Concrete Floor Repair & Leveling

Before & After

August 12, 2020  |  Before & After Concrete Replacement Midwest soils expand and contract with moisture and dry cycles, which can cause concrete to crack. Most of the time, Thrasher Foundation Repair can rescue concrete before it is damaged beyond repair and add many years to the life of driveways, sidewalks and steps. However, if your concrete is not reparable and needs to be replaced.

August 12, 2020  |  Before & After Settling Driveway, Garage Door Fixed with Master Mudjackers in Lenexa, KS The driveway of this Lenexa, KS home had settled 6", creating a drop in front of the garage door. Thrasher Foundation Repair strategically injected structural fill.

May 01, 2019  |  Before & After Concrete Driveway Joint Sealant Adds Protection Against Future Damage Our silicone-based sealant, NexusPro, looks great, and works better than traditional, off-the-shelf caulking to protect your concrete from the elements.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the different kinds of cracks in a concrete basement floor? 

  Basement floor cracks are normal and in many cases don’t need to be repaired. Cracks with heaving, gaps greater than 1/8” or wall-floor joint cracks can signal a larger foundation problem, or can let water, moisture, and dangerous soil gasses into your home, and should be inspected by a professional to determine if repair or sealing is necessary.

• Is my uneven or cracked basement floor a sign of foundation issues? 

  In many cases, basement floor cracks are caused by normal settlement or concrete shrinkage and not cause for concern. Larger cracks or gaps between the floor and foundation wall can let in water and moisture which can lead to foundation problems or basement water intrusion over time. Cracks combined with heaving is a signal that the soil beneath the basement floor is expanding, which can also lead to foundation problems or significant basement floor damage. If you notice large or growing basement floor cracks, it’s a good idea to have a professional foundation repair contractor out to inspect and recommend the best solution.

• How do you repair concrete cracks in a basement floor?  

  In many cases, basement floor cracks can be repaired by filling and sealing to prevent water intrusion. Our experts provide a thorough inspection to determine if the basement floor cracks are a signal of a larger foundation issue and if so, will recommend the best solution for repair.

• Why do concrete floors get dips or uneven areas? 

  Since masonry is more likely to break than bend, concrete floors that are uneven are generally cracked and/or broken as well. If your foundation is settling, it may be lifting the concrete floor as the rest of the foundation experiences movement. There are also times where the slab floor can lift or sink independently of the walls. Concrete slab floors crack and settle when the soils underneath them shrink, settle or wash away. Likewise, a concrete slab will lift, or “heave”, when the soils underneath expand.

• How do you level a concrete floor? 

  At Thrasher, we use PolyLevel® for concrete floor leveling because it’s a fast and effective way to lift and stabilize sinking concrete. Polylevel polyurethane foam is pumped beneath concrete slabs through tiny ports about the size of a penny. Initially, Polylevel flows like water, filling even the smallest cracks and crevices in the soil. It quickly expands and hardens, lifting the concrete slabs above it and compressing the soil around it at the same time. Polylevel is waterproof, so it will never wash out, and it won’t degrade over time due to temperature extremes. It’s environmentally friendly, too, with no environmentally harmful chemical leaching. Best of all, Polylevel cures quickly, allowing your concrete floor to be used normally the same day.

• What’s the difference between PolyLevel® and mudjacking for concrete floor leveling? 

  There are several differences between PolyLevel and mudjacking – the material used, the installation process, and of course, the results. Mudjacking material is made up of a mud-cement-slurry mixture while PolyLevel is a lightweight, strong high-density polyurethane foam. Mudjacking requires a messy, disruptive installation process and larger port size than PolyLevel polyurethane foam. And finally, mudjacking doesn’t address the underlying issue (stability) as well as PolyLevel does. Concrete floors sink and crack due to the soil below expanding, contracting, washing out and leaving voids into which heavy concrete slabs sink. Mudjacking material is heavy, adding more weight on top of the already unstable soil, and is susceptible to the same issues of wash out and void creation. PolyLevel is waterproof, so it won’t wash away or degrade over time. During installation, the expanding foam not only raises concrete slabs, but also compacts the soil around it, adding stability to help prevent future sinking and settling. You can read more about PolyLevel vs. mudjacking here on our blog. 

• What other types of concrete floor repairs do you do? 

  In addition to lifting, leveling and repairing concrete floor cracks, we also offer resurfacing for concrete floors with greater damage, such as flaking, pitting or crumbling. We use ResurfacePro to give a brand-new look and restore functionality.

• Once the concrete floor crack repairs are complete, can I finish my basement? 

  Yes. In fact, it’s always a good idea to have your basement and foundation inspected and repaired before finishing the space, rather than finding issues down the road and having to rip out and refinish to accommodate necessary repairs.