You can raise concrete in a garage floor, particularly if there's a void beneath it, by using a method called slab jacking. This technique involves injecting a specialized material under the concrete slab to lift it back into its original position.
Understanding Sunken Garage Floors
Garage floors can sink over time due to various reasons, most commonly because the soil or fill material underneath settles or washes away. This settlement creates voids beneath the concrete slab, causing it to lose support and crack or pitch unevenly. Addressing these voids and raising the concrete is crucial for safety and functionality.
Raising Your Garage Floor with Slab Jacking
When dealing with a garage floor that has sunken and created voids underneath, slab jacking is the best method for lifting the concrete back into position. This technique effectively fills the void and exerts upward pressure to restore the slab's level.
How Polyurethane Slab Jacking Works
One common and effective type of slab jacking utilizes polyurethane foam. Slabjacking means injecting a polyurethane foam through the concrete slab. Small holes are drilled through the concrete, and the liquid polyurethane material is injected through these access points.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Injection: Liquid polyurethane is injected into the void space under the slab.
- Expansion: As the filler is injected, it foams up and solidifies rapidly. This expansion fills the void and starts to gently lift the concrete slab.
- Lifting & Solidification: The expanding foam continues to exert upward pressure, raising the concrete as it does so. Once solidified, the foam provides stable, lightweight support for the slab.
This method is highly effective because the expanding foam seeks out and fills all areas of the void, providing comprehensive support and a controlled lift.
Key Aspects of Polyurethane Slab Jacking
To quickly understand the core elements of this method for garage floors, consider the following:
| Method Name | Primary Material | Lifting Mechanism | Ideal Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slab Jacking | Polyurethane Foam | Injection & controlled expansion | Concrete slabs with voids |
The Slab Jacking Process (Simplified)
While the exact steps can vary slightly depending on the contractor and specific situation, the general process for raising a garage floor using polyurethane slab jacking involves:
- Assessment: Inspecting the slab to determine the extent of sinking and identify voids.
- Drilling: Drilling small, strategically placed holes (typically dime-sized or smaller) through the concrete slab.
- Injection: Injecting the liquid polyurethane foam through the drilled holes into the void beneath the slab.
- Lifting: Monitoring the slab's movement as the foam expands, controlling the injection to achieve the desired lift and level.
- Hole Filling: Patching the small drill holes once the lift is complete.
This process is often quick, minimally disruptive, and provides a durable solution for raising sunken concrete garage floors.
