Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Sunken Concrete Steps

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois can help homeowners with sunken entryway steps to level their stairs and make their home a safer place to live and visit. Through various natural processes, steps can crack and begin to sink into the ground, causing an uneven surface for you and your guests to have to cross over to enter your home. Not only does this open up you and your family to potential accidents such as tripping or falling, but it also becomes a liability should a person outside your household fall on your property and become injured. Your home value may also be impacted since the appearance and integrity of your home is compromised. Here is some information about sunken concrete steps and what you as a homeowner can do to fix them…read on!

The Cause

When the foundation and steps for your home were first installed, the ground was packed as tightly as possible by the contractors before the slab was poured. Over time and with the help of natural processes, the soil beneath your steps and foundation can erode, causing larger and larger spaces to form beneath these areas. This erosion process is further exacerbated by moisture forming in these spaces and the freezing and thawing of the ground and these moisture pockets. Not only will more soil be moved and larger spaces be formed, but during the freezing portion of the process, an upheaval can further damage your steps, causing fissures to form, the stairs to sink into the spaces beneath them and the creation of even more moisture to seep into the ground beneath your steps, which will continue to worsen the problem. As any concrete repair specialist can tell you, the natural processes behind sunken concrete steps are a degenerative series of events that only worsen over time, causing more and more damage.

The Solution

There are two ways to solve the issues at hand. The first is to have a contractor chisel out the affected slab and steps, repack the ground beneath the spot and pour new concrete steps for your home. The second option you have is to contract a mudjacking company to drill into your current slab and steps to pump a slurry beneath the affected areas, reposition your steps to their original spot, seal the fissures and apply a protective barrier to ward off further deterioration. Most homeowners find the second option less invasive upon their families since not only is it less expensive, but also requires less time to complete the job and without the mess and possible damage associated with total replacements. Because of this, concrete repair is often a more appropriate fix that most families choose.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and the advantages of mudjacking for solving the problem of sunken concrete steps, call 309-373-2919 or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Sealing the Weather Out

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois can help your sidewalks, driveways and foundations be a little safer to use; however, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sealing concrete either before or after a mudjacking project or full slab replacement can help prevent the cracks that allow the soil beneath concrete to erode and begin the slow, but inevitable slippage that results in uneven walkways and foundations. Below is a little more information about why sealing concrete is a necessary step, especially with cold weather on the horizon…read on!

The Damage Potential

Porous surfaces are susceptible to infiltration by condensation, rain, sprinkler runoff and other sources of water. In colder weather, this can easily become frost or ice, which makes the trapped water’s volume expand, thereby causing pressure on the surfaces of the slab. Then, during the temperature highs of the daytime, frost and ice shards thaw, allowing the water to drain into the newly enlarged space. Over time, the surface of a slab can become cracked, allowing more moisture to begin the same process beneath the concrete with the added damaging factor of soil erosion to create enough stress on a crack that part of the slab can then give way. At this point, concrete repair work is inevitable, and much more costly than having a preventative treatment applied to nondamaged surfaces and any repaired or replaced slabs.

How Sealants Work

As with most materials’ surfaces, concrete has small flaws and pores caused by microscopic air bubbles that form during the mixing stage and are burst during the drying phase when your slabs are first poured. Ideally, a preventative sealant applied as soon as the surface has cured can lock out the moisture that begins the damage process caused by colder weather and water. However, at any point, a concrete sealant will bond to the imperfections of the surface, taking up the spaces that would be susceptible to moisture and the subsequent freezing process that occurs when temperatures drop. This effectively locks out the damaging factors and keeps your walkways and foundation safe from these natural processes. With one phone call to your local concrete repair service during the early stages of autumn, you can effectively protect your home from the subtle damages that occur every day during the harsh winters in Illinois. These treatments can be reapplied as recommended by a professional mudjacker or concrete supply company.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and how homeowners can prevent damages to their walkways and foundations by contracting a professional to apply a protective sealant, call 309-373-2919  or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Why Cracked Concrete Only Gets Worse

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois is a necessity to have safe walkways, smooth driveways and a stable foundation. Even though it would be nice if, like a wound, concrete would simply heal over, cracked concrete only worsens over time. Several reasons for this are typically at work to cause more damage to your slabs and, without intervention, these factors can cause full upheavals and present risk factors for the safety of your family and guests, plus put your home in jeopardy if the cracks cause breaches in your foundation. Here are a few of the factors that you may or may not be aware of that will create more problems as time marches on…read on!

Change Of The Season

In Cordova, Illinois, winter can be harsh, causing snow buildup and freezing the ground. It is this freezing point that begins the process of doing more damage to walkways, foundations and driveways that are cracked. Extreme temperatures not only cause all materials, even concrete, to become more brittle, but also freeze groundwater that may be trapped beneath the slabs in question. This freezing process will expand the packed dirt your concrete was poured on, typically in an uneven pattern, causing stress points to form and fracturing to take place. Without concrete repair work at this point, you will have even more of a breach to deal with because of the ground’s expansion and upheaval.

