Mudjack Concrete
Metro Kansas City, MO - Toll Free (888) 535-5551
Saint Joseph, MO - (816) 271-5551

GLOSSARY OF MUDJACKING TERMS:

MUDJACKING or SLABJACKING

Terms used to describe the same procedure of raising settled slabs. This is a process of pumping mud slurry, aka grout, under a concrete slab through 1-3/8 inch drilled holes in order to raise the slab. Jacking a slab back up with mud.

EXPANSIVE SOIL

Soil composed of fine-grained clay. It occurs naturally and is generally found in areas that historically were a flood plain or lake area.

Expansive soil is subject to swelling and shrinkage of the soil, varying in proportion to the amount of moisture present in the soil. As water is initially introduced into the soil (by rainfall or watering), an expansion takes place. If dried out, the soil will contract, often leaving small fissures or cracks.

PRESSURE GROUTING

This is a process of pumping mud slurry, aka grout, under a concrete slab through 1-3/8 inch drilled holes in order to fill a void. This re-establishes the hard soil foundation back under the slab to prevent it from sinking.

SOIL STABILIZATION

A process of injecting mud slurry, a/k/a grout, under the ground and into loose soils to compact the soils. The mixture can be injected as far as 10 feet or more underground and is typically injected to form a column under the ground or a big "bulb" of material. This process can be used to compact soil or to lift structures that have settled.

GROUT

Grout is a versatile construction material used in a wide variety of applications. Cement grout is a mixture of cement and water, either with or without aggregates and additives.

Depending on the application, it can usually be poured, like very wet mortar. Making a distinction between grout, mortar, and concrete is sometimes difficult due to similar ingredients and properties. These similarities result in an occasional interchange of terms.

For concrete raising services we use a grout mixture that is more equivalent to mud. It consists of a fine aggregate like sand, topsoil and a small amount of Portland cement.

We have found that pumping straight mortar causes the fill to bond to the bottom of the slab. Since this sets up heavier and denser than hardened soil, it can act as an anchor and pull the slab back down.

Now, instead of your slab being 4" to 6" thick, it is up to a foot or more thick. You now have a boulder under your slab instead of hard compact soil.