Testimonials

I had a large issue in the driveway of my home. Multiple cracks. It sounded hollowed as you stomp on it in multiple areas. WHAT THEY DID:  They filled up the gaps inside. They repaired superficial cracks very well. They brought up the issue of how rain water could be coming under my driveway and causing more cracks in the future.

Just wanted to let you know that Josh and Nathan came today to take care of our driveway issues. They both did an excellent job in a very professional manner. We will definitely recommend A-1 Concrete Leveling to our friends here, should they have need of such services! Thanks again for your help and Deanne's help in resolving our driveway issues.

We needed part of our front sidewalk leveled, and also porch stairs. Rhett was on time for the estimate and thorougly explained what had to be done, and how it would be done. No rush, willing to answer any questions at all. They called and had an earlier opening than promised so we got it done even sooner than we had hoped. Everyone was very professional and knowledgeable.

I know I had a lot of questions and I appreciated your patience. Your crew did a great job! I walked/crawled around before they left and it was exactly as I expected. The contractors I’ve hired so far for various projects cut a lot of corners and I wouldn’t hire any of them again. I’m glad Luis recommended A1. I will recommend you to anyone looking for foundation work as well.

A1 Process VS. Foam

All Natural Products

Many of our customers have asked about the use of chemical based Polyurethane Foams and what our position is on that material and process. Hopefully the following information will give you some insights as to why we will only maintain the tried and true use of Limestone Grout foregoing any future use of chemical based Poly-Foams.

A1-All-Natural


The Benefits of Limestone

1) ALL NATURAL EARTH BASED PRODUCT

Limestone is actually used as the base when new concrete is poured. We feel if limestone is the perfect material for pouring new concrete on, it has to be an equally perfect material for filling voids, re-establishing the base and lifting existing concrete that has sunk.

2) DOES NOT ADD WEIGHT TO THE BASE CAUSING FURTHER SINKING

One of the pieces of mis-information that is circulating by foam competitors is that the weight of our material causes further sinking. Limestone is 80lbs per cubic foot, by comparison, an 80 pound child standing on one foot on top of a slab exerts 40 times more ground force vs what it takes to lift a 4x4ft slab with our material. Weight is a non-issue. 40+ years of leveling history and mathematics does not support any other conclusion.

3) SPREADS BETTER THAN POLYURETHANE FOAM

The flow-ability of limestone allows for a superior result filling unevenly developed voids under concrete slabs. Re-establishing the entire base under a sinking slab is critical in providing a long term solution that doesn’t put the slab at risk for future cracking where a void with no leveling material exists.

The Natural Choice

1% of revenues are donated towards sound environmental initiatives
Our customers are essentially partners in that endeavor


More Benefits of Limestone

4) CONTROLLING THE LIFT

Limestone does not over-react or over expand, running the risk of “over-leveling” a slab due to moisture that is unseen underneath it. With limestone, we can change the flow-ability/viscosity of our material instantly so we can lift or stabilize as we want giving us on the spot versatility. We can control the lift throughout the entire leveling process.

5) CAN BE INJECTED THROUGH 1” OR 5/8” HOLES

Our material can be injected through either size delivery method and the needs of the project determine which option is used.

6) WILL NOT ATTRACT INFESTATION

We have never in 20+ years of limestone leveling seen any evidence of infestation of any kind taking place. Polyurethane foam on the other hand does offer the risk of infestation evidenced by the video below.

7) PERMANENT SOLUTION

Once our material sets up and becomes hardened underneath the slab and if there is no more ground erosion under our material, our process provides a permanent solution.

Chemical based polyurethane foam: Our Concerns

1) CHEMICAL BASED MATERIAL

The components of PolyFoam only become “inert” when mixed precisely and exactly right, otherwise individually are toxic. If the individual components spill due to a loose connection, bad O-Ring or worn tool, the exposed items will need replaced or at a minimum painted. The chemicals cannot be washed off.
How Is It Made?
The product is formed by reacting a polyol (an alcohol with more than two reactive hydroxyl groups) with a Di-Isocyanate or a Polymeric Isocyanate in the presence of Amine based catalysts and additives. Amine catalysts are widely employed in foundry and polyurethane foam operations. These highly reactive Amines have been associated with graphic disturbances in vision and other respiratory health effects.
Potential Risk
If the “A Side” and “B Side” chemicals that come together at the point of injection under the concrete are not properly calculated, there is potential for what is called “Off Gassing” or the airborne release of the reactants to occur for a span of time after the project has been completed

2) LIMITED SPREAD OF MATERIAL / PILLOWING or PILLARS

Voids that produce sinking slabs are usually never evenly distributed or consistent. They have peaks and valleys and the visual symptom at the ground level is never the entire story as to what is going on underneath. Foam sets up relatively fast and due to that nature, the foam material often fails to spread evenly enough to re-establish a significant area of the base. Foam is done in a series of injections with the second one setting up under the first injection and so on (like a stack of pancakes). This creates a pyramid or localized pillar type effect under the area that has sunk to raise it back up. The issue at ground level may seem to have been solved but the lack of spread underneath puts the rest of the slab at risk for future cracking where there is an unfilled void and no material.

3) CONTROLLING THE LIFT

Foam reacts and expands with moisture. Lifting concrete with foam often requires a “stop-short” approach. Due to the potential of unseen moisture under a slab, lifting and stopping just shy of level is usually the means to guard against over lifting. Once a slab is over lifted it is an irreversible situation with the more expensive option of replacement being the only customer recourse. Due to the relatively fast set up nature of foam, tamping a slab back down once over leveled is incredibly difficult.

4) ONLY INJECTED THROUGH 5/8” HOLES

For smaller projects this is acceptable but for more detailed work or larger slabs additional 5/8” holes may be needed to achieve the desired outcome. Our customers always prefer less holes being drilled via our 1” hole delivery method.

5) PERMANENT SOLUTION with a potential caveat

Foam will provide a permanent solution just like our limestone grout if there is no further ground erosion or compaction. However, we have seen foam adhere/glue itself to the slab and /or adjoining foundation that make any additional lifting potentially impossible without causing damage to the slab or foundation.

6) RISK FOR INFESTATION


Why Now? What’s the Back-story?

Why is PolyFoam en vogue and is it the “latest & greatest” technology? The simple answer is no. It is not a new technology. The industry has merely found a way to capitalize on selling the chemical components on a consistent basis to its franchisees or end users as a source of ongoing revenue. On the other hand, A-1 Concrete Leveling can purchase crushed limestone from a number of different sources and isn’t reliant on one single source for its material.

It is our intention to educate the consumer so that they can make the choice as to what process best suits them and their property. There are some benefits to using foam in more industrialized or commercial highway applications performed by those who have multiple years of experience and training handling these types of chemicals and their proper mix of them, but for our purposes in serving your home or business we will stay committed to using a tried and true environmentally safe material that has been successfully utilized in resolving just about every sinking concrete situation we have encountered in over 20+ years.

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