To make matters worse, once spring and summer roll around, the frozen ground thaws, creating more groundwater and once again, shrinking the soil underneath your concrete. This leaves a gap that can easily create the fulcrum for the slab to break apart more, which, in turn, gives a space for rainwater to build up and cause more groundwater to be present. The cycle then continues, with more groundwater to freeze, larger gaps being formed with the thaws and worsening conditions for your walkways.

Erosion

Soil erosion and natural processes can whittle away at the ground beneath your walkways, foundations, and driveways as well. Heavy rains or even overwatering lawns can cause an excess of water to build up beneath the surface of a damaged slab, creating conditions that allow soil to be carried away by moving water. Much like what happens with the seasonal cycles, soil erosion can cause a large gap to form beneath your concrete, allowing more damage to be incurred. If concrete repair services are not put in place, soil erosion can cause some of your slabs to become shifted or unlevel while simultaneously worsening visible fissures in the slabs. A concrete repair specialist can help reverse the damages and stop these harmful cycles from creating more expense down the road.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and why cracked concrete only worsens over time, call 309-373-2919 or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Safe Guarding Your Family

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois is an important, yet often overlooked, security measure to help safeguard your family from needless, avoidable injuries. Sealing cracks and leveling settled slabs back to their original position can cut down on incidences of tripping and falls. For some of your family, such as elderly, infirmed, disabled or youngsters, taking care of broken concrete means even more protection for those who need it most. Here are a few of the incidences that can occur if you have damaged walkways around your home…read on!

Tripping Accidents

The sudden jolt of tripping over uneven, broken concrete slabs can be very painful and aggravate existing medical conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, sciatica and other chronic back problems. You or one of your loved ones can also pull muscles in the back by having to suddenly adjust gait and regain balance to avoid a fall. Other potential injuries that concrete repair services can spare you and your family are: stubbed or broken toes, sprained ankles, ruptured knee, torn ligaments or tendons and strained muscles. Family members or guests with gait or inner ear problems will be at the most risk for tripping accidents if uneven walkways and broken slabs are not fixed.

Falls

Not all tripping accidents end with a fall; however, the ones that do can become a huge problem for your family and friends that end up taking a tumble. Minor scrapes, cuts, bruising and sprains are some of the least of the concerns when a person falls on your property due to broken concrete; yet, larger, more serious incidences can occur, particularly with elderly people with bone disorders, such as osteoporosis. A fall can result in broken bones, concussions or other serious traumas that require medical care. In these cases, the expense and suffering that can be spared with concrete repair services are incomparable—and may even become a lawsuit in the worst of cases. To avoid these types of problems, make sure to have any walkways around your home that have a gap of more than a half an inch replaced or repaired so that your friends and family are safe.

Avoiding The “Shovel Shot”

Caring for your walkways can even become a potential hazard, particularly in winter. While removing snow from your walkways, if your shovel hits a large crack or a sunken slab, chances are that the handle of the shovel you’re using will bounce back and hit you in the stomach. This is also true for stiff push brooms for summertime debris. While you probably won’t have any lasting problems from this type of accident, the painful experience can be completely avoided by having a concrete repair service level out your walkways.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL, call 309-373-2919 or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: What To Expect When You Contract A Mudjacking Project

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois is a great idea to add to your springtime cleanup list since it can dramatically improve the appearance of your home. Cracked walkways and sidewalks can subtly detract from the aesthetic appeal of freshly planted flower beds, gardens and general landscaping that you and your family will undoubtedly want to enjoy this time of year. So when you’re considering having your footpaths fixed to help your yard be a stunning setting for barbecues and other summertime entertaining opportunities, finding a solution that is faster, cheaper and doesn’t create a mess in your yard is crucial. Calling a mudjacking company to raise broken or sunken concrete slabs and seal cracks in your walkways can give you the solution you’re looking for. Here’s what to expect when you make that appointment…read on!

Assessment Stage

The first thing a mudjacking contractor is going to have to do is assess the current damages to your driveway, footpaths and sidewalks to not only repair what you are aware of that needs immediate care, but also to prevent further problems by providing crack sealing services. Your contractor will likely walk you through what they have found, pointing out problem areas and discussing what concrete repair solutions they are going to put into place for each area. You should get an estimate at this time and receive instructions to help you prepare for your service date.

