Concrete Repair


Helicon offers the most effective and efficient concrete repair solutions to level or raise your concrete by polyjacking with our Poly Foam System. Concrete slab foundations, concrete driveways, sidewalks, and concrete pool decks all can be repaired with this non-invasive solution.
Free Inspection Request

Free Inspection Request

Concrete Lifting and Concrete Leveling 

Poor soil conditions are the bane of existence for Florida property owners. Even when contractors take special care during the building process, soil eventually settles and leads to foundation cracks that require expert repair. At Helicon, we routinely work with residential and commercial clients needing concrete pool deck repairs, concrete slab lift, and concrete leveling. Here is how we do it.


Stabilizing the Soil is the First Priority

There is little to be gained by starting with concrete repair right away. Rather, we work on stabilizing the ground to prevent further shifting. Polyurethane foam is a valuable ally in this task. We begin by detecting and filling any void that is under the affected area. Our 2-part Poly Foam process fills these empty spaces and expands. As a result, the adjacent soil undergoes extensive compaction. It is fair to say that the material uses expansion to achieve soil compacting.

In some cases, it becomes necessary to focus not just on any void but also on shifting soil that moves away from the foam. In this case, we use a 1-part chemical grouting foam that does not expand as rapidly as the other 2-part formula. Instead, it mixes with the soil particles and acts as a glue that keeps them together prior to expansion. As a result, the soil avoids shifting away from the filler, which results in effective stabilization.

Lifting Concrete with Helicon's Poly Foam System

The 2-part Poly Foam goes right underneath any concrete that has settled due to soil movement. We refer to this practice as polyjacking, and it is as much art as it is science. In this scenario, we use foam that expands rapidly. However, we only inject careful bursts. Doing so allows us to control the movement of concrete slabs. It also enables us to get the leveling just right when lifting concrete.

What are the Advantages of Using Polyurethane Grout?

For starters, polyjacking is an optimal option for concrete leveling. It eliminates the need for property owners to replace concrete slabs when they sink. Moreover, it takes away the trenching requirement. For many business owners, the idea of having a trench run the length of an exterior wall is problematic. It impedes access to the venue, and it is loud. In the trade, the trench method is often also associated with as mudjacking.

Mudjacking uses mud for raising concrete. With the mud building up underneath the concrete, the surfaces will eventually become level. In theory, this method works. In practice, it relies on adjacent soil to be sufficiently stable to support the hardening mud. When this is not the case, we get uneven surfaces that may be as bad as before.

In contrast, polyjacking replaces mud with polyurethane foam. We have already discussed how the different foam types stabilize the soil while also filling any voids. Because the foam will not be susceptible to the same problems as the drying mud, it will stay in place. Therefore, the resulting concrete repair will last longer. Best of all, we can inject the foam with little more than a hole that is only 5/8” in diameter.

With polyjacking there is no reason for a lot of heavy equipment that most people associate with mudjacking. There will not be the same damage to the surrounding landscape. Even during the actual poly foam application, the job site will be cleaner. In addition to the neatness factor, there is the speed. Raising concrete with polyurethane grout enables the property owner to use the walkway, driveway, or other surfaces right away. With mud, there is a lengthy curing time that requires foot and vehicle traffic to stay away.

Perhaps the most exciting difference is the fact that foam is hydrophobic. Wet conditions and nearby water leaks will not impede its repair powers. It does not fall victim to liquid damage. The same is not true for mud. Instead of creating a barrier for the moisture, it attracts it and reacts with the water, which results in subsequent shifts of previously leveled concrete. Because a concrete lift should last for a long time, the foam method wins hands down.

Speaking of leaks, consider that chemical grouting is an expert method for filling wet voids without having to trench through the area. It can waterproof the area, and there is no need to dig holes to reach the problem areas from the exterior.


before after concrete lift
No Heavy Equipment Needed

With polyjacking there is no reason for a lot of heavy equipment that most people associate with mudjacking. There will not be the same damage to the surrounding landscape. Even during the actual poly foam application, the job site will be cleaner. In addition to the neatness factor, there is the speed. Raising concrete with polyurethane grout enables the property owner to use the walkway, driveway, or other surfaces right away. With mud, there is a lengthy curing time that requires foot and vehicle traffic to stay away.

