3 Ways to Prevent Water From Getting Under Your Sidewalk and Driveway.
Water can prove to be one of the most harmful and damaging forces to your home’s concrete. Colorado homes are notorious for being vulnerable to the potential forces of water to their concrete as the soil underneath is usually poorly compacted, dry, or facing large amounts of flooding. Once water creates a path underneath your concrete it can begin to erode and wash away the soil holding up the slabs which results in the sinking and cracking of your concrete. Thankfully there are a few methods you can use to prevent failing concrete.
Filling The Void With Polyurethane.
Liftech’s polyurethane foam, which is used to raise up and level sunken concrete, can also be used to fill voids created by the flowing water. In many cases, concrete slabs can appear to be in perfect shape as they have not yet sunk due to the void underneath. However by injecting our expanding polyurethane foam in voids, your concrete will be supported better than before as the foam will not compress or wash away like soil or dirt.
Sealing Open Cracks with Caulking.
If you are looking for a temporary and cheaper solution to water intruding underneath your concrete you might consider caulking. Concrete caulk is a flexible polymer caulk used to prevent further cracking or other sources of damage like water to your concrete. Caulking can prove to be a very successful and easy “Do it Yourself” solution to water entering your concrete from the surface. Here at Liftech, we trust products like Sikaflex 1a, a flexible outdoor caulk to seal openings in expansion joints or the surface of the concrete.
Build a Thick Layer of Dirt Between the Concrete and Potential Water Source.
This technique of creating a solid barrier between the concrete and potential water exposure is the cheapest but also shortest lasting method. It is an easy DIY option for anyone to do as it takes no experience or skill like caulking and could cost nothing as long as you have excess dirt you can use. Creating this barrier can prevent water from intruding underneath the slabs however will not last as long as the foam or caulking so constant maintenance may be required.
At the end of the day, any actions to prevent water from getting in and underneath your concrete is better than nothing. Call us today if you have a void underneath your not yet failed concrete and want to keep it from falling in the future.
