Foam Lifting Concrete in Montgomery, AL

The foam lifting concrete, or Polyurethane (PU) injection, solution is a one of the two primary ways of repairing and leveling concrete that has been damaged by soil destabilization or cracks. The other alternative method is mud jacking.

This operation works by injecting a combination of PU and an expanding agent into the drilled holes and underneath the concrete. Once our Montgomery concrete leveling experts determines that the concrete is fully leveled and repaired, the foam then expands and hardens to fill in any cracks and voids that may be forming. This process eventually leads to curing and doesn’t take that much time to finish. As an added benefit, this foam doesn’t hold moisture like its slurry counterpart in slabjacking. Consequently, it forms a watertight seal to prevent further damage from rainstorms and cold weather.

This foam provides true long-lasting value for homeowners. If you're more curious about the differences between mud jacking and poly jacking, take a look at some of the side-by-side comparison between these two concrete leveling methods.

The Poly Lifting Procedure from Start to Finish

Holes are pierced into the concrete section and have a diameter of less than nickel size. A grid of holes is created, and like grout pumping, are not random. These holes are at least 18-22 inches apart depending on the size of the affected area including soil conditions.
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The empty void underneath the slab is then checked for depth using a rebar pole, or long bit. 

To be more clear, polyurethanes are created when a polyol, which is an alcohol substance containing a variety of hydroxyl groups, reacts with a diisocyanate. In other words, these two together are what performs the foam’s magic.

The mixture of the chemicals takes place at the gun’s nozzle, leading to the intended chemical reaction. Once the chemicals are injected, they expand quickly filling every little crack and fissure while providing a strong foundation.

Furthermore, we can control the time it takes for the foam to rise by changing the chemical composition and temperature of the liquid. Of course, the details of this controlling process depends on your specific situation.

​The PU foam then expands and becomes very dense, filling in all cracks and voids. Once there is a little bit of lift to the slab, we will know there’s sufficient pressure underneath and that the foam is stabilizing around the surrounding soils, giving strong support.  

As the foam is continuing to work underneath the concrete section, the holes are patched to match the color of the original concrete.

​We perform our final clean up while we wait for the new concrete foundation to cure. The concrete slab will become strong and leveled and will look as though it were never touched.

PU Foam Facts

​There has been an uptick in the popularity of PU foam and a debate on whether it should be a substitute for grout pumping. In many cases, it is a better replacement for mudjacking and it has shown to work exceptionally well across different projects in the construction industry. But it's also good to know more detailed information about it before completely joining this trend. Call (334) 721-5205 for more information.

Poly Leveling Concrete Ingredients

PU foam is a byproduct of reacting polyols and diisocyanates, which are both derived from crude oil. The diisocyanates contain toluene diisocyanate (TDI) or methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), or both, with a variety of polyols. Other ingredients include methylene chloride and hydrogen cyanide. Some of these chemicals are known as carcinogens that may cause cancer in animals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) being exposed to the isocyanates can impact health negatively such as by causing respiratory problems, eye irritation, and skin damage.

That’s why it is important to hire one of are Montgomery concrete raising experts instead of doing it yourself without proper training and equipment. Our team makes sure that you are safe and sound from the toxic chemicals during and after the PolyLevel lifting operation. Don’t run the risk of exposing yourself and others around you to the potential health hazards of this advance foam. Call one of our professionals today in order to reduce health-related risks and we will perform your concrete lifting safely and correctly from start to finish.

 Additional Poly Jacking Information

It’s important to note that Polyurethane is not acceptable at the recycling centers. At some point in time, concrete will eventually be too damaged to repair and must be replaced. When that time comes, any concrete that is torn apart and contains polyurethane material underneath, will not be accepted at concrete recycling centers. When concrete is to be removed, it is the owner’s responsibility to pay for and safely remove the PU foam. This foam must be disposed at your nearest toxic waste facility.