Thrasher Foundation Repair Before & After Photos
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Long Narrow Driveway Repaired with PolyLevel
Long narrow driveways can be difficult to repair, especially when houses are in close in proximity. There are a couple of options when it comes to repairing driveways. Some contractors still use the old-school repair for settled concrete. They use heavy equipment to demolish the cracked, settled sections of concrete. With concrete replacement you often get a damaged areas, such as yards, and that's off limits until the new concrete hardens and cures. More importantly, the new concrete is going onto the same problem soil which caused the issue in the first place. Another method is mud jacking but leaves the concrete with noticeable injection holes that are 1”-2” in diameter. The material used in mud jacking is not waterproofed which could wash out if not properly sealed, but the material is extremely heavy. Knowing the weight of the original concrete, over a poor soil base, is usually what cause settlement in the first place and by adding additional weight you’re asking for additional settling to occur.
Long driveways, comes a lot of concrete to potentially replace. Typically, homeowners won’t replace the entire driveway do to the cost. More common they elect to fix the damaged areas. You can only imagine what, the end result looks like. Yes, a checkered board style driveway. The new concrete that was poured will never matched the original concrete, and usually stands out like a sore thumb. There are several variable which will control the color of the concrete. These include weather, finishing practices, the relative moisture content of the subgrade, the curing process, and the age of the original concrete. These factors are not always consistent. For instance, a cloudy day versus a hot sunny day pour can make the concrete turn out differently.
Even if you considered patching the problem areas, there are still problems that could exists. When concrete is poured there are two things that happens. It gets hard and it cracks. To control the cracking pattern, contractors will trowel or cut lines in the concrete to control the cracking pattern. These control joints will eventually crack through the slab. When it rains, this is a perfect path for water to flow down and under the concrete slab. Your long and narrow driveway accumulates a lot of water to travel down. This creates erosion and more wet, weak soil. When this happens, the soil shifts, and there becomes unsupported areas of concrete. Easy concept to think about is stepping in a mud. Now, imagine not only the weight of the concrete on the unsupported soil but driving a car on a driveway add tremendous added weight. If part of your concrete slab is supported in one section and not in others, the unsupported pieces may crack away from the other section which will result in additional cracks in the concrete or unlevel concrete.
PolyLevel is a state-of-the-art alternative to mudjacking, re-leveling grout or concrete replacement. PolyLevel is a high-density expanding foam that our technicians can use to raise settled concrete. The two-part polyurethane foam mixture is injected through small holes drilled in the settled concrete. Our installers are trained to control the injection process so that just enough foam is used to re-level the concrete deck and to fill additional voids under the concrete. Because the foam's expanding action fills voids in loose soil, this concrete leveling technique improves the soil's stability and load-bearing characteristics. You can feel confident that settlement won't occur again. Once the slabs have been lifted level, we can also come in and provide a silicone polyurethane sealant that will keep water from going through any joints and causing future erosion or a possible heave situations.
The polyurethane foam system offers numerous features and benefits:
Lightweight - Our polyurethane foam weighs approximately 4-6 pounds per cubic foot when installed, in comparison to traditional mortar-based material which weighs 120 pounds per cubic foot.
High capacity - Lifting action is a result of the expansion of the polymer, allowing for lifting of a much higher load than traditional mudjacking, which relies on hydraulic pressure being contained under a slab.
Accurate lift - Calculated reaction time of the expanding polyurethane foam allows for targeted, precise lifting of the slab.
Waterproof - Polyurethane formula is fully waterproof, so it won't wash out, won't be impacted by freeze/thaw cycles and can be used to under-seal slabs and stop a variety of infrastructure leaks.
Non-invasive - PolyLevel equipment can be used in extremely limited access areas and won't disturb lawn or landscape.
Quick cure time - Within just 15 minutes after injection, the concrete slab is ready for heavy loading; compared to conventional mudjacking which takes several days to cure.
Environmentally-friendly - With PolyLevel there's no need to demolish the concrete and transport the waste to a landfill.
The photos speak for themselves with this concrete driveway repair project in Lincoln, NE. After the concrete slabs were lifted and leveled back to their original position, we used NexusPro silicone-based caulking to seal the joints and cracks. The result not only looks great, but at a fraction of the cost of full replacement, this driveway is protected against future sinking and settlement problems.
Retaining Wall Replacement
A local homeowners’ association was experiencing deteriorating timber retaining walls that required complete replacement.
Thrasher Foundation Repair replaced the retaining wall and addressed drainage issues.
Thrasher engineered a more structurally sound foundation repair solution by constructing modular block walls. The new block walls offer a more pleasing curb appeal and design, while still providing a structural and permanent foundation.
Thrasher successfully gave this property an effective and beautiful makeover.
A drainage issue that was affecting the growth of some of the association’s decorative trees was also addressed. The trees were saved by integrating a drainage system behind the new block retaining walls and managing the runoff water.
French Drain or Curtain Drain Installation
Installing French drains, also known as curtain drains, is one way to handle water in a yard with grading issues. Here is an example from our customer in Lee's Summit, MO.
