Mudjacking
Mudjacking is an innovative method for raising, stabilizing, and removing dynamic sedimentary rock blocks from concrete slabs in a masonry project. This method offers the advantages of precast or poured concrete blocks as well as pre-fabricated walls that can be bolted or cemented together. Unlike in conventional wall applications, in mudjacking the blocks are excavated and embedded in the soil with the aid of hydraulic excavators or a sloping forklift. A hole called a pit is first dug to the required depth and then the blocks are inserted into it. Once the pit is filled with dirt or mud from the upper layer of blocks is secured and the lower layer of gravel is poured or shot into the pit.
Mudjacking is a preferred method for leveling and raising concreted concrete slabs in all kinds of projects. It addresses the subtle changes in surface texture caused by settlement processes and restores the structural stability of the concrete through compaction. It can also sound complex but it is not. The repair process generally takes no more than an hour from start to complete (though larger projects may require more time) and often only takes a few seconds from beginning to end.
One of the many advantages of mudjacking as a foundation repair technique is that it can be performed on site at the construction site or within the precast/ poured walled-site environment. In other words, it does not require the expense and inconvenience of travel. Furthermore, mudjacking can be done during any stage of the precast/ poured project to address foundation repair needs such as lifting or redirecting settling slabs, stabilizing settling concrete or redirecting dislocation problems in wall projects.
What Is Mudjacking?
The actual procedure begins with the digging of sizable “pit” holes, which are quite similar to the excavations used by professional contractors when they perform concrete leveling. The pits are later filled with grout and compacted mud and then topped off with a layer of topsoil to further lock in the materials and keep them in place. Then, a specially designed truck with a hydraulic pump is inserted into the pit, and the pit is drained and filled with a variety of material. The pump then starts up and starts to move freely, with the truck’s mud nozzle spraying high volumes of water into the mud, which helps to break apart the compacted material and agitate the mud holes. By this time, several small mud holes have been created, and the contractor will either level or redirect these holes to make them less noticeable during the upcoming rear leveling.
Once all the mudjacking holes have been excavated, rebar will be placed over them and then the entire area between them and the dirt wall filled with rebar will be covered with more layers of mud, just as the first stage of excavation was done. All the while, workers will be busy working on the top of the hill, leveling any voids and compacting additional layers of mud. Once all of this is complete, the area can then be covered with rebar and compacted again. This entire process should be completed before year can be installed on the exterior walls. Once the interior walls have been sealed and secured, the company will then be allowed to install any final doors or windows, and can start making money by selling any surplus real.
Although there is some argument about whether or not mudjacking actually increases the structural integrity of concrete slabs, it is very widely used by construction companies because of its cheap cost, easy accessibility, and quick recovery time. In many cases, it is preferred over other concrete slab restoration methods because it is less costly than concrete cutting, which can be a long, complicated process, and it is a preferred method because it is a self-cleaning, reusable technique that avoids the need for expensive sealing and repair techniques. In addition, with regular use, mudjacking repairs are less likely to become a problem in the future, as it has proven to improve the structural strength of concrete slabs over time. This can help to ensure that newly constructed buildings are more stable and safer for everyone, even those that are proposed to be ground level.
