Eventually, concrete surfaces begin to show their age. Despite being one of the most durable and long-lasting exterior renovation materials, concrete can crack, wear down, and even sink. When concrete begins to sink, it can affect any structures above, including the house or garage. In addition, sunken driveways, sidewalks, garages, or foundations are unsightly and create tripping and safety hazards.
Luckily, a more economical alternative exists to replace that broken concrete altogether. Whether your issue is with a small step or something as significant as the foundation, concrete lifting is an exceptional alternative to pouring new concrete that can save homeowners and business owners thousands in renovation costs.
Purpose of concrete lifting
Concrete lifting is performed to raise and level the slab back to its original position. These services avoid concrete replacement and repair many different surfaces. Concrete lifting is used for sidewalks, steps, driveways, patios, pool decks, garage floors, or foundations.
Concrete lifting methods
Polyurethane foam lifting is the most common and most effective type of concrete lifting. It can be faster and more economical than the traditional mudjacking method and is slightly more versatile in its uses. Mudjacking, or slabjacking, is similar to the foam method. But mudjacking uses a mixture of cement, sand, and water rather than polyurethane foam. Mudjacking is less long-lasting than foam-jacking, as the materials are more susceptible to erosion.
Causes for sunken concrete
A handful of issues could lead to concrete damage, such as sinking or cracks. Knowing what can lead to concrete issues is helpful for homeowners, as this can help them save on costlier repairs in the long run.
Soil problems
Concrete is poured on top of soil bases. When the soil is not compacted correctly in the beginning or loosens over time, this can affect the concrete. In addition, water can cause the soil beneath your concrete to erode and leave spaces. Issues with the soil base can start with improper initial pouring of the concrete or from natural causes.
Weather and natural elements
Any Canadian city, including Toronto, undergoes a freeze-thaw cycle as the seasons change. This causes the concrete to constantly undergo changes in contraction and expansion and leads to cracks or settlement. In addition to temperatures, the overall precipitation or amount of snowmelt can affect soil erosion, which in turn affects the concrete on top. All around Toronto, there are mature trees and shrubs with massive roots. These can impact concrete as well and cause major tripping hazards.
Improper drainage
Even if rain or snow levels are somewhat typical, improper water drainage can lead to sunken and unlevel concrete slabs. When water isn’t draining properly, as mentioned, it can be an issue with plumbing, soil grading, downspouts, and eavestrough drainage.
In no particular order, here is a list of the best Toronto concrete lifting companies:
Groundworks has been a reliable choice for concrete contracting services in Toronto for over 30 years. While they operate under a new name, Groundworks remains dedicated to the same high levels of customer service. Groundworks begin all concrete lifting work with free inspections and same-day estimates. From here, the certified Groundworks experts create customized solutions for uneven concrete, cracks, foundation problems, or basement and crawl space issues. What’s more, Groundworks is committed to the job long after it is complete and can offer details on maintenance plans.
The Groundworks team offers homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area peace of mind (in addition to high-quality work) through their experience, professionalism, and a nationally backed warranty. Contact them today to find out why they are one of Toronto’s best concrete lifting companies.
Key Services & Features
- Concrete lifting and leveling
- Foundation and crawl space repairs
- Use a SettleStop™ PolyRenewal™ concrete lifting system
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, or pool decks
- Basement waterproofing solutions
- Radon mitigation solutions
- House lifting
- Over 30 years of concrete contracting experience
- Residential concrete work
Customer Feedback
This was our third spring int this house and the third spring with a leaky basement. We knew it was time. Two friends recommend this company highly. Every step of the process was great. Everyone we dealt with was responsive, professional, effective and communicative. The team who did the actual work and installation- Dave and Brian – were awesome!
– Sherry, HomeStars
2. Canadian Concrete Leveling Ltd.
The current owner of Canadian Concrete Leveling, Anthony Melia, sought ownership of the company after being a long-time satisfied customer. He is among hundreds of Toronto homeowners to be left impressed by the precision, expertise, and professionalism of Canadian Concrete Leveling. Today, Anothy and Candian Concrete Leveling continue to impress through their PolyLevel concrete lifting services, among many others. In addition to concrete lifting, they also offer smaller repairs for concrete, commercial services, and mudjacking.
Canadian Concrete Leveling assures homeowners and business owners that they’ll receive the same stellar experiences Anthony had with the company. They accomplish this with an unwavering commitment to teamwork, customer service, and ingenuity in concrete.
Key Services & Features
- Concrete lifting and leveling
- Use a PolyLevel® concrete lifting system
- Residential and commercial concrete work
- Repairs for cracked concrete
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, or pool decks
- Also, service as far as London, Barrie, and Kingston
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Customer Feedback
Kyle and his team were amazing. My living room had been converted from a garage many years ago. I had noticed the concrete slab sinking and called Canadian Concrete Leveling to get their opinion. When I did the demo I discovered a spiderweb of cracks and at some points the floor had sunk 5 1/2 inches. Kyle brought everything up level with the framework, 5 hours, no mess and a very reasonable price. The floor is 100% stable and I can get on with my renovations immediately.
Thanks guys. I am sooooo happy I chose Canadian Concrete Leveling!!!