Preparation

Since mudjacking is so much cleaner than traditional concrete repair methods, you should have only minor preparations to make for your service date. Before your appointment, you may want to trim up any overhanging branches on walkways, prune bushes so that they are out of the way and cover any sensitive plants as a just-in-case measure. Children’s toys and play structures that are near footpaths that can be moved should be put away for the safety of the workers that are coming out to repair your concrete. And if your driveway is also being worked on, you should consider finding alternate parking until your contractor tells you that it is safe to drive or park on the treated area.

Time Considerations

One of the best parts of contracting mudjacking services as opposed to traditional concrete repair methods is that the overall time that the job takes is considerably less. Most jobs are completed in a single day, so you won’t have to make accommodations for workers being around your home for prolonged periods of time. You can also go back to business as usual much sooner, taking down all of your preparations and moving any items that you removed from the site back to where they belong. Follow the instructions as to how long you should allow the repaired concrete to cure before you use the areas and you should have perfect pathways in no time.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and mudjacking services, call 309-373-2919 or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Crack Sealing

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois can provide you with level, solid walkways, steps and driveways; however, there are many steps that can help your home’s paved areas become more safe and appealing. While mudjacking, a new technique that raises cracked concrete to the level of the rest of the walkway, can help repair the damage with a cost affordable, fast and mess-free method, crack sealing can help the damage from returning sooner than expected. Companies that provide this service help you long term, not just for today. Here are a few reasons why you should make sure that you have a high quality sealant applied to your footpaths, driveways and paved steps…read on!

Seepage

One of the reasons that concrete repair becomes necessary over time is that ground water or rain can seep into small fissures, making them larger though erosion processes that occur beneath the slab. Small cracks form, allowing water to drain into these spaces, loosening packed soil and carrying it away from where it needs to be to support the full weight of the slab. This will eventually cause a stress point; and since concrete takes an exorbitant amount of time to fully cure, the walkways around your home never fully harden in time to endure this type of pressure. These stress points will generate cracks, and the larger the crack, the more seepage occurs. Damage can quickly progress, making it a losing battle. By requesting crack sealing services, you can impede the process by having a service provider reinforce the porous surface with a water and weather resistant compound.

Breakage

From time to time, large objects can fall on unstable and uncured slabs, creating large fissures that cause problems. Some of these damages can come from home improvement tasks, heavy equipment operations and other heavy objects. If large items fall on a stress point, your walkway, driveway or steps can easily become damaged, leaving an uneven surface and a large crevice for water to seep into.

Tree Roots

One of the most damaging natural occurrences that destroys concrete is from tree roots growing just beneath the surface of where slabs have been poured. This winding network can cause ground upheavals that damage concrete, causing the need for extensive concrete repair jobs and leveling. After having your walkways resurfaced, having a sealant applied to them will help keep the slurry that was pumped beneath the slab intact, making it harder for roots to invade.

Weather Changes

In Cordova, Illinois, the temperature throughout the year varies, causing an erosive process attributed to freezing and thawing. Frozen water expands, causing upheavals in concrete slabs and pushing away packed earth below the surface. Once this ice thaws, large spaces are left and loosened soil is carried away by draining water, causing more damage to your slabs. Concrete repair services can effectively reverse the damage, but making sure that they lock out moisture afterwards can reduce any subsequent occurrences of this natural phenomenon.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and crack sealing, call or click on the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Home Hazards

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois can spare families a lot of headaches…and other accidents related to cracked sidewalks, driveways and patios. Many minor household accidents can be avoided by repairing problems that contribute to slips, trips and falls. Below are just a few of the most common issues that contracting a company to restore some damaged slabs outside and around your home. Read on to find out more about safeguarding you and your family from potentially hazardous situations…

Shoveling Accidents

Winters in Cordova, Illinois mean shoveling sidewalks, driveways and porches to clear paths for walking and driving. Unfortunately, if the slabs beneath the packed snow have settled or cracked and you haven’t contracted a concrete repair company to fix the problem, the tip of your shovel can get jammed against the uneven ground, causing the shovel to slip and increasing your risk for injuries. Typical problems that arise with these types of accidents are back strain, sprains, splinters and even subsequent falls if the jolt causes you to slip on packed snow or a patch of ice.

Bicycling Problems

Imagine taking your child out for their first bike ride only to have your son or daughter lose control of their bicycle from riding over a large crack or ramming their front tire into an uneven slab. While not all bike accidents are avoidable, this particular scenario is if you hire a concrete repair company to level out the ground your child plays upon. Various injuries that children typically sustain in these types of accidents can be mild to severe, from bumps, bruises and scrapes to knocked out teeth, lacerations and concussions.