Installing French drains is an option in circumstances where excessive surface water must be managed.
Water management can take on many forms. In most cases, a home is built so that the yard can be graded to properly drain water away from the foundation. Swales are even graded into the landscape to provide a path for water to drain away from structures and toward storm drains. In some cases, though, grading is not correct or has to be changed. Sometimes a neighboring property will change their landscape and change the original drainage that was planned for the neighborhood.
When grading is done well, and gutters and downspouts are installed correctly, water will shed away from the foundation helping to prevent wet basements and bowing basement walls. When those problems persist, and interior French drain, draintile, or another form of interior drainage is the usual recommended solution. However, if there are major grading issues, they must be addressed outside. Not addressing the pooling water can lead to extreme flooding or excessive pressure that can push a foundation wall in causing cracks and other structural issues.
The best approach to solving grading issues is to regrade in a way that water can runoff of the yard naturally and without pooling in the yard. Unfortunately, there are rare cases where that isn’t possible. That is when a change in landscape design should be considered. One tool in the landscape toolbox is the exterior French drain or curtain drain.
For this customer in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Thrasher was able to work with them on both their yard drainage issues and dealing with the water that was already getting into the basement. An exterior interceptor drain was installed in this home’s back yard. Since the yard was not naturally sloped to move water away from the home, it was collecting in areas close to the foundation. While an interior waterproofing drainage system may have kept the basement dry, the pooling water still had a chance to cause structural damage. The homeowner also did not like having a muddy mess in their backyard after ever rainfall and even after watering the lawn.
Thrasher Foundation Repair prides itself on working with homeowners to find the best solution for their circumstances. Even in situations where we cannot perform all the work ourselves, we will make recommendations to the homeowner that they can do themselves or hire a landscaper to perform. If you aren’t sure what you need to do to solve your problem, we are happy to provide a free inspection to help you figure it out.
“From start to finish, I received total professionalism and up-to-date progress. The crew respected my property and cleaned up after the job was completed. Thrasher Foundation Repair came highly recommended to me and I see why. My neighbors are interested in having work done. My brother and mother have also used Thrasher. Top notch company. In today’s world, it is hard to find great customer service.” – R. R., homeowner
Foundation Piering Stabilized the Historic Public Library
Foundation stabilization by Thrasher was an integral part of the repair and restoration of the historic Sedalia Public Library.
Parts of the structure had settled 5″.
The extreme drought that began in the late spring of 2012 had devastating effects across the Midwest, particularly on lawns, crops and foundations. One building hit particularly hard was the Sedalia Public Library. The Sedalia Public Library is a prized building to the local community, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Sedalia Public Library is located at 311 W. Third St, Sedalia, Missouri. The Sedalia library was first founded in 1895 but was located in the basement of the Pettis County Courthouse. In the Fall of 1899, they were awarded a $50,000 Carnegie Grant to build a new library. This was the first grant to be awarded by Andrew Carnegie in the state of Missouri.
“We were told by the structural engineer that we were in imminent danger of collapse.” – Library Director Pamela Hunter, in an interview with KMBC-TV.
That grant money allowed the residents to build the then-new library. The library is built in the Greek Revival Style of architecture and was constructed of ornate white terra cotta stone with a limestone foundation.
The library was dedicated in 1901 and has been operational ever since, serving the citizens of Sedalia and the greater Pettis County. That is until the concerns over foundation problems arose in 2012.
Foundation problems were first identified in 2012 when a construction worker found "extremely wide" cracks in the foundation in one area of the library. The worker's concern led to a full investigation and, ultimately, the discovery of other severe foundation issues throughout the library.
The library hired a geotechnical engineer to investigate the site subsurface. During the investigation, it was determined that the soil's extreme dryness around the building's perimeter was a significant factor in the ongoing foundation settlement. Further investigation revealed that the underlying bedrock also had large voids beneath them. These large voids were likely the hidden contributor to the over 5" settlement throughout the years. As the corner of the library had settled, it also rotated outwardly and put the foundation and structure at extreme risk of collapse.
Previous attempts by other contractors had been made to correct the foundation settlement issues. Some of the attempted repairs included installing an extensive supplemental concrete footing, along with an elaborate below-grade watering and de-watering system. The supplemental concrete footing and watering system were combined with stabilizing the foundation and controlling below-grade moisture. While well-intentioned, the previous attempts were unsuccessful. The supplemental footing's added weight may have even exacerbated the settling issue, as evidenced by the continued settlement.
The engineers were determined to solve this settlement issue permanently and to protect the historical landmark.
The recommended solution from the engineers was to install a customized micropile system. The plan was to bypass the shallow, unstable soils and fully transfer the foundation load's weight to the competent and stable bedrock. To achieve this result, any piering system would have to be drilled and advanced through the shallow rocks.