– Lynne, Google
3. Sanremo Poly-Foam
Sanremo Poly-Foam is a concrete lifting company in Toronto with a strong focus on and commitment to the environment. They use a patented polyurethane foam lifting system to help homeowners save on the cost of concrete repairs and to avoid replacements. With this, Sanremo Poly-Foam can provide concrete lifting for almost any surface. This includes garage floors (detached or attached), driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, and patios. Plus, Sanremo provides these services to more than just homeowners. Sanremo also offers concrete lifting in Toronto for municipalities, industrial or agricultural businesses, and general commercial work.
Find out why thousands of contractors across Canada trust the Sanremo Poly-Foam concrete lifting system! They’ll start you off with a free estimate.
Key Services & Features
- Residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and municipal concrete work
- Concrete lifting and leveling
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, or pool decks
- 2-year warranty
- Use a polyurethane concrete raising system
- Over 20 years of experience
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Customer Feedback
Anthony came out to provide us with a free quote to lift our concrete driveway as it had sunk in some areas. His quote was detailed,
professional and pricing was much less than what it would of cost us to replace our driveway.
We scheduled the work & Anthony + his crew arrived on time and completed the work within 2 days. We are very happy with the end result & thankful to Sanremo PolyFoam! Definitely recommended
– Anna, Google
4. Poly-Mor Canada Inc.
Poly-Mor Canada Inc. is a concrete lifting service and product provided across Canada. This includes many regions across southwestern Ontario and the entire Greater Toronto Area. The company has helped thousands of Canadians over their 25 years in business while maintaining the highest customer service and safety standards. While the Poly-Mor polyurethane foam is available for residential concrete lifting applications, Poly-Mor Canada Inc. also applies the foam to fill voids and cracks, lift foundations, or repair small trip hazards.
Whether for residential, commercial, or industrial services, Poly-Mor Canada Inc. seeks to provide clients with industry-leading professionalism and innovative solutions.
Key Services & Features
- Residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal concrete work
- Concrete lifting and leveling
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, or pool decks
- Use a polyurethane foam concrete lifting system
- Services available across the entire GTA and across Canada
- Concrete void filling
Customer Feedback
The crew showed up as scheduled and instantly were working on our project. They were very professional and courteous. They took care of all cleanup, filled and sealed all holes that were drilled. They did not charge me travel time even though I am almost 3 hours from their location because they had multiple jobs in the area. I highly recommend.
– K Scharff, Google
Get 3 Free Estimates Today
Post your project and we will connect you with RenovationFind Certified Companies.
5. Polished Floors
Concerning concrete repairs or renovations, Polished Floors does it all! Polished Floors specializes in bringing concrete surfaces back to life and offers a variety of methods for doing so. Plus, when those surfaces are beyond polish or repairs, Polished Floors can provide services for pouring new concrete or replacing it with an epoxy floor coating. Homeowners can count on Polished Floors’ dedication to quality on any one of these concrete services. These include concrete repairs like lifting, levelling, cutting, resurfacing, and polishing! Polished Floors also offers several specialized concrete services to help enhance the look of any boring slab. This could include engraving or concrete staining. Check out their website to learn more!
Key Services & Features
- Concrete lifting and leveling
- Residential and commercial concrete work
- Pouring for new concrete floors
- Decorative concrete elements like engraving, stamping, staining, and polishing
- Foundation repairs
- Over 15 years of experience
- Epoxy floors
Customer Feedback
Ben just completed the renovation of my floor at my condo and the polished floor is spectacular. What’s amazing is that the job was done in 4 days only! Ben committed to the deadline and delivered. I am very happy with his work and will recommend him to anyone who needs a polished concrete floor done professionally and done right the first time! Ben, I think your work added a lot of value to my place, it looks striking and I love it. I highly recommend you and would hire you again with no hesitation. Thank you! (Work done in Nov. 2021.)
– Eric, Google
Concrete work requires precision, safety, and schedules. Toronto’s top concrete lifting companies are known to focus on all of the above, plus customer services and individual homeowner needs. But it is always important to go with a contractor you trust and feel comfortable with; our list can act as a guide and jumping-off point to finding the right contractor for your sunken concrete.
The advantages of concrete lifting
There are several reasons why homeowners and business owners choose concrete lifting over replacement. While many of our companies listed do offer a concrete replacement, they understand the advantages of trying lifting and levelling first!
Saving money
Homeowners can save a lot of money when concrete is properly inspected and assessed for damage. When this is done properly, concrete contractors will recommend concrete lifting where possible. Concrete lifting requires less labour, material, and time.
It is significantly faster than concrete pouring.
Concrete replacement renovations can cause major inconveniences as this process takes weeks. Most of the time, the old concrete must be removed and torn up. Afterward, the concrete needs to be poured, levelled, and cured. On the other hand, the best concrete lifting companies in Toronto can have the lifting completed in less than a full day’s work. And when concrete lifting is finished with a foam spray rather than mudjacking, it can take under an hour to dry. This is weeks less than freshly poured concrete.
Improved structural look and integrity
No matter where the concrete slab sits, a solid lifting job will improve the structural integrity of anything on top of the concrete. Smooth and clean surfaces will also reduce any safety hazards caused by sunken concrete. Sunken steps, patios, decks, driveways, or sidewalks tend to lessen a property’s curb appeal, which can, in turn, lessen property or resale value. Concrete lifting companies in Toronto can improve safety and aesthetics around the home.
Connect with one of the concrete lifting companies listed above and fix that sunken concrete!
This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com