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Concrete Lifting

You don’t have to just deal with cracking, sinking, or crumbling concrete around your home. Learn how quick and easy polyurethane foam injections can be & schedule a free concrete inspection today! 

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Concrete Problem Signs

When concrete slabs crack and sink due to soil compaction or wash-out, they not only turn your once-new driveway, patio, pool deck or sidewalk into an eyesore, they can also create potentially dangerous tripping hazards.

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Uneven Driveway and Sidewalk

Damage to your property’s driveway and sidewalk is avoidable and fairly easy to rectify. Of course, it is best to catch the issue early where possible.

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Cracked Concrete

Cracking concrete around your home need not be a reason to panic, but it is certainly a problem sign that you should not ignore.

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Sinking Concrete Slab

If you have started to notice sunken or uneven concrete slabs around your property, there could be many issues at work. Here are the problem signs that you should be aware of.

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Unlevel Steps

If steps around your home have become unlevel over recent weeks or months, it is time to contact a professional repair service to get to the bottom of the issue.

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Do you or your family members stumble over uneven or cracked concrete slabs in your patio, driveway, or sidewalk? Do you notice your concrete flaking, pitting, or spalling? These concrete issues can destroy the appearance of your beautiful midwestern home—and outdated solutions like mudjacking and even entire concrete replacement can be a waste of your time and money. You can prevent these issues from worsening with Polyrenewal™ concrete lifting from your local experts at Foundation Recovery Systems.  

Causes of Concrete Damage

When concrete slabs crack and sink due to soil compaction or wash-out, they not only turn your once-new driveway, patio, pool deck or sidewalk into an eyesore, they can also create potentially dangerous tripping hazards.

As a homeowner, you don’t just have to worry about your own concrete slabs; you should be concerned with the slabs that make up the street that goes past your house. 

During colder months, your street’s slabs contract, opening up the joints between them. Those joints then become filled with pebbles and other debris. Then, when the warm weather returns, the slabs expand again — only the joints that were designed to absorb this expansion are now filled with material that won’t compress. This leaves the expansion pressure nowhere to go except up your driveway. This “street creep,” as it is known, exerts incredible pressure on your home and can cause all sorts of problems. 

Cracked and sunken concrete isn’t the end of the world, however. With the right technology and the right know-how, it can be lifted and leveled, so that it can be enjoyed as it was meant to be.

Moisture is concrete’s strongest enemy. It seeps into the pores of untreated concrete, and when temperatures drop, especially during freeze-thaw cycles, that trapped moisture expands as it turns to ice. This expansion destroys the pores and weakens the concrete. This results in concrete slabs that can pit and flake. Concrete’s porous nature also makes it susceptible to staining when left untreated.

When your home was built, the contractor likely moved the soil around the building site resulting in poorly compacted soil. And even when it is compacted well, it’s never as stable as the original soil. Over time, this can cause voids to form and slabs to settle.

Another cause of soil failure is drought. During dry conditions or even just during periods of warm weather and low precipitation, the soil under your concrete will dry out and shrink, creating voids. The concrete above eventually cracks and sinks into these empty spaces; especially if any weight is placed on it.

When the rains return, the water has an even easier pathway under the slab due to cracks and crevices left over from the dry period. And this wet, soft soil is just too weak to support the concrete above it. In the worst case, the soil erodes and washes away completely, leaving behind large voids that cannot support the weight of the concrete above.

Soil washout or erosion is a process by which the soil becomes weak and loose before being blown or washed away entirely. This can cause issues for your land and property in a number of ways. Soil washout can lead to cracking and sinking slabs that affect the health and stability of your home.

Soil washout also causes the quality of the soil in question to deteriorate. This in turn makes the erosion more dramatic and further depletes the soil, and so on. As a result, soil erosion becomes exponentially worse over time. This has an impact on your yard as well as your home. 

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Award-Winning Service

Concrete Lifting Solutions

Our same-day concrete solutions can boost your home’s curb appeal, and potentially its market value, too. We don’t deal in temporary bandages. We provide you with quick, clean, and permanent solutions that you can feel confident in. Explore below.

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Driveway Lifting

Cracking and uneven concrete in your driveway is a warning sign that you should not ignore. Concrete driveway lifting services are important solutions.

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Concrete Pool Deck Repair

Your pool deck is a place for fun and parties. Don’t let it sink. Reach out to area experts when you spot signs of concrete damage.

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Concrete Step Repair

If concrete steps around your home have begun to sink, crack, or become uneven, it is time to call in the professionals and address the issue head-on.

