Midwest Winters and Polyjacking

Common questions we are asked during the later months of the year are, “How will the midwest winter weather affect polyjacking?” Or, “Do you have a specific time of the year that you will be shutting down?” To start, let’s go over how fluctuating temperatures of a midwest winter will affect polyjacking, and get everyone up to speed on Midwest Winters and Polyjacking.

“How will the midwest winter weather affect polyjacking?”

Two very important things need to be examined to understand how freezing temps will affect polyjacking. 

First, we need to understand how freezing temps will impact the material we use in polyjacking. During the polyjacking process, two parts of a mixture are injected beneath the concrete slab to create a chemical reaction that produces the foam material. This material must be injected at a specific temperature, usually over 100 degrees fahrenheit, to make the best foam. For this reason, we use heated hoses that will maintain the correct temperature all the way up to the point of injection. The chemical reaction from the two part mixture is an exothermic reaction that produces heat. In short, we have the equipment necessary to produce a quality foam product in subfreezing temps. 

Second, we need to look at the environment that we are installing our polyjacking material. As we know, soil holds moisture. When soil then freezes and thaws, the soil is naturally expanding and contracting. For this reason, we do not lift concrete slabs on frozen ground. If the soil beneath a slab is frozen 3-4” deep by mid February, a lifted slab will likely settle after the soil thaws out by mid March. 

“Do you have a specific time of the year that you will be shutting down?” 

Because of the unpredictable climate in Missouri throughout the winter, we do not have a set date that we shut down year after year. We use the reasons listed above on a case by case basis to decide if we can successfully complete jobs and provide a good product. There can be two to three week long windows during a mild January where concrete lifting can be done. 

Winter months are also a great time of the year to work on interior concrete slabs that will not have freezing soil beneath them. If you have sinking concrete in your basement, garage, or any area that stays heated, call us today for a free estimate. We will always make ourselves available for an estimate regardless of freezing temps during the winter months. Hopefully this was helpful material for understanding Midwest Winters and Polyjacking.