Sinking Concrete: Should You Level It or Replace It?
Your driveway’s starting to look like a skate park. That patio you installed a few years back? Now, it’s tilting enough that your outdoor furniture slides to one corner during dinner parties. We’ve all been there.
After 20 years of fixing concrete disasters across the county, I’ve heard this question more times than I can count: “Should I just tear this whole thing out and start over?”
Most folks assume replacement is the only real solution to uneven concrete. But here’s the thing, leveling that slab might save you thousands and give you the same result. Let me walk you through how to make this call without wasting your hard-earned money.
Why Your Concrete Isn’t Staying Put
First things first, what’s causing your concrete to throw in the towel? Understanding the enemy helps you pick the right battle plan.
The most common culprits I see daily:
- Water erosion is public enemy number one. After heavy rains, water can wash away the soil supporting your concrete, creating voids underneath. Think of it like removing books from the bottom of a stack—everything above starts to sink.
- Then, there’s poor soil compaction from the initial installation. Some contractors (not naming names) rush the prep work. They pour concrete over loose fill, and gravity does the rest over time.
- Tree roots are sneaky too. As they spread and grow, they push and pull on everything nearby, including your concrete slabs.
- And let’s not forget about those underground plumbing leaks. A small drip can eventually carve out a cavern under your driveway or sidewalk.
Concrete Leveling: The Unsung Hero of Concrete Repair
When I tell homeowners about concrete leveling, they often look at me like I’ve suggested fixing their car with duct tape.
We use polyurethane foam injection, or “poly jacking” for short. This is not your typical home improvement foam from the hardware store. It’s engineered specifically for lifting heavy concrete.
The process is straightforward but requires precision:
- We drill holes smaller than a quarter into strategic spots on your slab. These are our access points.
- Next, we inject expanding foam underneath. It’s like watching a magic trick—the concrete slowly rises to its original position as
- the foam fills those empty spaces.
- The foam hardens quickly, becoming stronger than the soil it’s replacing. This means it won’t wash away or compress over time.
- Finally, we patch those small holes, and you’d never know we were there.
The whole process usually wraps up in a few hours. By the time we’re packing up our truck, you can typically walk on the surface.
Full Replacement: The Nuclear Option
Sometimes replacement is necessary, but it’s the heavy artillery of concrete repair.
Here’s what full replacement entails:
- First, You need to bring in equipment to break up and remove your existing concrete. This is noisy, messy, and disruptive to your yard and landscaping.
- All that debris needs to go somewhere, so it needs to be hauled away in trucks.
- Then the area needs to be re-graded, tamped down fresh base material, and set up forms for the new pour.
- After that, install rebar or wire mesh to strengthen the new slab.
- Finally, pour fresh concrete, finish it to your specifications, and then… you wait. And wait. Typically, you’ll need to stay off it for at least 24-48 hours for foot traffic and 7-10 days before parking your car on it.
That’s a week or more of disruption versus a few hours for leveling.
How to Know If Your Concrete Needs Attention
You don’t need specialized equipment to spot trouble.
Just look for these signs:
- Your slab is visibly uneven—you can see it tilting or dipping in certain areas.
- Water pools in low spots after rain instead of draining away.
- Gaps have formed between your concrete and adjoining structures like your garage or front porch.
- Cracks are spreading or widening over time (small hairline cracks are normal; expanding ones aren’t).
- Your doors or gates suddenly don’t swing properly because the ground underneath has shifted.
What to Expect When We Visit
When you call Du-West, we don’t just eyeball your concrete and throw out a number. Our assessment process is thorough:
We’ll examine not just the concrete but the surrounding area to identify what caused the problem in the first place.
- Using specialized tools, we measure exactly how much the slab has settled and where.
- We check for drainage issues that might be contributing to erosion.
- Then we sit down with you and explain what we found in plain English—no contractor jargon or scare tactics.
- We give you options based on your specific situation and budget.
When Replacement Actually Makes More Sense
I’d love to tell you that leveling works for everything, but I’d be lying. And at Du-West, we’re painfully honest about what you actually need.
Replacement is usually the better option when:
- Your concrete is extensively cracked or broken into multiple pieces. Leveling works best with intact slabs.
- The surface is severely damaged, pitted, or spalling (when the top layer flakes off).
- The original installation was fundamentally flawed—like concrete poured without proper reinforcement or over completely unsuitable soil.
The Bottom Line
Nine times out of ten, I recommend leveling over replacement. It’s faster, cheaper, less disruptive, and just as effective for most situations. But what matters most is what’s right for YOUR property. At Du-West, we’ve built our reputation on giving homeowners honest assessments even when that means telling you that you don’t need our services yet.
So if your concrete is looking sad and uneven, give us a call. We’ll help you figure out whether leveling or replacement makes the most sense for your situation and budget. Either way, we’ve got the tools and expertise to get your concrete back on solid ground.
