Mud jacking vs poly (foam)... which one?

[Sh40674]

My driveway was poured like **** and heaves some over winter above my sidewalk line along my house.. id like to get the sidewalk against my foundation lifted some to bring it level with the driveway so the water isn't trapped.

It hasn't really settled, they just poured the driveway a little too high from what I told them to.

Anways, I dont see us living in this house more than another 5 to 10 years (10 max absolutely).

Should I do mud jacking or poly? Pros and cons? Id like to keep this as cheap as possible but I dont want to regret it in 5 years either. I dont really know much about this stuff. I hear bad things about mudjacking but part of me says that is to swing more business to the poly market

 

[Sh40674]

Nobody ?

 

[jdrais]

Been lurking around for awhile.
Just from researching if I wanted to jack a settling slab in a garage.

Mudjacking will be cheaper than poly. If you had voids under your driveway poly will fill those better. Mudjacking will require bigger holes in the surface of the driveway.
Mudjacking has been around for years. Poly won't wash out if you have drainage problems.

 

[ford33]

Neither. Remove it and replace it correctly. My experience with both fixes was poor. Both solutions failed in a few years. Wasted time and money.

 

[jdrais]

Neither. Remove it and replace it correctly. My experience with both fixes was poor. Both solutions failed in a few years. Wasted time and money.

That's basically the conclusion I came to after researching it for my situation.

 

[Sh40674]

Neither. Remove it and replace it correctly. My experience with both fixes was poor. Both solutions failed in a few years. Wasted time and money.

The slabs are all in good shape, not really settled wrong. Just need them higher

 

[p00p]

i had mud jacking done & set my expectations low knowing what could happen.

one slab cracked shortly after (before the season ended) . Another slab settled about half the height from where it was lifted to initially, was about 2" low prejacking, lifted it about 2", then went down about 1". I had them go slightly over the height to make things flush knowing that this could happen. Then the other slab remains fine.

What I would do different knowing about the poly option is that I would have it mud jacked to where it needs to be & then have the poly put in place closer to the outer parameter areas to increase the chances of retaining the mud. That's if it's cost effective.

 

[txvwnut]

We’ve used the poly expanding foam at the day job on public roadways and taxiways, with decent results.

 

[bulldog101]

I've never had any experience with poly but have a 10 x 24 concrete patio that was sloped toward the foundation. I had mudjackers raise it about 16 years ago and it has maintained the corrected slope ever since.

 

[CraigStu]

Is there any chance you could pour another layer of concrete on top of the sidewalk?

 

[alexb2000]

Last year I had a 15' x 20' section of my backyard patio/pool deck settle about 2". This was a 4" concrete slab with antique brick pavers laid over the top. I had it mud jacked. The guy was able to drill the one inch holes on the mortar joint intersections so it is completely invisible. It was done in about 2.5 hours, no mess, no demo, no machines or crews tearing up all my landscaping. I paid $400 cash.

Alternatively, I couldn't have had this replaced for $4k.

I am really glad I went this route and I'd definitely do it again.

 

[Firebrick43]

If frost is heaving your concrete, neither will solve that on their own. You need drainage, either with one of these methods with perimeter drains aside, or better remove concrete and soil, add a crushed stone sub base(and possible drainage depending on slope/terrain) and repour.

Applications of either technology from the south is immaterial to your climate

 

[paredown]

Reading this anxiously--my MIL's townhouse has severe slab settling--I think because it was built on not-well-compacted good Virginia clay, and the huge maple out front has been sucking the water out as it got a whole lot bigger over the past 45+ years...

Your basic nightmare--trying to do a slab repair inside a small townhouse, when it is full to the gills with junk...

 

[Jrad235]

Mudjacking is all about getting the right mix and contractor, there are different ways to do it and not all of them are as long-lasting as others. Look for someone that drills larger holes (1.5") as their mix is going to be more stable. Poly typically degrades/settles after 5-7 years and is going to be more expensive. Overlifts are kind of hit or miss, sometimes it's doable, sometimes not. Depends on how everything matches up and was built, as well as how high you need it to go. Sometimes less is harder than more in regards to lift.