04/21/2025
Education Monday: Lift Concrete Safetly-Why we use Lime, NOT Foam
Sunken driveway? Uneven patio? You don't have to tear it out-slab jacking with lime can bring it back to life. But not all lifting materials are created equal.
Here's why we use aggricultural grade lime and not isocyanate-based foams:
-What is Slab Jacking?
Slab jacking lifts concrete by injecting a material underneath, creating pressure and raising it back level.
-Our Problem with Foam
We're one of the only Slab Jacking companies in the country to have used both Lime and Foam during our years of experience. Our opinion is that using poly foam carries serious risks:
1. Chemical Exposure: Controlling the proper mixture and temperature is incredibly important when using foam. However, when pumping underground you can't see how it's reacting. You can pump improper levels of dangerous chemicals, such as isocyanates, into the ground and local water table.
2. Off-Gassing: During and after installation, the fumes from the chemical reaction can cause health issues such as asthma.
3. Combustion Risks: There have been instances of poly foams igniting during or shortly after application, posing fire risks.
4. Utility Line Restrictions: Due to it's chemical properties, some jurisdictions limit the usage of poly foams near certain utility lines, such as gas or water.
The Advantages of Using Lime!
Lime offers several benefits when used in slab jacking:
1. Soil stabilzation: Lime reacts with clay-rich soils to reduce moisture content, increase strength, and improve load-bearing capacity, preventing future settling.
2. Safety: Our lime is aggricultural grade lime that farmers utilize to balance the acidity of their soil in fields across America. It poses significantly fewer risks to both the installers and occupants.
3. Low Environmental Impact: Compared to synthetic foams, lime is significantly more sustainable and has a lower environmental impact.
4. More Controllable Results: Lime injects in a more controlled fashion, allowing for accurate and deliberate raising. Foam injections expand quickly and uncontrollably, leading to unforeseen results.
For a safer, more sustainable, and long-lasting solution to sunken concrete slabs, we advocate for the use of lime in Slab Jacking.
