Concrete Raising

Concrete Raising and Leveling in the Quad Cities

Sunken, uneven, or settled concrete isn’t just unsightly—it creates trip hazards, damages property value, and can direct water toward your foundation. Traditional concrete replacement is expensive, disruptive, and wasteful. Concrete raising offers a better solution: lifting settled slabs back to their original position at a fraction of replacement cost. ACE Waterproofing and Basement Solutions provides professional concrete raising services throughout the Quad Cities using advanced polyurethane foam injection technology.

What Causes Concrete to Sink?

Concrete slabs are only as stable as the soil beneath them. Several factors cause the soil support to fail:

Soil Compaction: When soil beneath concrete compacts over time, voids develop. The concrete slab loses support and settles into these voids. Fill soil used during original construction is particularly prone to compaction.

Soil Erosion: Water flowing beneath slabs washes away soil particles, creating gaps. Downspouts discharging near slabs, poor grading, and groundwater movement all contribute to erosion.

Soil Shrinkage: The clay-rich soil throughout the Quad Cities expands when wet and shrinks when dry. Repeated expansion-contraction cycles can leave voids beneath concrete when soil contracts.

Tree Roots: Large tree roots draw significant moisture from soil, causing localized shrinkage and settlement. Roots can also physically displace soil beneath slabs.

Poor Original Compaction: If soil wasn’t properly compacted during construction, settlement is essentially inevitable over time.

Problems Caused by Settled Concrete

Trip Hazards: Uneven slabs create dangerous trip points. Raised edges where slabs have settled relative to each other are particularly hazardous. Property owners can be liable for injuries caused by these hazards.

Water Drainage Issues: Concrete is supposed to slope away from structures. When slabs settle, drainage patterns reverse—water flows toward foundations instead of away. This accelerates foundation water problems.

Vehicle Access: Settled driveway slabs can damage vehicles, make garage entry difficult, and create drainage issues that accelerate further deterioration.

Property Appearance: Sunken, cracked concrete detracts from curb appeal and property value. First impressions matter, and deteriorating concrete creates negative impressions.

Structural Concerns: Settlement beneath garage floors, porch slabs, or slabs connected to foundations can indicate or contribute to foundation issues.

How Polyurethane Concrete Raising Works

We raise settled concrete using high-density polyurethane foam injection—the same technology used to stabilize highway bridges and airport runways:

Small Injection Holes: We drill small holes (about the size of a dime) through the settled concrete slab at strategic locations. These holes are barely noticeable after repair.

Foam Injection: Specialized equipment injects liquid polyurethane beneath the slab through these holes. The material flows into voids and expands, filling gaps in the soil and creating lifting pressure.

Controlled Lifting: As foam expands, it lifts the concrete slab. We monitor lifting in real-time using laser levels, controlling injection to achieve precise results. The slab rises back toward its original position.

Foam Curing: The polyurethane cures (hardens) quickly—within minutes. The cured foam is lightweight yet strong, providing permanent support for the slab.

Hole Patching: Injection holes are patched with mortar to match the surrounding concrete. The small patches are barely visible.

Polyurethane vs. Mudjacking

Traditional mudjacking (also called slabjacking) uses a cement slurry to lift concrete. Polyurethane foam raising offers significant advantages:

Smaller Holes: Mudjacking requires 1-2 inch holes; polyurethane needs only dime-sized holes. Smaller holes mean less visible repairs.

Lighter Material: Cured polyurethane foam weighs about 2-4 pounds per cubic foot; mudjacking slurry weighs 100+ pounds. The lighter material doesn’t add significant load to already-stressed soil.

Better Void Filling: Foam expands to fill irregular voids completely. Slurry doesn’t expand and may not fully fill complex void patterns.

Water Resistance: Cured polyurethane is closed-cell and waterproof. Mudjacking slurry can wash out over time if water infiltrates.

Faster Cure: Polyurethane cures in minutes. Mudjacking slurry needs 24-48 hours before use. Your driveway or sidewalk is usable immediately after foam raising.

More Precise Control: Foam expansion can be precisely controlled for exact lifting. Slurry lifting is less precise.

Applications for Concrete Raising

Driveways

Settled driveway slabs create entry/exit problems for vehicles and trip hazards for pedestrians. Concrete raising restores driveway levelness and proper drainage without the expense and disruption of replacement.

Sidewalks and Walkways

Uneven sidewalks are liability concerns and code violations in many municipalities. Raising settled sections eliminates trip hazards and restores safe walking surfaces.

