Concrete Leveling

Why Concrete Sinks and Settles

Concrete does not sink because it fails. The slab itself stays strong. The problem happens underneath. Soil erodes away, creating voids beneath the concrete. Heavy rain washes soil particles into gaps. Downspouts dump water that carries soil away over time. Tree roots dry out soil causing it to shrink. Poor compaction during original construction leaves spaces that eventually collapse. Whatever the cause, once support disappears from below, gravity pulls the concrete down into empty spaces.

AnvilPoint fixes sunken concrete throughout Cuyahoga Falls using modern leveling techniques that cost a fraction of replacement. Instead of jackhammering out perfectly good concrete and starting over, we lift and stabilize existing slabs. The process takes hours instead of days. You save money and avoid the mess of demolition and removal. Best of all, leveled concrete performs just as well as new concrete because the slab itself never failed in the first place.

Common Signs You Need Concrete Leveling

• •Trip hazards where sidewalk sections settle at different heights
• •Water pooling on driveways or patios instead of draining properly
• •Gaps appearing between concrete slabs and building foundations
• •Uneven garage floors causing doors to stick or not close right
• •Cracked concrete caused by lack of support beneath the slab

How Concrete Leveling Works

Two main methods exist for lifting sunken concrete: traditional mudjacking and modern polyurethane foam injection. Both work by filling voids beneath slabs and applying lifting pressure from below. The differences come down to materials used, hole sizes needed, and curing time. We evaluate your situation and recommend the best approach based on the specific conditions and your budget.

Traditional Mudjacking Process

Mudjacking pumps a slurry mixture of water, soil, sand, and cement under the slab through holes drilled in the concrete. The mixture fills voids and applies pressure that lifts the slab back to level. Once level, the slurry hardens and provides permanent support. We drill 1.5 to 2 inch holes, pump material until the slab rises to the correct height, then patch the holes with concrete. The process works well for driveways, sidewalks, and garage floors. Mudjacking costs less than foam injection and handles most residential applications effectively.

Polyurethane Foam Injection

Foam injection uses expanding polyurethane that weighs much less than mudjacking material. We drill smaller holes, about five-eighths inch diameter. The foam expands 20 to 40 times its liquid volume, filling every void and crack beneath the slab. It cures in minutes instead of hours, so you can use the surface almost immediately. Foam never adds significant weight and will not wash away like mudjacking material can over decades. It costs more than mudjacking but offers advantages for certain situations like areas with weak soil or where speed matters.

The Leveling Process Step by Step

We start by evaluating the extent of settling and identifying drainage problems that caused it. Then we drill access holes at strategic locations. For mudjacking, we connect hoses to a pump truck and carefully inject material while monitoring slab height with laser levels. For foam, we inject through smaller holes and watch for expansion. Either way, we work methodically to lift slabs evenly without over-lifting or cracking. Once level, we patch holes to match the existing surface. The entire process typically completes in a few hours for most residential projects.

Leveling vs. Replacement: Making the Right Choice

Leveling costs 50 to 70 percent less than complete replacement in most cases. A driveway that costs $6,000 to replace might only need $2,000 in leveling. The savings come from reusing existing concrete instead of demolition, disposal, and new installation. Leveling also avoids disruption. You use your driveway the same day instead of waiting a week for new concrete to cure. However, leveling only works when the concrete itself remains in good condition.

When Leveling is the Smart Choice

Leveling works great when concrete has settled but shows minimal cracking and the surface remains intact. If your main problem is uneven height rather than deteriorated concrete, leveling provides an excellent solution. It fixes trip hazards, improves drainage, and eliminates gaps near foundations. Most settling happens from soil issues, not concrete failure. Fixing the symptom by leveling while addressing drainage problems prevents future settling and costs far less than replacement.

When Replacement Makes More Sense

Severely cracked, spalled, or deteriorated concrete needs replacement regardless of height. Leveling cannot fix structural damage to the slab itself. If settling exceeds 3 to 4 inches, lifting becomes difficult and may not produce good results. Concrete older than 30 years might have underlying issues that make replacement the better long-term value. Very thin slabs without adequate thickness cannot handle the lifting pressure. We evaluate honestly and recommend replacement when leveling would not deliver lasting results.

Preventing Future Settling

Leveling fixes current problems but does not automatically prevent future settling. We identify and correct drainage issues that caused the original settling. This might mean extending downspouts, regrading around the slab, or improving surface drainage. For patios and walkways, we may recommend adding edge support or addressing tree root issues. Combining leveling with drainage improvements gives you lasting results instead of temporary fixes that need repeating every few years.

Frequently Asked Questions