CHICAGO MUDJACKING & CONCRETE LEVELING

We offer concrete leveling and mudjacking in Chicago for a variety of problem areas. We can level most concrete sidewalks, driveway leveling, garage floor leveling, raise sunk steps, fix un-level patios, porches, garage floors, and interior & exterior slabs. We offer residential mudjacking services, and commercial mudjacking.

We offer mudjacking in the Chicago, Illinois and  the Cook County area, and outlying towns including: Arlington Heights, Des Plaines,  Schamburg, Waukegan, Winnetka, Wilmette, Elgin, River Forest, Downers Grove, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Elmhurst, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Gurnee, Grayslake, Buffalo Grove, Naperville, Wheaton, Oak Lawn, Blue Island, South Holland, Cicero, Oak Park, Elk Grove, Bridgeview, Carol Stream, Dupage, Blue Island, and many more. We also serve Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. Please call Chicago Mudjacking today to ask about your city.

Mudjacking is a three-part process…

The grade of your household is more important than you think. With Midwestern rain and conditions, the level of your walks can be key to keeping your foundation dry and dependable. Whether it’s a gap within your porch or a small slant toward your home, mudjacking can be the key to fixing your pavement.

Most mudjacking jobs cost from $400-$1500, but the price varies depending on the scope of the work. If you’re interested in a FREE quote, please send us a message via our website form.

Mudjacking generally helps protect your home by keeping the water away. If you have a slab that pitches toward your home, rain, rot and mold are potential problems. Unleveled walkways and steps, and concrete slabs, can also be major tripping hazards. A insurance claim, caused by someone tripping, is much more costly than getting the slabs fixed. So, if you’re in doubt, give us a call.

This simple answer is Mother Nature. Over time the soil beneath your concrete shifts and settles. This is usually caused by the freezing and thawing that we experience with our Chicago weather. But it can also be caused by water seepage, either nature or from a leaking pipe. The running water displaces the soil and caused it to shift… and that how your concrete moves.

Replacing your concrete slabs is expensive! Labor alone can take up to 8 hours for workers replacing concrete. However fixing a slab that is crooked may only take a few hours and no drying time. Unlike replacing a slab, most mudjacking can be walked on within minutes of the process.

Usually we do not need you to be home to do the mudjacking. However if we are fixing a problem in a garage or other interior location, we’ll need you there to let us in. Other than that, we’ll gladly level your concrete while you’re away at work, or just doing something more fun than watching us work 🙂

Yes! In most cases, mudjacking costs as little as a third as much as replacing concrete.

That depends on the type of mudjacking and how much area needs to be covered. For most jobs, you can expect us to be working for anywhere from one hour to a full day. However, a benefit of mudjacking is that you should be able to walk on the concrete almost immediately after we are finished, rather than having to wait for the concrete to set or dry.

The pump used for mudjacking is similar in volume to a lawnmower.

As for dust and debris, mudjacking involves drilling small holes in the concrete, which will cause a small amount of dust. Certain services require the use of a concrete saw, which can create a lot of dust. If you are concerned, you can request that we use water during the process to keep dust to a minimum.

The space we will need depends on the type of mudjacking or levelling services needed. Send us a message for answers to questions about your specific mudjacking needs.

While mudjacking is usually a cheap and easy alternative to full concrete replacement, there are some situations in which you will need to replace concrete. If your slabs are heavily damaged with a lot of cracks, full replacement is probably necessary. The location of the area that needs attention could also pose a problem for mudjacking. Every need is different, so send us a message with questions and to get your free estimate today! Or if you are looking for poly foam concrete leveling near me, visit our friends, The Concrete Hero. 

Furry critters that burrow or dig holes under concrete slabs cause the soil supporting the concrete to become weak. This enhances the possibility of your concrete cracking, buckling, or sinking. However, rodents aren’t always to blame: there are several other potential causes of concrete problems.

Any outside forces that cause the soil that supports a concrete slab to erode, shift, or weaken could have caused your concrete problems. Water damage, tree roots, or improperly mixed, cured, or installed concrete are all potential causes.  

Usually not. However, wet ground is more susceptible to small ruts created by the mudjacking pump and workmans boots required for the job. We are always extra careful to not damage a sprinkler system, so no need to worry.

Mudjacking requires concrete to shift or move so that it becomes even with the surrounding slabs. If there are cracks in the underside of the concrete, this movement can cause them to grow. However, mudjacking is not the cause of these small cracks. Experienced professionals like Chicago Mudjacking use the correct process, and additional cracking is very unlikely.

If your concrete is older, you will probably notice a slight difference in color between the patched holes and your existing slabs. New concrete is lighter in color and better matches to the color of patching. Over time, the color of the patching will darken to match the surrounding slabs.

There are mudjacking and concrete levelling companies out there that do not use the right methods, which puts your concrete at risk of cracking. That’s why you should go with a trusted, professional company like Chicago Mudjacking!

Mudjacking, or slab jacking is basically concrete leveling. We move concrete slabs so they are equal in height to surrounding slabs. This is done by drilling small holes in the slab and using a pump to fill in the space under the slab with grout. This is repeated until the concrete comes level with surrounding slabs, then the small holes are filled with more concrete.  And that is how mudjacking works.

