Concrete settling and sinking is quite common. It occurs when the soil, at the time of installation, was not compacted properly, or when water runoff is not channeled properly. Concrete sinking may also happen due to the simple natural settling of earth over time.
Concrete lifting is the process of filling the voids under concrete, which results in the lifting of the concrete slab.
Homeowners, property owners and municipalities may experience concrete becoming uneven on:
- Sidewalks
- Curbs
- Roads
- Stairs
- Driveways
- Pool Deck
- Patios
- Floors
- Loading docks
- Roads
- Bridge approaches
- Off or on ramps
Concrete Replacement is Expensive
It is simple math. Concrete contractors must make up to three trips to a location to replace a simple slab of concrete with removal, framing, pouring, removal of framing material and cutting. Add to this the ever growing problem of environmental constraints of concrete disposal: the replacement of a simple 10’x10’ piece of driveway, walkway, or pool deck can cost upwards of a $1000.
Be environmentally friendly! Repair your concrete instead of replacing it!
What Can Be Done With Settled Concrete?
Grinding: Inexpensive option, but not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Grinding concrete exposes the aggregate in the concrete. The integrity and strength of the concrete slab is also compromised during this process. If the concrete continues to settle, a ground slab can no longer be raised and leveled.
Replacement: Most expensive and time consuming option to level concrete. Colors of slabs will not match and can contribute to significant downtime of the area for curing time.
Raising & Stabilizing: Polyurethane concrete raising and mudjacking are two methods used to raise and support sunken concrete or unstable concrete slabs by drilling holes and pumping material under the slab. Settled concrete is commonly a result of poor soil conditions below a slab.
