Concrete Leveling
Fix sunken, uneven concrete surfaces quickly and affordably with professional leveling services that restore safety and appearance.
Understanding Concrete Settling and Sinking
Sunken concrete is more than just an eyesore. It creates trip hazards, causes drainage problems, and indicates underlying soil issues that might worsen over time. Here in Wheaton and throughout Montgomery County, settling concrete is common due to our clay-heavy soil that shifts and compacts. We've helped hundreds of property owners restore their concrete surfaces without the expense of complete replacement.
Concrete doesn't actually sink. What happens is the soil beneath it settles, erodes, or gets washed away, leaving voids that cause the concrete slab to drop. This settling occurs for various reasons including poor compaction during original installation, water erosion washing soil away, tree roots growing and then decaying, or natural soil compression over time.
The good news is that sunken concrete can often be raised back to its original level without removal and replacement. Modern concrete leveling techniques lift and stabilize slabs in hours rather than days, at a fraction of replacement cost. Your concrete gets a second life, and you avoid the disruption and expense of tearing out and replacing perfectly good concrete that just needs support underneath.
Concrete Leveling Methods We Use
Polyurethane Foam Injection
Polyurethane foam injection is our most popular leveling method for residential applications. We drill small holes through the sunken concrete, then inject expanding polyurethane foam beneath the slab. The foam expands and hardens quickly, filling voids and lifting the concrete back to level. This method is fast, clean, and incredibly effective. Most jobs finish in a few hours, and you can use the surface immediately after completion.
The foam is lightweight yet strong, so it doesn't add significant weight to the soil like other methods. It's also water-resistant and won't wash away like soil. The small injection holes get patched to match the surrounding concrete, making them barely noticeable. This method works great for driveways, sidewalks, patios, and garage floors.
Mudjacking or Slabjacking
Mudjacking pumps a cement-based slurry beneath the concrete to fill voids and raise the slab. This traditional method has been used for decades and works well for many applications. We drill larger holes than foam injection requires, pump the slurry mix underneath until the slab lifts to the desired height, then patch the holes. Mudjacking typically costs less than foam injection but takes longer to cure before you can use the surface.
This method adds more weight than foam, which matters in some situations. It's often the better choice for large commercial slabs or heavy-duty applications. The material is durable and has proven itself over many years of use. We recommend mudjacking or foam based on your specific situation, budget, and timeline needs.
When Leveling Works Best
Not every sunken concrete situation is fixable with leveling. We evaluate each project to determine if leveling makes sense or if replacement is the better option. Leveling works great when the concrete itself is in good condition with minimal cracking. If your concrete is severely cracked, deteriorated, or broken into multiple pieces, replacement might be more cost-effective. We provide honest assessments and explain the best approach for your situation. Many of our concrete projects throughout Wheaton and Montgomery County combine leveling existing sections with replacing severely damaged areas for the best value.
Common Areas We Level
Concrete leveling solves problems throughout your property. Here are the most common applications we handle:
- Driveway slabs that have settled creating bumps or dips
- Sidewalk sections that pose trip hazards
- Patio surfaces that slope toward the house causing drainage issues
- Garage floors that no longer drain properly
- Front walkways and entryway steps that have dropped
- Pool deck areas that have settled unevenly
- Concrete stoops and porches near foundation walls
- Commercial parking lots and loading dock areas
Each situation presents unique challenges. A sunken driveway might create water pooling issues or make getting in and out of your garage difficult. Settled sidewalk sections create liability concerns because people can trip on the uneven surface. Patio slabs that slope toward your house direct water against your foundation, potentially causing basement moisture problems or even foundation damage.
We approach each leveling project systematically. First, we identify why the settling occurred to prevent it from happening again. Then we determine how much lift is needed and whether the concrete condition allows for leveling. Finally, we execute the leveling work precisely to restore proper grades and eliminate safety hazards. If you're also dealing with cracked concrete, our concrete repair services can address those issues alongside leveling work.
The Leveling Process
Understanding what happens during concrete leveling helps you know what to expect. The process is straightforward and much less disruptive than concrete replacement. We start by assessing the site and determining how much each section needs to be raised. Laser levels and measuring tools help us establish exact elevation goals.
For foam injection, we drill small holes strategically placed in the sunken areas. The holes are typically about five-eighths of an inch in diameter, much smaller than most people expect. We then insert injection ports and begin pumping foam beneath the slab. The foam expands within seconds, and we monitor the lift carefully to achieve precise results. Once the slab reaches the target height, we remove the ports and patch the holes.
The entire process for a typical residential driveway or sidewalk takes just a few hours. You'll see immediate results as we work. The concrete rises back to level right before your eyes. There's minimal mess, no heavy equipment tearing up your yard, and no weeks of waiting for concrete to cure. Most customers are amazed at how quick and clean the process is compared to what they expected.
After leveling, we inspect the work to ensure everything is properly aligned. We check slopes for proper drainage, measure to verify heights, and walk the surface looking for any remaining unevenness. The patched holes cure quickly, and the leveled area is ready for use. For foam injection, you can walk on the surface immediately and drive on it within 15 minutes. Mudjacking requires longer cure times, typically 24 hours before heavy use.
Cost Savings and Long-Term Benefits
Concrete leveling typically costs 50 to 70 percent less than replacing the same concrete. That's significant savings, especially for larger areas like driveways. You also avoid the additional costs and hassles of removal and disposal of old concrete, which adds substantially to replacement expenses. The time savings matter too. Leveling finishes in hours versus days or weeks for replacement.
Beyond immediate cost savings, leveling extends the life of your existing concrete. Sunken slabs that collect water deteriorate faster from freeze-thaw damage. Trip hazards increase liability exposure. Drainage problems can damage foundations or landscaping. Addressing these issues through leveling prevents more expensive problems down the road.
Environmental benefits matter to many property owners. Leveling is inherently more sustainable than replacement because it reuses existing materials rather than sending concrete to landfills and manufacturing new concrete. The smaller carbon footprint of leveling versus replacement appeals to environmentally conscious customers.
Leveled concrete can last for many years when the underlying issues are properly addressed. The foam or slurry we inject provides stable support that won't wash away or compress like soil. Of course, if new settling occurs in other areas or the same spot settles again years later due to new soil movement, we can level it again. Many customers who level their concrete driveways and walkways enjoy decades of additional service from concrete that might otherwise have been replaced.