Why Does Concrete Crack & Sink?

Why Does This Happen?

Concrete settling, cracking and sinking are all about the voids that form beneath the slab creating unstable support. When under compression, exterior concrete slabs are very strong, but they do not have much flexural or bend strength. So, if the supporting soils are strong, then the concrete can withstand enormous loads. However, if the supporting soils have shrunk, settled, or washed away (leaving gaps and voids) then the concrete slab will crack, sink and create and unlevel surface. 

Concrete slabs are typically subject to a lot of stress. Tree roots may grow under the slabs, moving around the soil and creating voids. Poor drainage can create excess amounts of moisture or even pools of water to erode the soil below the slab. Unexpected heavy loads (like a truck delivering building supplies) may even sink sections of a sidewalk or driveway. 

How Do I Fix It?

The bad news is, most, if not all, of us deal with cracked and unlevel concrete surfaces on our property. The good news is that there is an easy and non-invasive solution - PolyLevel! This process involves drilling tiny pea-sized holes into the slab and injecting them with a special polymer formula. The poly foam is strong enough to provide accurate lifting of a concrete slab, yet lightweight enough that it does not add pressure to the weakened soils below. The material will never wash or dry out, and the surfaces can be used within minutes of installation! 

The final product of a polylevel injection

If you are dealing with cracked or unlevel concrete, give us a call today for your FREE, no obligation estimate!