If you’ve had your garage floor polyjacked and then noticed a section that’s noticeably higher than the rest of your floor, you might be wondering, What Should You Do If Polyjacking Leaves a Raised Hump in a Garage Slab?
This article will cover everything you need to know about finding the right solution for a raised hump after slab lifting.
What Is Polyjacking and Why Is It Used?
Polyjacking, also known as slab jacking, is a method of lifting settled concrete using expanding foam. Small holes are drilled through the slab, and high-density polyurethane foam is injected through the openings.
Polyjacking is commonly used because it’s:
- Low-Mess
- Fast
- Has Quick Cure Times
- Requires Little to No Excavation
- Long-Lasting
- Cost-Effective Alternative to Replacement
It’s an excellent solution when you need to level settled concrete without breaking it all out.
Why Would Polyjacking Create a Raised Hump?
During slab jacking, adjacent areas of concrete are lifted to meet the desired elevation. If too much foam is injected into the ground beneath a slab, or if two adjacent lifting points don’t lift evenly, a raised section can occur.
Here are some reasons why polyjacking may create a raised slab:
- Too much polyurethane foam was injected.
- There was an inconsistency in the soil that caused one side to lift more.
- The concrete slab was not the same thickness.
- One pumping spot lifted more than the other.
- There was movement in the existing slab.
- The crew misjudged how much lift was necessary.
Polyjacking contractors may even over-lift a slab slightly so it has a place to go when it inevitably settles again. If too much elevation is created, you’re left with a noticeable hump.
Can Concrete Grinding Fix a Raised Hump?
Professional concrete grinding is one of the most effective ways to fix a raised hump. Garage floor grinding companies have access to precision equipment that can slowly shave down the concrete garage floor.
Rather than replacing the entire slab or leaving a noticeable transition point, professional grinding can make the two areas meet seamlessly.
How Can You Tell If the Hump Is Actually a Problem?
Visible transitions and elevation changes in garage floors are almost never ideal, but that doesn’t always mean they need to be corrected.
Small elevation changes may not affect your daily use of your garage. If you ask yourself the following questions, you can identify if the hump is actually a problem.
- Does the hump keep you from parking your cars?
- Does water pool around the raised section of concrete?
- Is the hump a trip hazard?
- Are you having trouble installing coatings or flooring materials?
- Will the garage doors seal correctly?
If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, it may be best to get a professional opinion. A concrete contractor can quickly identify if your garage floor needs to be leveled or if the hump is within tolerances.
What Happens During Concrete Grinding?
Concrete grinding is the process of using industrial-grade diamond tooling to remove small amounts of material from the surface of your garage floor.
Most concrete grinding is completed using a device that’s similar to a floor buffer. The grinding equipment is equipped with diamond segments that help wear away the concrete as it’s pushed across the floor.
Basically, grinding makes your garage floor as flat as possible.
Could the Hump Affect Garage Floor Coatings?
Any bumps or elevation changes in your garage floor can have a huge impact on how coatings adhere to your floor.
Typically, you’ll want to address these problem areas before installing garage floor coatings. Some things that can happen if you neglect elevation issues include:
- Noticeable surface imperfections
- Uneven thickness
- Uneven distribution of flakes (If applying an epoxy decorative concrete floor)
- Drainage issues
- Poor Aesthetics
It’s always best to try and prepare the garage floor as much as possible before applying coatings. Polyjacking-related bumps are easily addressed through concrete grinding.
When Is Full Replacement Necessary?
In most cases, replacing your garage floor will not be suggested. Since concrete grinding can make your garage floor as level as possible, there’s rarely a need to replace the entire thing.
Another reason to avoid replacement is that polyjacking is only performed to fix specific areas of your garage. Since your slab was installed as one giant piece, you would have to replace the entire slab even if only one corner was affected by the lifting.
For the most part, replacement will never be necessary when dealing with over-lifted areas from polyjacking. Here are some other questions you may have.
Should You Ignore a Raised Hump in a Garage Floor?
No, you shouldn’t ignore a raised hump just because it doesn’t seem to cause you any problems today. While some cosmetic issues can be tolerated, you should still consider getting it fixed.
Here’s why you shouldn’t ignore elevation differences in your garage.
Uneven garage floors can cause drainage issues. If water pools around the raised section of your slab, you might start to notice cracks developing over time.
Another big problem is coatings. If you have intentions of upgrading your garage floor with an epoxy coating system, you’ll want a professional garage floor contractor to level out your garage floor first.
What Should You Do If Polyjacking Leaves a Raised Hump in a Garage Slab?
If you’ve had your garage floor lifted with polyurethane foam and are now faced with a high spot, your best course of action is to have it professionally evaluated.
Polyjacking can typically be corrected with concrete grinding. Luckily, garage floor grinding contractors have specialized tools that allow them to precisely shave down any area of your garage floor.
Contact Custom Concrete Prep and Polish today to learn more about concrete surface correction or schedule a consultation.
