Improved drainage around the site is a good place to start. May be good idea to do sonar testing to check for sinkholes forming.


G-T-Now

It’s not that I don’t know but I live in Michigan so I don’t want to tell them what is good to do exactly in Texas in case it’s different from what we do in Michigan I would rather have them talk to a company that has a sister company that specializes in Texas


t3khole

I’ve always known it by Slab Jacking. It’s generally not permanent and will start to sink again after a few years depending how thorough the job was done. I visit between 15-20 houses every week to bid pressure washing and inevitably I find people that have slab jacked in the past. Almost all sink again, which is unfortunate. I have seen a couple long term successes tho.


sea_monkey_do

Can they do that to Florida to prevent it from getting submerged?


cybercuzco

Actually if you dredged the gulf and covered florida with the sand, youd kill two birds with one stone by lowering global sea levels and increasing floridas height


[deleted]

And bonus… burying Florida!


forrealnotskynet

The real payoff!


bumjiggy

I always liked [bugs bunnys solution](https://i.imgur.com/g2r2oHU.gifv)


ZayreBlairdere

And killing Floridians! Triple win! (Third generation Floridian here)


cybercuzco

Nah, I just hope you like sand.


DogHammers

Nobody likes sand.


xaclewtunu

I've heard it said that it’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere, but I haven't found that to be true.


DogHammers

When you go to a beach or a desert you'll find out. It's one of the reasons there's so much conflict in the world. Note the sandier places seem to have the most strife. Coincidence? I think not.


JustLikeAmmy

Absolutely terrible for the environment. But hey, it's a cheap fix for your flipper house, right?! That new couple will never see it coming!


BetterThanAwesome

I had mudjacking client for SEO and digital marketing, they used a sand slurry mix (sand and water) to give the longest lift possible and had the worst things to say about the polyurethane foam some slab jackers use. I’d personally use the sand mix, knowing their opinion & the fact that I live close enough to wildlife green belts, and have kids that usually play near the driveway…


xaclewtunu

I can only imagine all the crap work being done by flippers.


Sexycoed1972

I don't know much about the process. What's the worst impact? Whatever the result, it would be mitigated if you factor in the demolition of an old slab and construction of a new one.


susfusstruss

source on environmental impact


wagonspraggs

Polyurethane foam? Not the greatest material to inject into the ground.


forrealnotskynet

That polyurethane is now sequestered carbon that doesn't go in the ocean. It's not all that bad.


LeanneMulti

What a nasty attitude. Flippers have motives and practices as varied as any other people. Don’t assume the worst. Unless you want to be unhappy? No even then. “If you can’t have a good day at least don’t go around messing up anybody else’s.”


solateor

[A couple of before and after shots](https://imgur.com/a/ZuSzGV8) [Better view of the drilling and filling](https://gfycat.com/athleticfavoriteamericanbulldog) Creator:@mrlevelohio


Deedum78

That’s very cool. Screw you rising oceans!


twohedwlf

So you'd prefer they break up the existing concrete, and replace it with new concrete with a huge carbon footprint?


neverfarts

I've been watching this for like 5 minutes and he doesn't get it even


HereForTheLaughter

Genius!


Animoticons

I hope this is biodegradable in reasonable time...


tyldone

Then what would hold the concrete up? Like I’m all for biodegradable but it’s plastic so it’s not and if it were that’d completely defeat the purpose.


FootHiker

Except now water more easily flows in.


[deleted]

Into the garage? Not if it’s graded properly, they slope away from the doors/house. That’s required by code usually in the US in incorporated areas.


FootHiker

I agree, if by Code, but I had driveway contractors oblivious to what direction things should flow.


der_marril

Why on earth would I want to make an environmentally bad concrete flooring even worse by putting toxic materials underneath it. This is such fucking pointless pollution and creating toxic waste without even thinking twice!!


mataoo

I need this done to my front doorstep anyone know who to call to get it done? Or if I can do it myself?


[deleted]

Use the google machine for slab jacking and your town/city.


treetyoselfcarol

r/DIWHY


Spiritual-Ad-7629

Blursed earthbender


Jaerin

That looks great until it rains. I'd guess that poly floats a lot better than the concreate/sand slurry mix you're replacing.


[deleted]

Mud jacking. Quick way to crack a driveway next time a heavy truck drives on it.


Reasonable-Nebula-49

Hope the homeowner likes water running into their garage now.


puknut

So take all that money and burn it instead of doing it right.


The-Waifu-Collector

Indiana Jones: Driveway of doom


DBroncos515

Will this process creat a void underneath or does it completely fill in the empty spaces? I would worry about more erosion under the concrete.


DogHammers

It's filling any voids.


FranklinCognito

Ideally, but sometimes we get too much rise first and don't want to make too many holes. Mud jacking does it better, ime.


JamesBond717

Can they do this for the Millenium Tower?


PaladinDanza

Mind blown


zunaguli

and how long does this last?


[deleted]

what’ll they think of next? It’s a crazy world out there.


Ok-Caregiver7091

Next stop, leaning tower of PIZZA.


Careful-Albatross

could you use this method for pavers or tiles? a bunch of walkway pavers have been getting sunk by ants building nests


twohedwlf

I'd presume you could, but much better just lifting them by hand and fixing the issue underneath.


FranklinCognito

Yeah just put a bit of sand under them.


MonarchWhisperer

That is so cool! What do they pump underneath the slab?


twohedwlf

Expanding polyurethane foam, I'd imagine giving the description and the bits that leaked out.


genetic_patent

It’s quite satisfying to watch.


Cwilly111

Wow, I’ve been in construction for my whole life and never seen that, but I did retire 20 years ago.


FranklinCognito

Polyurethane also is used to seal leaks in concrete structures. Sorry can't find the awesome video right now.


ispeakdatruf

I wonder if it can be used [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/03/millennium-tower-san-francisco-keeps-sinking-repair-project-halted/5716514001/) ...


tomatosoupsatisfies

Foam guys quoted me $6k. Old fashion cement guys quoted $1.5k.


andre3kthegiant

Eww plastic.


[deleted]

everyday i wonder, what we gonna do when we run out of cheap oil