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Concrete Floor Repair

Many things can cause concrete surfaces in your home to sink or crack. Concrete lifting services can help you to repair both the causes and appearance of damaged floors.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CONCRETE LIFTING SOLUTIONS

Is Concrete Lifting the Right Solution for Me? 

When your crumbling, cracking concrete becomes too much, concrete lifting can be the saving grace of your home’s paths and entryways. At Foundation Recovery Systems, we’re proud to offer you concrete solutions that can be installed in one day and paid for through financing plans that fit your budget. Our customer reviews show that Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, and Illinois all trust us to fix damaged concrete the right way, the first time.  

We know the frustration of dealing with tripping hazards and unsightly fissures in your concrete. We want to take the pressure off your concrete, and your mind by offering free home inspections. Our certified concrete and foundation specialists will analyze your whole home to find the true source of your issues. We’re also proud to provide you with a free, no-pressure quote detailing our recommended services. Start your concrete revitalization journey today!  

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FAQs

Yes. In fact, we recommend that our PolyRenewal™  customers seal the cracks and joints of their newly lifted concrete with our PolyRenewal™  solution, as it will help protect their concrete for many years to come.

Yes. Because it is silicone-based, not urethane-based, PolyRenewal™  won’t degrade over time, even when exposed to UV radiation and extreme temperatures. This ensures that it remains flexible and waterproof for years.

Yes. PolyRenewal™ is made from an environmentally friendly material that is waterproof and won’t degrade over time. This means it won’t leach harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil.

PolyRenewal™  cures very quickly. In fact, you can drive your car over a driveway slab just 15 minutes after it’s been lifted with PolyRenewal™ .

PolyRenewal™  is actually quite cost-effective because it offers a solution that is long-lasting, unlike mudjacking and slab replacement. And, your concrete will never cost less to repair than it does right now.

If you find yourself concerned about the cost of pool deck repair, you may be tempted to try and take on repairs on your own. After all, there are plenty of other DIY solutions you can do around your home, so why not this one? DIY pool deck repair solutions, unfortunately, rarely work out in a homeowner’s favor. Instead, these endeavors can become costly and riddled with errors, meaning that you’re actually going to end up paying more if you try to DIY the fix. 

Concerns About Costs  

Most of the time, homeowners who try to lift their concrete on their own are concerned about the cost of professional repairs. If you’re already someone who enjoys DIY, you might know that certain DIY projects can save you lots of money — after all, making food at home is cheaper than eating out, so why wouldn’t concrete lifting follow the same idea? The problem is that concrete lifting isn’t at all like making food, and DIY work can actually cost a homeowner far more than professional help.  

For starters, you’ll need to find the materials and tools you need to bring your concrete back up to its original height. If you don’t have any similar projects planned for the future, many of these tools may be of one-time use. Professionals already have many of the tools they need on hand to restore your pool deck. That means they can afford the hundreds of dollars in tools they need for pool deck lifting, whereas you probably can’t. Similarly, experts can reach out to industry peers for materials they might need, garnering industry discounts you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of.  

The Dangers of Errors  

Most of the time, DIY mistakes aren’t that big of a deal. If you mess up a recipe, even to the point of complete disaster, you’ll just mess up a couple dollars’ worth of food and have to get takeout. Making a mistake while trying to lift your pool deck, however, can make the structure effectively unusable. For starters, you may end up leaving your pool deck more uneven than you found it, putting you and your family at risk of injuries. You may also put the other nearby concrete structures you have in place at structural risk.  

Then there’s the question of your property’s value. If you fail to appropriately fix your pool deck, or if you make a mistake while trying to repair it, you can put your home’s market value at risk. You risk losing up to 30 percent of your home’s market value if you try to list it with a damaged pool deck or any other type of concrete failure on the property. That might not be a big problem now, but if you’re ever going to sell your home, you could end up taking a big hit on it. If you work with professionals, you’ll be far less likely to eventually sell a home that’s lost some of its value due to damaged concrete. 

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Why Concrete Lifting is Needed

concrete step repair with polyurethane injections

Helps Improve Your Home’s Accessibility 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the floor itself and different flooring materials are direct contributors to over 2 million fall injuries per year. When homeowners lift their concrete to eliminate tripping hazards, they make their homes safer for all visitors. Since instances of falling go up with every decade of life, you’ll be protecting people of all ages including older family members, and children.  

water pooling on concrete

Prevents Water Pooling on and Around Your Concrete

Uneven and cracked concrete is set into motion typically because of soil expanding and contracting from absorbing rainwater or snowmelt. When the soil expands, it exerts pressure on your concrete, then when it shrinks, it creates voids in the soil beneath it. As the soil fluctuates, it can no longer support your concrete pathway, and it will crack or sink. When this unevenness is created, it provides a container for water to pool, creating unsightly puddles and even escalating the soil movement below your concrete.  

concrete in front of house

Improves Curb Appeal

Concrete lifting can make a huge difference when it comes to the outside appearance of your home. You can peacefully enjoy your home without worrying about cracks or puddles ruining your home’s image. Concrete lifting is especially helpful when you’re putting your home on the market, as potential buyers won’t have to worry about repairing it in the future. At Foundation Recovery Systems, we also have transferable warranties, meaning that our guarantee extends to the buyers that you sell your home to.  