Tripping Hazards

Paved steps and walkways that have settled can make you lose your footing, even in dry conditions. Sometimes, these fissures create such an upheaval that produces a lip which can easily catch your toe, sending you to the ground. Falling accidents are one of the top reasons for seeking emergency health care services since resulting injuries can be as dramatic as broken bones, damaged spines, concussions and lost teeth. Some of the sustained injuries can become ongoing issues, particularly for elderly family members or people that have pre-existing conditions, such as sciatica, degenerative disc disease or other chronic back pain problems. In worst case scenarios involving older family members, broken hips or shoulders can necessitate painful and dangerous surgeries to replace damaged joints. A concrete repair specialist can help avoid potential dangers that can have a dramatic impact upon the long term health and wellbeing of your guests, family and friends by making surfaces more level and sealing cracks to prevent further damages.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and more of the hazards that can be avoided by contracting an expert, call 309-373-2919 or click the provided link. 

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Crack Sealing and Mudjacking

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois can protect a homeowner’s investment and restore the equity in a home if done effectively and correctly. Crack sealing and mudjacking, a process of raising damaged concrete and making cost effective repairs, can make a huge difference when trying to prepare a home for the sales process or to simply raise your equity. These simple fixes can also make your home safer and more aesthetically pleasing, restoring the appearance of your walkways, concrete stairs and garage floors. Below is some crucial information that will help you decide what level of service you should be looking for when contracting a concrete repair company…read on!

Crack Sealing

There are times when simple restorative processes will suffice. Crack sealing can take care of smaller issues and serve as a preventative to more extensive repair work. If your concrete has hairline cracks that are more of an eyesore than an actual hazardous nuisance, a concrete repair company can use a high quality sealant to keep moisture from gathering in the crack. The process is very simple and typically takes less than a day for a professional concrete repair company to perform; however, this fast fix saves a great deal of hassle and expense in the long run because you will not end up needing more extensive repairs.

Mudjacking

If you did not catch the cracks in time to contract a simple crack sealing job, specialty concrete repair companies can offer you a cost effective way to fix more extensively damaged walkways, foundations and driveways. Mudjacking is a less expensive, cleaner and quicker solution than traditional concrete repair jobs. Instead of tearing out damaged slabs, levelling the ground underneath and pouring brand new concrete, mudjacking uses a simple, yet effective way to raise uneven slabs and fill larger gaps around your home. By drilling holes with targeted placement and subsequently pumping a slurry beneath the concrete slab, mudjacking spares homeowners a drawn out process that completely replaces old and damaged concrete. By repairing the old concrete, your contractor saves on materials and labor, thereby cutting costs and passing the savings along to you. This process is also not nearly as messy as traditional concrete repair, so it also takes less time to clean up and will not damage your landscaping and other assets around your home. And since mudjacking also is a time saving process, you and your neighbors will not have a work crew to contend with or an unsightly jobsite for any long period of time.

For more information about concrete repair in Cordova IL and specialty services such as crack sealing and mudjacking, call 309-373-2919 or click the provided link.

Concrete Repair in Cordova IL: Why Fix Your Cracked Driveway?

Concrete repair in Cordova, Illinois is a great way to spare yourself the expense, headache and time that are associated with replacing damaged sidewalks, foundations and even driveways. Instead of having a contractor remove cracked slabs of cement and have to pour new ones, a mudjacking company can offer you a simpler, more cost effective solution. Yet, many homeowners put off these much needed repairs, thinking that a mere fissure in floor of their carport or garage isn’t causing any real damage…

…and they would be incredibly wrong!

No matter what type of repair work you choose to fix damaged cement, hiring a contractor that handles concrete repair jobs early on will help you greatly in the long run. Here are a few things that might help you overcome procrastination and get the job done…read on!

Seepage Spreads

A great deal of the time, cracked driveways are the result of water seeping into small, almost imperceptible cracks. From that initial entry point, the cement underneath the surface can begin to degrade, as can the packed earth where the initial slab was first poured. Over time, accumulated water will freeze and thaw with the seasons, creating the opportunity for heat and cold to expand and contract the damaged area. Small cracks will begin to form at this point, giving more entry room for water to invade. Should the initial problem continue to be ignored, the rate that water seepage affects will arguably increase, causing more problems down the road.

Car Damage

If you have a cracked driveway, the uneven slabs can do a great deal of damage to your vehicle. By driving over fissures that continue to degrade with time and use, your undercarriage may experience some consequences for not being level. For example, more wear and tear will occur on your tires; this heavy usage will give uneven wear on your tires, causing you to have to replace them sooner. However, the greatest risk is causing an accident due to a blown tire.

Even under normal conditions, your vehicle’s alignment is a crucial service that ensures that helps maintain control while steering, can eliminate uneven patches on your tires that are a direct result of rubbing and even affect your rotors and brake systems if the damage is allowed to continue.

A concrete repair company can smooth out the surface you park on and apply a sealer that will help safeguard your investment. Once the slab is raised, leveled and patched,  your cracked driveway will no longer have a negative impact upon your car.

For more information about a concrete repair company in Cordova IL, please select the provided link or call (309) 373-2919.