This may seem to be a modern and ingenious idea. This is somewhat true as the idea, itself, was ingenious. However, the description of what modern is may have changed a little, since the original inception of the idea.
What exactly is Mudjacking? Mudjacking, also called mud jacking or injection leveling, is a process where a slab of concrete is lifted using the hydraulic pressures created by forcing mud slurry through strategically placed access holes. As the mud is forced under the concrete, it lifts the concrete and fills the voids simultaneously. The created pressure condenses the mud slurry forcing out the water. The mud slurry can be infused with lime, or Portland cement for faster hydration. The mixture cures creating a stable base for the concrete. We have provided the following public drawing to help you visualize the process.
Yes, thanks to modern technology, another difficult job has been made simple, or so it surely seemed. The process proved to be successful as the damaged concrete no longer had to be torn out and replaced. Mudjacking allowed traffic to continue on the adjacent sections of pavement while the mudjacking crew worked to repair sunken and cracked sections and to fill voids that would potentially cause problems in the future.
The History of Mudjacking
Mudjacking 101
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Today the process is still very similar to what was used in the beginning. Access holes are still drilled through the surface and a cement infused mud slurry is still injected. The process still involves lots of physical labor, but the machines are now powered using hydraulic pressure, rather than manpower. Just as when it was first used, mudjacking is still the fastest and most cost effective concrete lifting and re-leveling method on the market. Contact us today to see if mudjacking is an option for your particular application.
Imagine attempting to get excited about operating this contraption all day. However, back in the late 20's, this was a modern and highly sophisticated piece of equipment. My dad used to say "If it's not broke, don't fix it". Yet mankind never seems to be satisfied with something that works. So while Henry Ford stopped production on the Model T and started producing the far more modern Model A, so too, would be the fate of this mudjacking contraption.
A mechanic for the Iowa State Highway Commission, John W Poulter, had a better idea. He took mudjacking to the next level with his new invention, which was reportedly first used in Burlington, Iowa and was included in a commission report dated in 1930. Similar to modern mudjacking machines, Poulter's device forced a cement infused mud slurry through access holes drilled into the concrete. After a national report was published about this new invention, commercial production of mudjacking equipment soon followed.
Lets start at the beginning...
- Land of Dreams2:53
After World War II, a more compact version of the mudjack machine was developed. The availability of the smaller machine made it possible to use the equipment for residential use and other smaller projects.
In the early 40's during World War II mudjacking was taken to a larger scale. The US Navy Seabees used mudjacking to maintain the condition of their runways. Significantly reducing the time to repair runways, and at a fraction of the cost, meant the Air Force was able to keep things running smoothly. This state of the art machine would have been a sight to behold in its day.