Hi all,
I’ve got two sections of sidewalk that butt right up to the back of my house. They’ve settled over the years towards the house, thus water collects against the house – otherwise they are perfectly sound and in good repair. I’m just trying to get a sense of my options: pull them out and replace, or skim coat with sand mix to create the proper fall away from the house. Any pros or cons would be appreciated…
Dave
Replies
Roll 'em over out of the way. Put down a little more base (gravel). Roll 'em back.
Mud jacking them.
What is mud-jacking and how does it work?
Mud jacking they drill a couple of holes (about 1 1/2 - 2") and use a pressure pump to inject a grout that will lift up that side of the slab.
Bill,
have you had slabs mud-jacked (or anyone else), and what does it run price-wise? I have a slab to fix for which that would be the best route to go. But I might hoe them out and load them in a dumpster too, depending on cost.
remodeler
We had our driveway done maybe 13 years back. Was a few hundred -- something like $350. And in and out in a matter of a few hours, with very little mess.
The only downside is that you might find the patched holes where they inject the mud unsightly, but for a narrow walk they may be able to go in along the edges instead of drilling.
A friend had it done on a large patio tht needed lots of work to keep it together. I asked her how much and she remembers $800, but does not remember if that was just for that job or include the steps that she had level at the same time and another house.
Remod...........I am in central Illinois ,a local company named , Slab Jackers did a great job for me.
They raised a 6foot wide sidewalk on the foundation side in excess of 2 inches 90feet long . 2inch holes drilled 3foot on center and pumped grout into them . No cracks no hassel. Bottom line 2 trucks 3 men ,1 hr 45 min. $210.00. Customer happy , me happy , twas a Good Thing.
Get 'em mud jacked.
First question is, are they still settling? Either your backfill wasn't properly compacted or organic trash was buried in the trenches, or both. If the setting has stopped, go ahead and use any of the suggested fixes. If it hasn't, don't invest a lot of money and effort in a fix until it does stop or you dig out all the backfill and do it right.
The slabs are definitely no longer settling Uncle Dunc, they've been there for 40 some odd years. No one has mentioned using sand mix with an acrylic bonding agent to top coat the existing slab and create the pitch required for the slab to drain. Wonder why? Seems like it could work if the existing slab were properly cleaned and had enough "tooth" to accept the additional masonry layer...Just wondering.
I see this slab problem all the time. Many slabs in the backyard are poured too high because they ay are too lazy or don't know. When slabs are too high or slopping to house slab, they encourage termite and/or water problems.
Maybe this will solve your problem. This is all an "IF" answer. If you like and want to keep the patio slab, just saw cut away 6" away from the house, with the six inches removed you can create a small trench around the house to catch any water and drain it round to the front. The trench dug six inches minimum down will keep moisture away from the mudsill. If the rear is higher than the front. If the house slab is higher than the street.
re: mud jacking
How do you go about finding somebody who does this mud jacking? Check with concrete contractors? Is it in the yellow pages -- perhaps under some other name?
Foundation repair contractors would be a good place to start.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Dave,
First of all, is it rain you are worried about or ice as well? If it is just rain, you may wish to caulk the slab, up against the foundation with an excellent caulikng like Sonneborn NP1 (this is not a DIY product, check a roofing supply wholesaler) and then make shallow cuts in the slab perpendicular to the house so the water can drain away. These cuts can be made with a diamond or abrasive disc on an angle grinder. I am assuming the sidewalk is not completely out of level. If it is completely out of level, mudjacking is a good choice.
Alma Consulting Ltd.