Winter is typically a slow season for many contractors, including landscapers, insulators, and pavers. This is because the frigid conditions make working difficult, especially when temperatures dip below freezing. Some spray foam contractors know from experience why you should avoid using concrete lifting foam in the winter. However, if you’re new to the foam lifting process, here are some reasons why concrete lifting in the winter is a bad idea.
Why You Should Avoid Concrete Lifting in the Winter
Depending on the climate and local weather conditions, landscaping and contracting work of any kind can be difficult to schedule in the winter months. The plummeting outdoor temperatures cause snow and ice to accumulate and the ground to freeze. These conditions can be especially tough on concrete surfaces, causing cracks, potholes, and uneven dips. Keep reading to learn why fixing these issues can be challenging at this time of year.
1. Ground Temperature and Freeze
In certain parts of the country, the winter months bring snow and freezing temperatures. When ice and snow pile up on the ground and temperatures remain cold enough, they can freeze the earth below. These conditions can make landscaping, digging, and drilling difficult. Because concrete raising involves drilling holes through a concrete slab and into the ground below, this process becomes difficult during cold weather. This can lead to longer hours per project and poor labor conditions. Not only does ground freeze make working conditions difficult, but pumping during the winter can also put the concrete surface and your working materials at risk.
2. Risk of Damaging or Breaking Concrete
When moisture from winter ice and snow freezes, it can act like an adhesive to the soil, causing it to stick to the concrete. When this soil becomes packed together and freezes, it can make concrete lifting risky. When drilling holes in the concrete or pumping in your lifting mixture, you could risk cracking the frozen concrete by disturbing the earth around it. An accident like this could cause a simple realignment project to turn into a total replacement of the concrete slab. This is why both the foam injection contractor and the homeowners must understand the risks of raising concrete during the winter months.
3. Pumping Materials Can Freeze
Whether you’re practicing mudjacking or foam jacking to lift concrete, the winter weather can wreak havoc on the materials for either lifting method. The sand, cement, and soil mixture that form mudjacking slurry can quickly harden in below-freezing temperatures. However, the separate chemicals that form polyurethane concrete foam can also freeze if you’re not careful. This is why many spray foam contractors use insulated drums and hoses as well as heating units to keep their materials from freezing. It’s essential to monitor the condition of your foam materials, especially during the winter months.
4. Polyurethane Mixtures Can Be Less Effective in Winter
The challenging conditions in winter can make concrete lifting less effective as well. Wintry weather has a unique effect on polyurethane foam, whether you’re using it for insulation or foam jacking. The mixture of chemicals to create polyurethane foam has a more challenging time adhering to materials and curing. This can result in a less effective lift while outdoor conditions are so cold. Despite this, some spray foam companies still operate in the winter, which usually requires more labor time. Always inform your clients about these more extended labor requirements for scheduling purposes.
When you give the foam time to properly form and cure in warmer seasons, it will be much more effective and last indefinitely. This is why many companies and clients will wait for warmer temperatures to schedule their lifting sessions.
5. Freeze-Thaw Damage Can Occur
Even if you get lucky and time your concrete lift during a warmer patch of weather in the winter, you can still encounter concrete damage. While the concrete lift itself may be more successful, the ongoing winter conditions for the rest of the season can still damage your slab. Thanks to the ground’s constant freezing and thawing, the earth can shift around your concrete and injections, causing it to shift again.
You may even experience surface-level concrete issues in the winter, thanks to chemicals in de-icing products. All these reasons are why waiting until spring to complete your outdoor concrete project is best.
Which Concrete Lifting Projects Can You Do?
While outdoor concrete lifting in winter is a bad idea, some of these reasons why don’t apply to indoor concrete projects. For example, when your concrete project falls within a frost wall—an underground structure that protects and insulates your home—you may be able to schedule it during the winter. Indoor concrete projects such as foundation lifts, garage work, and more are typically more insulated than outdoor lifting projects. This means the ground won’t freeze and thaw, which would typically put your work at risk of damage. Think strategically about the projects your team can tackle during the concrete lifting off-season.
Where You Can Find Concrete Lifting Gear
If you want to stock up on concrete lifting gear for the upcoming spring season after the ground thaws, browse our website at Spray Foam Systems. We offer everything from concrete lifting foam machines and full rigs to smaller equipment accessories. Trust foam concrete equipment over outdated methods such as mudjacking for your concrete lifting business. We also supply heating and insulation accessories to keep your polyurethane foam heated and stable so you don’t waste material. Check out our selection of insulated hoses, drums, and other heating equipment.
These are some of the various reasons why concrete lifting in winter can be a bad idea. However, if you protect your materials with the proper heating equipment and choose your work area wisely, your concrete lifting business can still operate during the winter months. Just remember to avoid concrete jacking outdoors in areas where the ground is still frozen or if you expect another freeze in the near future. And don’t forget to stock up on concrete lifting equipment for any time of year here at Spray Foam Systems.