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Common Concrete Lifting Tips & Mistakes 

Helpful Tips

  • Opt for PolyRenewal™ Injections  

PolyRenewal™ injections are the modern, lightweight response to the age-old problem of concrete cracking or unevenness. It’s a less invasive alternative to other common concrete solutions, and it can be completed in an afternoon. Installers drill penny-sized holes into your concrete driveway or sidewalk and inject polyurethane foam that will lift your concrete back to its original position—bringing it closer to being even and being safer for you and your family.  

  • Keep An Eye on Your Foundation 

If you’re noticing concrete cracks, you’re likely also going to be dealing with foundation cracks, basement leaks, crawl space issues, and more. Since the root cause of both foundation and concrete issues is soil, you likely will have some structural issues going on, or impending. When our certified field inspectors come out to your home, they inspect your entire home to ensure they locate the root cause of your issues and fix everything once and for all.  

  • Make Sure That Your Yard Is Positively Graded 

Yard grading is vital to concrete and foundation health. A negative yard grade is when rainwater drains toward your home instead of away. When this happens, water is free to pool and soak up in the soil, causing it to expand and set concrete and foundation issues into motion. Encouraging your yard to have a positive grade, or making sure water drains away from the home, can make or break your home’s health.  

Mistakes To Avoid

  • Entire Concrete Replacement 

It’s a common mistake made by many homeowners. At the sight of a concrete crack, many homeowners will pay for replacements of their concrete driveway, sidewalk, or patio. However, this is just a bandage. Since the problems stem from the lack of support on the soil, cracks will surely appear again if voids in the soil aren’t addressed.  

  • Ignoring Your Gutters 

Though far away from your concrete and foundation, gutters are vital when it comes to the health and functionality of your home and foundation. If water is allowed to pool around your foundation and concrete, this accelerates the soil expansion process, causing cracks and flooding in your home and concrete. Clearing out your gutters periodically can ensure that the soil beneath your concrete has decent water drainage.  

  • Slab Jacking or Mudjacking  

Mudjacking, also known as slab jacking, is an outdated process of concrete lifting and tends to weigh down your concrete over time. It’s installed similarly to PolyRenewal™ but is typically messier and more invasive. Installers drill large holes into your concrete and inject a heavy mud slurry into your concrete (hence “mud” jacking). You may end up having to have this process done multiple times, which is why it’s better to stick with polyurethane injections that won’t weigh down your concrete.  

Find your service area

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City has clay-like, expansive soils with a climate that experiences heavy rainfall that leads to flooding in the spring that can damage your home’s foundation, basement, concrete, and crawl space.

Moberly, MO

Moberly, MO

If you live in Moberly, where it rains a lot and the soil is fertile clay, you can expect water damage to your foundation, basement, concrete, and crawl space.

Springfield, MO

Springfield, MO

Gravelly soil in Springfield is prone to erosion and creates an unstable base for your foundation. Give your home the extra support it needs to stand strong.

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO

Clay-like soils and a wet climate in St. Louis can cause flooding, resulting in structural damage to your home's foundation as well as the basement, concrete, and crawl space.

Des Moines, IA

Des Moines, IA

Water damage can harm your home's foundation, basement, concrete, and crawl space if you live in Des Moines, Iowa, because of the city's silty-clay loam and humid climate.

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    Foundation Recovery Systems Service Map

    Our Service Areas

    Des Moines Location

    2401 SE Creekview Dr.
    Ankeny, IA 50021

    Kansas City Location

    7280 NW 87th Terrace, Suite C-210
    Kansas City, MO 64153
    (816) 774-1539

    Lee's Summit Location

    211 SE State Route 150
    Lee's Summit, MO 64082
    (816) 774-1539

    Moberly Location

    1401 US-24
    Moberly, MO 65270
    (660) 202-8662

    Springfield Location
    1820 N Barnes Ave
    Springfield, MO 65803
    (417) 612-8286
    St. Louis Location

    1625 Larkin Williams rd.
    Fenton, MO 63026
    (314) 207-9995

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