Concrete Leveling

The concrete leveling process is straightforward but requires specialized equipment and expertise. We drill small holes through the settled concrete slab, typically about two inches in diameter. These holes are strategically placed to provide even lifting across the entire area that needs raising. The number and placement of holes depends on the size of the slab and how much it has settled.

Through these holes, we pump a specialized material underneath the concrete. Traditional mudjacking uses a mixture of cement, soil, and other materials. Modern polyurethane foam injection is another option that uses expanding foam to lift the concrete. Both methods work by filling voids beneath the slab and creating pressure that lifts the concrete back to level. We monitor the lifting carefully and can control it precisely to achieve the exact height needed.

The material we pump underneath spreads out to fill voids and create a solid base that supports the now-level concrete. Unlike the original base material that may have washed away or compressed, the new material provides stable, long-lasting support. Once the slab reaches the proper height, we stop pumping and let the material set. The process typically takes just a few hours from start to finish, and you can usually use the concrete again within 24 hours.

After leveling, we fill the injection holes with new concrete that gets troweled smooth and closely matches the existing surface. From a few feet away, the repair is barely noticeable. The leveled concrete is now stable and should remain in place as long as the underlying cause of settling does not continue. In cases where poor drainage or soil erosion caused the original settling, we recommend addressing those issues to prevent future problems.

Driveways are one of the most common applications for concrete leveling. Settled driveway sections create lips where your car bottoms out or scrapes. Uneven panels collect water that freezes in winter or damages the concrete over time. Areas near the garage door may settle enough to affect the door operation. Leveling brings these sections back up flush with adjacent concrete, eliminating hazards and improving function. The repair is permanent when the underlying cause is addressed, and costs far less than tearing out and replacing the affected sections.

Sidewalks and walkways develop dangerous trip hazards when sections settle. A height difference of just half an inch can catch someone's foot and cause a fall. Property owners face liability for injuries that occur on their sidewalks. Leveling eliminates these hazards quickly and economically. The work typically takes just a few hours per section, and people can walk on the sidewalk again the same day in most cases. This makes leveling ideal for commercial properties that cannot afford extended closures.

Common concrete leveling applications:

• Driveways with sunken sections or uneven panels
• Sidewalks and walkways with trip hazards from settling
• Patio slabs that have dropped and slope toward the house
• Pool decks with uneven areas around the pool perimeter
• Garage floors that have settled below the foundation level
• Steps and stoops that have pulled away from the building

Patios that have settled can slope toward your house instead of away, directing water toward the foundation. This causes moisture problems in crawl spaces, basements, or slab foundations. Leveling restores proper drainage pitch so water flows away from the building as designed. The improved drainage prevents ongoing water damage and protects your foundation from moisture intrusion. This application of leveling can save you thousands in foundation repairs down the road.

Pool decks often settle around the perimeter where backfill was not properly compacted during construction. The resulting uneven surface looks bad and creates trip hazards around the pool where people are often walking barefoot. Leveling brings these sections back up to match the rest of the deck, creating a safe, attractive surface. Because pools are designed with specific drainage patterns, restoring the original grades helps water drain properly rather than puddling on the deck.

Cost is the most obvious advantage of concrete leveling. The process typically costs 50 to 70 percent less than removing and replacing concrete. You save money on demolition, disposal, new materials, and labor for forming and pouring. For large areas like driveways, the savings can amount to thousands of dollars. Even for smaller projects, leveling costs less while achieving the same functional result as replacement.

Speed is another major benefit. Replacement projects take several days or even weeks by the time you factor in demolition, disposal, site preparation, concrete pouring, and curing time. You cannot use the area during this entire period. Leveling typically completes in just a few hours, and the concrete is usable again within a day. This minimal disruption matters especially for driveways and commercial walkways where access is important.

Environmental impact favors leveling significantly. Replacement means demolishing perfectly good concrete, hauling it to a landfill, manufacturing and delivering new concrete, and consuming all the energy and resources involved in these processes. Leveling reuses the existing concrete, requires minimal new materials, and generates almost no waste. For environmentally conscious property owners, leveling is clearly the greener choice.

Appearance is comparable between leveling and replacement when the concrete is in good condition aside from settling. The small injection holes are barely visible after filling. The leveled concrete matches the surrounding areas. If your concrete has other problems like extensive cracking, major surface damage, or deterioration, then replacement may make more sense. We honestly assess your situation and recommend leveling only when it will provide good results. When concrete is structurally sound but just needs raising, leveling delivers excellent outcomes at great value.

The best candidates for concrete leveling are slabs that have settled but remain in good structural condition. The concrete should not have extensive cracking throughout, major deterioration, or other damage that compromises its integrity. Settling can range from less than an inch to several inches, and we can handle most situations within this range. Very minor settling of a quarter inch or less may not be worth addressing, while extreme settling of six inches or more sometimes exceeds what leveling can fix practically.

The cause of settling matters when deciding whether leveling is appropriate. If the soil beneath has compressed or a void has formed from erosion, leveling works great. The material we inject fills these voids and provides stable support going forward. However, if the soil continues to settle due to ongoing problems like active erosion or expansive clay, leveling may not last. We evaluate the underlying cause and recommend solutions to stabilize the situation before or in conjunction with leveling.

Sometimes replacement makes more sense than leveling. Concrete that is severely cracked, badly deteriorated, or at the end of its useful life should be replaced rather than leveled. Very large settled areas may cost nearly as much to level as to replace, eliminating the cost advantage. Concrete that has settled due to major structural issues like foundation failure needs the underlying problem corrected, possibly along with replacement. We provide honest assessments about whether leveling or replacement is the better choice for your specific situation.