Thrasher was selected to perform this stabilization work due to their experience and expertise in micropile installations. Thrasher stabilized the building by first drilling through shallow rock formations and the underlying voids. Thrasher had to drill to depths of upwards of 40 feet to get into competent rock. Forty-nine high-strength steel resistance piers, with an ultimate capacity of 140,000 pounds each, were installed through the pre-drilled holes. The piers were then grouted with high-strength grout to add further lateral and vertical stability to the system. Once the exterior foundations were stabilized in place with the pre-drilled piers, the interior columns, which had not settled, had to be lowered to put the building on a uniform plane. Finally, the unstable soil excavated during the piers' installation was removed and replaced with suitable fill soil.
The result was a permanently stabilized exterior foundation, and interior columns all leveled out to a uniform plane. Sedalia citizens could now rest easy that their historic library was finally placed on solid rock and would not move in the future.
When choosing a contractor to repair your building's foundation, it is not only important to choose a contractor who has the right repair product for the situation, but it is also essential to select the contractor with the right expertise and experience. When choosing to work with Thrasher, you are selecting a contractor who not only knows how to do the work correctly but has over 45 years' experience doing this type of work. So don't leave the work to a beginner. Hire the trusted name in the industry, and call Thrasher.
Foundation Crack Repair in Lenexa, KS
Lenexa, Kansas homeowner, had a considerable concern with his driveway. It was a 6-inch large drop in front of his garage. Shocked about his discovery, he researched local concrete mud jacking companies. Among the mix of local Kansas City Metro experts was Thrasher Foundation Repair.
Thrasher, a skilled expert with lifting and leveling concrete, came to the rescue. Once the free inspection date was set, the homeowner received an information packet which included About Us, The Thrasher Difference, Same Day Savings and a concrete repair science book. Although mud jacking or slab jacking was researched, it was not the method used for this homeowner. Let me explain why.
Thrasher used a total of 6.5 cubic yards of material to lift 3 sections of the driveway to match the garage, and 3 sections of the sidewalk to match the driveway.
Traditional mudjacking uses local soil or sand blend, mixed with water and cement, which is heavy and messy when installed through a hole the size of a soda can. Since this mixture is heavy, it can settle the soil after it’s been installed, and you are right back at the beginning. This mixture can also wash out over time, causing the slab to settle back down unlevel. Which means more time spent with a contractor and more money.
During the free inspection with System Design Specialist, homeowners can expect a thorough examination and a detailed explanation of the concrete leveling solution. A common reason for sinking concrete in the soil. Poorly compacted, dry soil is the cause of this large drop in the front of the driveway. During the 60-minute free inspection, System Design Specialist educates the homeowner about the PolyLevel method and warranties and transparent pricing to meet the homeowner’s specific needs.
Technology and methods for lifting and leveling have come a long way in the last five years. At Thrasher Foundation Repair, we use PolyLevel® for concrete leveling because it’s a fast and effective way to lift and stabilize sinking concrete. Polylevel is a lightweight, strong high-density polyurethane foam developed by our sister company Supportworks and only available to an exclusive network of foundation and concrete repair contractors. It lifts and supports concrete slabs without adding weight to the soil beneath, and it’s waterproof so that it won’t wash out or dry out like traditional mudjacking material. It’s environmentally friendly, too, with no environmentally harmful chemical leaching. Concrete leveling with PolyLevel expanding foam not only raises concrete slabs but also compacts the soil around them, creating a stable environment that will ensure that your driveway, patio or pool deck remains level into the foreseeable future. If it would sink back down, Thrasher makes it right.
Thrasher offers several levels of protection, filling all cracked concrete and control joints with NexusPro joint sealant. Then, the whole surface is protected from the elements with a coat of SealantPro. ™, which permanently bonds to your concrete.
Our Lenexa, KS homeowner hired Thrasher to strategically injected PolyLevel under the slab and raised it to level with the garage floor. First, the Team leader does a walk-through of the work scope, setting an expectation for the lift with the homeowner and answering all questions or concerns.
Once work is started, the crew will drill penny size holes strategically in the sunken slab to prep for a level lift. Polylevel injects new, structurally engineered material into any hidden voids to stop and reverse settlement. This is a skilled craft. Each team member goes through classroom training, learning about the mixture and process, then hands-on training with a seasoned Team Lead or Manager.
Once the work is complete, the driveway and garage can be driven on within 24 hours. The team leader does a final walk through with the homeowner before collecting the final payment.
Lenexa homeowner was beyond please with the work Thrasher did. The precise execution of the lift and level was perfect! The cleanup of the crew was as if no work had been done in the first place. This Lenexa homeowner is please they went with PolyLevel vs. traditional mudjacking or slab jacking.
If you have concrete slabs that are significantly cracked, have voids beneath the slabs, or are sloping towards your home or building, it’s time to consult a PolyLevel Expert. PolyLevel is a much more cost-effective alternative to concrete replacement.
Contact Thrasher Foundation Repair HERE. Each of our inspections comes at no obligation, and it includes a written concrete repair estimate. To schedule your free inspection, call or email us today! We proudly serve Kansas City, Lenexa, Olathe, Blue Springs, Topeka, St. Joseph, Wichita, Hays, Clay Center, and communities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
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