Concrete Leveling

Understanding Sunken Concrete Problems

Sunken or settled concrete creates real problems beyond just looking bad. Uneven sidewalks become tripping hazards that put you at risk for liability claims. Settled driveway sections collect water that freezes in winter, making the problem worse each year. Concrete that has sunk near your foundation can direct water toward your house instead of away from it, potentially causing basement flooding or foundation damage.

The settling happens because soil under your concrete has eroded, compacted, or washed away. This leaves voids or soft spots that can't support the weight above. Water is usually the culprit, whether from poor drainage, leaking pipes, or just years of rain washing soil particles away. Sometimes the base was never properly compacted during installation. Whatever the cause, the result is concrete that has dropped, creating uneven surfaces and drainage problems.

Traditional solutions meant tearing out the sunken concrete and starting over. That's expensive, disruptive, and time-consuming. Concrete leveling offers a better option. Also called mud jacking or slab jacking, this technique lifts settled concrete back to its original position without removal. We use this method throughout Braintree to fix settled driveways, sidewalks, patios, and other concrete surfaces at a fraction of replacement cost.

How Concrete Leveling Works

Concrete leveling is simpler than you might think, but it requires specialized equipment and experience. The process involves drilling small holes through the sunken concrete slab. We then pump a lifting material under the slab through these holes. As the material fills voids and builds up pressure, it lifts the concrete back to the correct level. The holes get patched, and you can use the surface again almost immediately.

Traditional Mud Jacking

This proven method uses a slurry mixture of soil, cement, and water. We drill holes about two inches in diameter and pump the mixture underneath using hydraulic equipment. The thick slurry fills voids and lifts the slab. Mud jacking works well for most residential applications like driveways, sidewalks, and patios. The material is heavy, which helps stabilize the slab, and it's cost-effective for most projects.

Polyurethane Foam Injection

This newer technology uses expanding polyurethane foam instead of slurry. We drill smaller holes, usually less than an inch, and inject the foam. It expands underground, filling voids and lifting the concrete. The foam is extremely lightweight but very strong. It doesn't add weight to already compromised soil and cures in minutes rather than hours. Polyurethane works especially well for areas with weak soil or when you need immediate use of the surface.

The Leveling Process

We start by assessing your concrete to determine how much it has settled and why. Then we identify injection points and drill the necessary holes. Using specialized equipment, we carefully pump material underneath while monitoring the slab's movement. We lift slowly and precisely to avoid cracking the concrete or over-lifting. Once the slab reaches the correct level, we stop pumping, remove equipment, and patch the holes. The whole process usually takes a few hours for typical residential projects.

What We Can Level

• Sunken driveway sections creating uneven transitions or drainage issues
• Settled sidewalks and walkways posing trip hazards
• Tilted patio slabs directing water toward foundations
• Uneven garage floors causing drainage or door problems
• Settled steps creating dangerous height differences

Benefits Over Concrete Replacement

Concrete leveling costs significantly less than replacement, typically about half or even less. You're fixing the problem without removing and disposing of old concrete or pouring new material. The savings increase with larger areas. For a sunken driveway section, leveling might cost a few hundred dollars while replacement could run several thousand.

Speed is another major advantage. Replacement projects take days or even weeks when you factor in demolition, base preparation, pouring, and curing time. You can't use the area for at least a week after new concrete is poured. Leveling usually takes just a few hours, and the surface is ready to use immediately or within a day, depending on the method. This minimal disruption matters when you're dealing with driveways you need daily or commercial areas that can't be closed for long.

Leveling is also much less disruptive to your property. No heavy equipment tearing out old concrete and hauling debris away. No need to excavate and rebuild bases. Landscaping around the concrete stays intact. You won't have to worry about matching new concrete to old or dealing with construction mess throughout your yard. For many situations, especially when the concrete itself is still in good condition, leveling makes far more sense than replacement.

Environmental benefits matter too. Keeping existing concrete out of landfills reduces waste. Using less new concrete means less cement production, which has significant carbon emissions. For property owners concerned about sustainability, leveling aligns better with environmental goals while still solving the practical problem of settled concrete.

When Leveling Works and When It Doesn't

Concrete leveling works best when the concrete itself is still structurally sound. If your slab has settled but isn't severely cracked, broken, or deteriorated, leveling can restore it to perfect function. The concrete needs to be thick enough and strong enough to withstand the lifting process. Most standard residential concrete qualifies, but very thin sections or badly damaged concrete might not be good candidates.

The amount of settlement matters. We can typically lift concrete that has sunk several inches without problems. Extreme settlement might require multiple sessions or might indicate soil problems too severe for simple leveling. If the soil under your concrete is still actively eroding or shifting, we need to address that issue first. Sometimes this means improving drainage or stabilizing soil before leveling will provide a lasting solution.

Replacement makes more sense when concrete is extensively cracked, crumbling, or otherwise deteriorated. If the surface is so damaged that it needs replacement anyway, leveling won't help. Similarly, if you're dealing with very old concrete that has been patched repeatedly, replacement might be the better long-term investment. We'll honestly assess your situation and recommend the solution that makes the most sense for your specific circumstances.

After leveling, addressing the cause of settlement prevents future problems. If poor drainage caused the original settling, we need to fix that. If a leaking pipe washed soil away, that needs repair. Sometimes we recommend adding drainage systems or making other improvements alongside leveling to ensure the fix lasts. The leveling solves the immediate problem, but preventing recurrence requires understanding and addressing root causes.

Frequently Asked Questions