Unless your concrete is heavily damaged or cracked, concrete leveling is definitely a better option than full replacement. At approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of replacement, concrete leveling is a great value option. Additionally, leveling only takes a couple of hours, rather than several days for most replacement jobs, and leveled concrete will be ready to walk on within hours, rather than the days it takes for new concrete to set.

A void is space in the soil under the concrete that can cause the concrete above to crack, buckle, or settle. Mudjacking fills voids and reinforces the soil so concrete can come level and stay strong.

When you hire a professional, experienced company like Chicago Mudjacking, you can rest assured that your services will last many years. We use a superior mix that does not deteriorate or compact over time. Natural elements can cause supporting soil to shift or erode again, but maintenance is simple, as we can use the existing holes on subsequent services.

Unfortunately, the mudjacking process cannot lower concrete slabs. Mudjacking can raise surrounding slabs to level the area, or concrete grinding can help level uneven concrete.

Usually, yes. If your concrete has shifted or buckling because of tree roots, we can use the mudjacking or leveling processes to fix the affected area. Unfortunately, if a tree root has caused your concrete slabs to rise, we cannot use these processes to lower the concrete.

As with many details related to mudjacking, the specific number of holes we will drill depends on the size of the area we work on and the type of services required. If you are looking for the best mudjacking company in Chicago, give us a call and we can discuss your project. 

After a mudjacking or leveling service, some maintenance is required to keep your concrete level and looking good. You can expect to periodically re-caulk joints or maintain proper drainage. When you contact us for your free estimate, we will let you know what kind of maintenance to expect.

Concrete is an important element of most home foundations, garage floors, sidewalks, patios, basement walls, even indoor decorative elements. While concrete is a durable material, it still requires occasional maintenance to keep it looking good and working well. If you make a habit of periodically inspecting your concrete surfaces, you can catch signs of the most common concrete problems and address them before they get too serious.

Here are 6 of the most common concrete problems and how you can address them:

Cracking

Cracks in concrete are not necessarily an issue until they go all the way through the slab. Usually, cracks start at the surface of the concrete and grow over time. If you notice cracks during your periodic inspections, act quickly. First, clean out any dust or debris from the crack with a stiff-bristled brush, then fill in the crack with concrete filler. Finish the project by applying a sealant over the patched area. This is a simply DIY repair and all of these materials are available at most hardware stores.

Buckling

When large trees grow near concrete, their strong roots can cause the concrete to lift and crack – also known as buckling. Extreme weather can also cause concrete to buckle. Buckled concrete is a fairly serious issue that can only be repaired by removing both the affected concrete and the tree root that caused the problem, before replacing the concrete and patching the surrounding area to prevent future issues.

Crazing

You may not have heard the term “crazing” before, but you have probably seen it in your concrete. Crazing refers to a web or network of small cracks in the surface of the slab. These cracks are a superficial issue that do not really affect the structural integrity of your concrete, but can lower the property’s aesthetic value. To fix crazing on your internal, decorative concrete structures, simply apply a layer of epoxy paint. For outdoor crazing, you will need to cover the affected area with a layer of resurfacing concrete. Do not try and cover outdoor crazing with a sealer or surface hardener, as these can actually make the cracks more visible.

Discoloration

While discoloration in your concrete may not seem like a big deal, stains can easily spread and become impossible to remove. Lightened or darkened areas of concrete may result from improper installation or stains from cleaning chemicals or car fluids. For most stains, you can scrub them away with a stiff bristled brush and a solution of water and vinegar. For tougher stains, you may need to use a commercial cleaner. As these more potent solutions can cause stains to worsen if applied incorrectly, consult a mudjacking expert before you begin.

Scaling
Scaling, or the loss of concrete surface layer, is an issue in places like Illinois, with snowy and icy winters and the use of de-icing salt. Unless you repair scaled concrete, the problem will only get worse over time. The way to repair scaled concrete is to rough up the entire affected surface and apply fresh layer of resurfacing concrete. After the concrete has cured overnight, it is smart to apply a waterproofing finishing layer to prevent further weather-related issues. This is another project you can do yourself. For questions contact Chicago Mudjackers!

Sinking

When the soil under concrete erodes, whether due to water damage, rodent digging, or a number of other reasons, concrete slabs can sink and become uneven. The best (and cheapest) way to fix a sunken concrete slab is through mudjacking, when small holes are drilled in a concrete slab and a strong mixture infused into the underlying soil to raise the slab and make it level with surrounding concrete.

For questions, concerns, or a free quote, contact Chicago’s favorite mudjacking company and concrete experts today! https://chicago-mudjacking.com

Most likely no, and getting mudjacking when it is needed will help prevent potential future foundational issues.

The condition of the soil under concrete is what determines whether your concrete stays strong and level, or sinks and cracks. To ensure good soil quality under your homes foundation, work to make the ground on the outside of your home’s foundation slope away from the home. You will also want to keep your home’s drainage system working well to prevent soil erosion and water damage. Finally, do a periodic check of your home’s concrete and fill any holes or cracks you notice.

No, you do not need to seek a building permit to mudjack your property.