The Real Lifespan of Concrete Leveling: What You Need to Know
The crack in your driveway started small. Now it’s wide enough to catch your shoe when you walk by. Or maybe your patio has tilted just enough that water pools against your foundation instead of draining away. Whatever brought you here, you’re probably wondering—is concrete leveling worth it, and more importantly, how long will it actually last?
After lifting hundreds of slabs across Texas, I’ve heard this question more times than I can count. So let me give you the unvarnished truth: properly done concrete leveling can last decades. Not years. Decades.
But there’s more to the story than that simple answer. Let’s dig into what really determines how long your fix will hold up.
Why Your Concrete Decided to Sink in the First Place
Your concrete didn’t just wake up one day and decide to drop. Something underneath gave way, and understanding that “something” matters for how long your repair will last.
In my 15+ years doing this work, I’ve seen it all:
- Water erosion is the biggest culprit by far. After a heavy rain, water finds paths under your slab and slowly carries away the supporting soil. It’s like pulling cards from the bottom of a house of cards—eventually, things shift.
- Then there’s our lovely Texas clay soil. It expands when wet and shrinks when dry, putting your concrete on a seasonal roller coaster. One summer drought can create voids that weren’t there in spring.
- Tree roots are another silent troublemaker. As they grow, they lift and shift everything around them. That oak that provides nice shade? It might also be nudging your walkway upward.
- And let’s not forget poor installation. Some contractors (not naming names) skimp on proper base compaction. They rush to pour concrete over loose fill, leaving you with a ticking time bomb.
What We Actually Do When We Level Your Concrete
When I tell people we’re going to “inject foam under your slab,” they often picture that expanding foam in a can from the hardware store. Not even close.
What we use is high-density polyurethane specialized stuff that’s strong enough to lift and hold thousands of pounds. Our process is straightforward but requires precision:
We start by drilling strategic holes about the size of a nickel in your concrete. These aren’t random—we place them exactly where needed based on how your slab has settled.
Then we inject the polyurethane foam. As it expands beneath your slab, we can actually control the lift, watching the concrete rise back to level in real-time. It’s a bit like watching surgery, methodical, controlled, and oddly satisfying.
The foam sets quickly within minutes, and cures completely within hours. By the time we pack up our equipment, you can usually walk on the surface. By tomorrow morning, you can park your car on it.
The Million-Dollar Question: How Long Will It Last?
I won’t sugarcoat it, I’ve seen some poorly done leveling jobs fail within months. But when done right, with quality materials and proper site preparation? We regularly see results lasting 15-20 years or more.
The polyurethane we use doesn’t break down like other materials might. It’s waterproof, so it won’t wash away during heavy rains. It doesn’t shrink over time or compress under weight. Once it’s in place and cured, it stays that way.
But, and this is important, if the underlying cause of your concrete settlement isn’t addressed, even the best leveling job won’t last forever. That’s why we always check your drainage patterns and make recommendations about gutters, downspouts, or grading that might help keep water from undermining our work.
Signs It’s Time to Call Us
Most folks wait too long before getting concrete leveling. They figure, “Well, it’s not that bad yet,” until suddenly it is. Here’s my advice: if you notice any of these issues, give us a call sooner rather than later:
- Trip hazards—if you’ve stumbled over the same spot more than once, it’s time.
- Water collecting in one area after rain instead of draining away.
- Cracks that seem to be widening month by month.
- A gap forming between your concrete and your house, steps, or garage floor.
- Doors that used to open and close easily but now stick or drag.
The earlier we catch the problem, the simpler (and often cheaper) the fix.
Our No-Nonsense Approach
When you call Du-West, you won’t get a sales pitch.
You’ll get a thorough assessment:
- We’ll walk your property with you and listen to what you’ve noticed.
- We use laser levels to measure exactly how much settlement has occurred.
- We check for drainage issues, tree root problems, or other factors that might have caused the sinking.
- Then we explain exactly what we found, what we recommend, and how much it will cost—all in plain English.
Quick Answers to Questions I Hear Every Day
Will I need to do this again in a few years?
Not typically. Unless the underlying cause creates new voids, one properly done leveling job should last decades.
What about those cracks in my concrete?
Leveling won’t make cracks disappear, but we can stabilize them so they don’t get worse, and we can seal them to keep water out.
Can heavy trucks still drive on it?
Absolutely. The foam we use is actually stronger than most soils it replaces. Your driveway can handle everything it could before—and often more.
Is this just a band-aid fix?
Not at all. This is structural repair that addresses the actual problem, lack of support under your concrete. It’s not covering up issues it’s fixing them.
Making the Right Call
If your concrete is sinking or uneven, you’ve got two main options: tear it out and pour new, or level what you’ve got. For most situations, leveling makes more sense—it’s faster, less disruptive, more environmentally friendly, and about half the cost.
But more importantly, when done right, it’s a long-term solution that can give you decades of level, stable concrete.
At Du-West Services, we’ve built our reputation on being brutally honest about what you need—and what you don’t. So if your concrete’s giving you trouble, let’s talk. We’ll help you figure out if leveling is right for you, and if it is, we’ll do it right the first time.
