Whether it is a sunken concrete walkway or other concrete slab on your property, seeing it slowly sink into the ground can be frustrating and worrisome for sure. Thankfully, there are contractors who can use their special skills and equipment to jack a slab of concrete back into place and stabilize it so it can be as good as new. This process is known as slab jacking to most, but can also be sometimes referred to as pressure grouting. If you are considering hiring a contractor for slab jacking on your property, you are bound to have a few questions. 

What exactly is slab jacking?

Slab jacking is the process of using a filler material, such as grout or cement, to lift a sunken piece of concrete back up where it should be on top of the ground. This is accomplished with a series of hoses that are placed into the concrete through a drilled hole or beneath the concrete through a pathway in the ground. Once the grout or filler material is pumped into place, the slab slowly comes up to its intended resting position. Then the material must cure before the slab is ready to once again withstand pressure. Slab jacking can be used to raise everything from home foundations to patios and everything in between. 

How long does the slab jacking process take?

The slab jacking process is pretty simple, so it really doesn't take that long. However, if you have several individual sections of concrete that need to be raised, such as a multi-sectional walkway, it can take a little while because each piece will have to be raised individually. You will have to wait for the material pumped into the ground beneath the concrete slab to cure before putting pressure on the area and this can take some time. 

Can you do slab jacking on your own?

Some DIY homeowners do try to perform slab jacking on their own with other methods other than what professionals use. For example, you might use an automotive jack to raise a piece of concrete and then fill the area beneath with cement. Even though this is possible, the results are hardly anything close to traditional slab jacking, which offers a much more controlled lift. Plus, slab jacking without the proper equipment and experience can leave you with a damaged concrete slab because the piece must be raised at even intervals. 

Share