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What is Mudjacking in Construction?

What is Mudjacking?
Mudjacking is one of the best ways to repair concrete because it only takes a few hours to finish. Mudjacking is a way to lift asphalt slabs on sidewalks, patios, and driveways. It is a type of concrete leveling. In mudjacking, the slab is lifted back up to its original height by pumping cement slurry—usually a mixture of sand, water, and cement—under it through a hole. Mudjacking and concrete leveling professionals are the only ones who should do this job.

Mudjacking
Fig: Mudjacking
Courtesy: masonrycontractor.com

Characteristics of Mudjacking:

i) The concrete floor is leveled and still structurally sounds; it needs to be moved faster to where it should be.
ii) The customer doesn’t need to replace the concrete floor completely because they don’t have enough money or time, but they want a higher floor until it’s time for a full replacement.

How Does Mudjacking Work?
The process of mudjacking includes the following steps:
Step 1. Drilling Holes:
The first step is to drill 2-inch holes into the concrete. In most cases, the holes will be strategically positioned to raise the concrete slab. There is always more than one hole; typically, there are three to five. Those in charge of the repairs would place them at regular intervals, either in a predetermined pattern or at a constant distance from the concrete’s perimeter. You may rest assured that this will not just be a bunch of dots randomly placed.

Step 2. Slurry Lifting:
A nozzle is inserted into the holes to retrieve a liquid-like fluid from beneath the concrete. The mud, however, is not mud at all but rather something else that only resembles mud but is not sticky. The building industry calls this material “slurry” because of its viscosity. To make slurry, combine Portland cement, topsoil, and water into a pump, and the slurry elevates the concrete surface and fills all the ground’s holes and crevices. When it dries, it forms a solid base.

Step 3. Finishing Touches:
After pumping the slurry under all the concrete slabs that need to be raised, the crew will double-check that everything is back in its original position and slope. Once the concrete has been repaired, the 2-inch holes drilled into it will be smoothed out. There will be visible fresh concrete rings where the repair was made. When exposed to dirt, weather, and water, they might gradually lose their bright color and become less noticeable.

Advantages of Mudjacking:

Disadvantages of Mudjacking:

Conclusion:
Mudjacking is a good way to fix foundations that have been damaged by shifting or settling. Mudjacking is one of the most popular ways to fix a foundation because it is quick and cheap. But mudjacking can only fix a foundation properly if the right tools and materials are used. Mudjacking can be used for fixing broken sidewalks, uneven patios, sunken porches, sinking parking lots, and more.

References:
1. “What Is Mudjacking? | Concrete Leveling.” Angi, 4 Nov. 2021, www.angi.com/articles/what-is-mudjacking.htm.
2. Gambrick. “What Is Mud Jacking?” Modern Design, 20 Sept. 2022, gambrick.com/what-is-mud-jacking.
3. “Mudjacking in Construction | Concrete Repair Tips.” Mudjacking in Construction | Concrete Repair Tips, www.constructioncost.co/mud-jacking.html. Accessed 30 Oct. 2022.
4. “Slab Jacking – Lifting Concrete Slabs – Concrete Network.” Slab Jacking – Lifting Concrete Slabs – Concrete Network, www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/slab_jacking/what_is_slab_jacking.htm. Accessed 30 Oct. 2022.
5. Brown, David. “Mudjacking: Everything You Need to Know.” Foundation Professionals of Florida, 27 Mar. 2021, www.foundationprosfl.com/mudjacking-everything-you-need-to-know.
6. CementConcrete. “Mud Jacking: Meaning, Process, Foundation, Cost| Polyjacking Vs Mudjacking Concrete – Cement Concrete.” Cement Concrete, 11 Nov. 2021, cementconcrete.org/structural/foundation-design/mud-jacking-polyjacking/3383.

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Kanwarjot Singh

Kanwarjot Singh is the founder of Civil Engineering Portal, a leading civil engineering website which has been awarded as the best online publication by CIDC. He did his BE civil from Thapar University, Patiala and has been working on this website with his team of Civil Engineers.

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