Mudjacking vs Steel Pier Systems Underpinning

Not sure whether to go the route of steel pier system underpinning or mudjacking to support your structure? Do you have two different contractors competing for your project, one who is an expert in mud jacking and concrete underpinning, and another who is a proponent of push piers? We understand that foundation repair may appear to be a bit mysterious at times. So, which approach to fixing something works the best in the end?

Problems Associated with Mudjacking as a Method of Underpinning
The practice of mudjacking causes the further sinking of your foundation.

The archaic underpinning method known as mudjacking, which is also known as concrete underpinning, involves injecting mortar slurry, limestone, and cement beneath a sinking foundation in order to prevent further foundation settlement. Mudjacking is also known as concrete underpinning. Mudjacking has a number of drawbacks, one of which is that it only recovers a portion of the ground that was lost due to foundation settlement because it is dependent on the brute force of the installation pressure to push the foundation upward.

The fact that cement is so dense and heavy is the primary challenge presented by mud jacking. One cubic foot of cement weighs one hundred pounds. The process of mudjacking is analogous to putting a heavy chain around a ship that is already sinking and hoping against hope that the ship will remain afloat.

To put it another way, mudjacking contributes a sizeable amount of weight—thousands of pounds, to be exact—to a house that is already sinking or settling. The benefits of mudjacking are short-lived, despite the fact that it can temporarily lift and support your foundation that is settling. It is not possible to reach competent, load-bearing soil or bedrock with mudjacking because it does not penetrate deeply enough. In the end, the incompetent, non-load-bearing soil will reclaim and sink your foundation because of its inability to support the load.

There is a Limited Warranty for Mudjacking.
Because mudjacking is only a temporary solution, most mudjacking companies only provide a warranty for their foundation repair that is valid for one to two years. And in the not infrequent cases in which the foundation sinks after the warranty period has expired, contractors typically recommend performing mudjacking once more.

When mudjacking for a second time, the contractor must punch through the first application of solidified slurry, which is a much more difficult undertaking. Even if a second attempt at fixing the problem is successful, gravity will eventually triumph, and the foundation will once again become unstable.

In addition to this, mudjacking can be utilized to relevel slabs and as a primitive method of void fill. Polyurethane foam has recently overtaken mudjacking as the dominant technique in the construction industry.

Steel pier systems offer a number of advantages for underpinning.
Permanent and Lightweight Foundation Support Can Be Obtained Through the Use of Steel Pier Systems
Steel pier systems, such as push piers, helical piers, and helical tieback systems, are examples of more recent technologies that are utilized in the repair and underpinning of foundations. Steel pier systems are comprised of steel pipes that are hydraulically driven to competent, load-bearing soil. These pipes are then anchored to a foundation’s prepped footing via a remedial bracket, functioning as an underground stilt system to secure, stabilize, and/or lift the structure. Steel pier systems are available in a variety of lengths and diameters to meet a variety of load-bearing and support requirements.

Unlike mudjacking, steel pier systems will not sink your home. Both the push pier and the helical pier systems do not add thousands of additional pounds of weight to the foundation that has already been settled. In addition to this, and perhaps most importantly, these systems are driven down to competent, load-bearing soil or bedrock in order to provide permanent support.

There are Numerous Warranties Provided for Steel Pier Systems.

The warranties on mudjacking typically only cover a period of one to two years, while the warranties on steel pier systems cover much longer periods of time. As an example, Dalinghaus provides a lifetime warranty on all of its steel pier system products. And no, the warranty is not tied to the length of your life; rather, it is tied to the length of time the structure will remain standing.

Warranties denote a vote of confidence. The longer the duration of the warranty, the greater the contractors’ level of assurance.

When it comes to foundation repair, you should always get a second opinion.

You have learned through reading this article that mud jacking and concrete underpinning both add a significant amount of weight to a structure that is already sinking, offer only a temporary solution at best, and are not covered by extensive warranties. In addition, you came to understand that steel pier systems provide permanent underpinning solutions and are frequently accompanied by warranties that last a lifetime.

Before making significant monetary choices like foundation repair and underpinning, it is always recommended to educate yourself as much as possible and to get a second opinion whenever it is necessary.

We are overjoyed that we were able to point you in the right direction in terms of the most effective foundation repair options available to you. RLM Retrofit Foundation has provided premium and high-quality service to hundreds of thousands of foundations worldwide. Give us a call right now if you need services including Foundation Inspection Big Bear and repair.

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