Perhaps the most exciting difference is the fact that foam is hydrophobic. Wet conditions and nearby water leaks will not impede its repair powers. It does not fall victim to liquid damage. The same is not true for mud. Instead of creating a barrier for the moisture, it attracts it and reacts with the water, which results in subsequent shifts of previously leveled concrete. Because a concrete lift should last for a long time, the foam method wins hands down.

Speaking of leaks, consider that chemical grouting is an expert method for filling wet voids without having to trench through the area. It can waterproof the area, and there is no need to dig holes to reach the problem areas from the exterior.

The Clean, Effective Way to Level Concrete Slabs, Repair Pool Decks, and Prevent Future Leaks

In the past, when mudjacking was the only option, slab leveling, and lifts were messy undertakings. For starters, there was the possibility of one or more trenches having to be dug around the area. In some cases, one trench turned into multiple trenches as problem areas were exposed.

Besides that, there were the holes that contractors would have to drill. Because mud does not stabilize the soil effectively, most slabs required multiple holes to be drilled, which allowed the mud to settle evenly underneath the area. Of course, this led to numerous gaps within the slabs.

Polyjacking is cleaner. When we can eliminate the need for trenching, there is none of the dirt that goes with the project. Moreover, the foam is clean and allows for a targeted application. Mud is not that easy to work with, which frequently resulted in waste. Most importantly, we only need to drill a small hole the size of a nickel since the foam travels to voids and areas of low stability. There, it expands. Because of this property, there is no need to drill multiple holes and achieve an artificial level.

It leaves the worksite cleaner and does not lead to extensive damage. Similarly, it is quick. Within a few short minutes, the poly foam hardens. Business owners like the idea that their customers can walk across a parking lot or slab within minutes of the treatment. Gone are the days of lengthy roping off attempts and the inconvenience to the consumer. For the homeowner, there is the possibility of not losing a landscape investment.

As much as we enjoy interacting with our clients, we typically tell them that working with foam will limit our time at the job site. Instead of spending weeks there trenching, digging, and adjusting, we might complete the project in hours or perhaps a few days.

Is Foam Really That Durable?

The word foam conjures up images of soapy bubbles that dissipate quickly. Poly foam, on the other hand, is a robust product that is ideally suited for erosion control and soil densification. It is so tough that it can assist with the repair of settled buildings, driveways, and even highway slabs. No matter how much wear and weight an area experiences, the foam does not give way.

Even when there are problems with severely unstable soils at great depths, the foam can be instrumental in repairing the issues. Stabilizing soil at a depth of up to 20 feet is possible. Since the foam will not dissolve due to water, it can be instrumental in protecting buildings through expert compaction of the surrounding soils. This is not something mud can accomplish with the same effectiveness.

Our Helicon experts understand that this is a lot to take in. Because poly foam is a cutting-edge product, it makes sense that clients have plenty of questions about it. Our specialists appreciate the opportunity to visit client sites for a site evaluation that leverages our expertise to assist with all aspects of the leveling process.


Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions


Should I remove my concrete and pour a new concrete pad?

In most instances, removing the concrete is not necessary. Helicon's Poly-Foam Sytem not only raises the concrete, but penetrates the soil beneath the concrete to make it hard as a rock. This can in turn save you the expense of pouring a new concrete pad. Even if you replaced the concrete pad, you still didn't fix the underlying problem. Our Poly Foam System fixes the root of the problem, the soil.

Do I have to wait an extended time to walk on the repair?

Not at all. You can walk on the Poly Foam treated area within minutes. Unlike mudjacking where you need to wait an extended period of time for the repair to cure, polyjacking has a rapid cure time. Helicon's Poly Foam System can bear weight of up to 11,000 PSF quicker than practically any other method available.


View More

View Our Client Testimonials



View More