Patios

Settled patio slabs pool water and become unusable during rain. Raising restores proper drainage and creates level outdoor living space.

Pool Decks

Pool deck settling creates trip hazards in wet, slippery environments. Concrete raising restores safe, level surfaces around pools.

Garage Floors

Settled garage floors affect drainage, create trip hazards, and can indicate underlying soil problems affecting the foundation.

Porches and Stoops

Settled porch slabs can pull away from houses and create entry hazards. Raising restores proper alignment and eliminates gaps.

Commercial Applications

Warehouse floors, loading docks, parking areas, and commercial sidewalks all benefit from concrete raising when settlement occurs.

Our Concrete Raising Process

Step 1: Assessment

We evaluate your settled concrete to determine if raising is appropriate. We measure settlement, identify void patterns, and assess overall slab condition. Not all concrete can be raised—we’ll tell you honestly if raising will work for your situation.

Step 2: Preparation

We protect surrounding areas and plan injection point locations. Strategic hole placement ensures complete lifting without excessive material use.

Step 3: Drilling

Small injection holes are drilled through the slab at planned locations. The small hole size minimizes visual impact.

Step 4: Injection and Lifting

Polyurethane foam is injected beneath the slab. We monitor lifting continuously, controlling injection to achieve precise, level results. Multiple injection points allow us to lift different slab sections as needed.

Step 5: Finishing

Injection holes are patched to match surrounding concrete. The slab is immediately ready for use—no waiting for curing.

Benefits of Concrete Raising

Cost Savings: Concrete raising typically costs 50-70% less than replacement. You save on demolition, disposal, new concrete, and finishing costs.

Time Savings: Raising is completed in hours; replacement takes days. Minimal disruption to your property and routine.

Immediate Use: Raised slabs are ready for use immediately. No curing time required.

Environmental Benefits: Raising reuses existing concrete rather than sending it to landfills and consuming new materials.

Less Disruption: No jackhammering, no concrete trucks, no days of curing. Concrete raising is clean and efficient.

Drainage Restoration: Raising settled slabs restores proper drainage patterns, protecting your foundation and landscape.

Why Concrete Raising Matters in the Quad Cities

Our regional conditions make concrete settling particularly common:

Clay Soil: The Quad Cities’ clay-rich soil shrinks and expands with moisture changes, creating voids beneath slabs that lead to settlement.

Water Table Fluctuations: Changes in groundwater levels affect soil stability throughout our region, contributing to settlement issues.

Freeze-Thaw Effects: Our severe winters cause frost heave and soil disturbance that accelerates concrete settlement.

Age of Development: Many Quad Cities neighborhoods are 40-60+ years old. Original fill soil has had decades to compact and settle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete Raising

How long does concrete raising last?

Polyurethane foam is permanent—it won’t wash out, compact, or deteriorate. Raised concrete remains stable unless underlying conditions cause new settlement.

Can badly cracked concrete be raised?

Slabs with minor cracking can often be raised successfully. However, severely cracked or broken concrete may need replacement rather than raising. We assess each situation honestly.

Will the injection holes be visible?

Injection holes are patched to match surrounding concrete and are barely noticeable after repair. They’re much less visible than replacement joints or patches.

How much settlement can be corrected?

Polyurethane lifting can typically raise slabs 2-4 inches or more. Extreme settlement may require multiple lifts or alternative approaches.

Is concrete raising guaranteed?

We warranty our concrete raising work. If properly raised concrete settles again within the warranty period, we’ll address it.

Get Your Free Concrete Raising Estimate

Stop tripping over settled concrete and stop worrying about drainage problems. The team at ACE Waterproofing provides free concrete raising estimates throughout the Quad Cities.

We’ll evaluate your settled slabs, explain whether raising is appropriate, and provide honest pricing. If raising isn’t the best solution, we’ll tell you.

Call (563) 449-2678 to schedule your free estimate. Visit us at 3466 State Street, Bettendorf, IA 52722. Professional concrete raising from ACE Waterproofing and Basement Solutions.

When to Choose Raising vs. Replacement

Concrete raising is ideal when the existing slab is structurally sound but simply settled out of position. Choose raising when:

• Settlement is the primary problem, not structural failure
• The concrete surface is in reasonable condition
• You want to avoid the expense and disruption of replacement
• Quick completion is important

Consider replacement when concrete is severely cracked, crumbling, or structurally compromised beyond what lifting can address. We’ll give you honest advice about which approach makes sense for your situation.