Settled concrete does not settle back. Once a slab has dropped, the soil that used to support it has gone, and the only thing that changes without concrete settling repair is how far the slab drops and how much it costs to put right. Here are three reasons to deal with it now rather than next year — and what the repair actually involves.
1. Drainage Issues Lead to Foundation Damage
Settled concrete slabs can cause improper water drainage. When it rains, snows, or freezes, water can pool in low spots of a concrete slab. This can not only lead to further sinking or cracking concrete slabs due to long term moisture exposure, but it can also cause foundation damage. Rainwater, if not properly controlled and diverted, can inflict an enormous amount of damage on a property’s foundation, posing a serious risk to its structural integrity.
Repairing a property’s damaged foundation is likely to be more costly than keeping up with a cracked concrete slab, so it’s worth adding to your property repair to-do list as soon as possible.
2. Hazards and Liabilities
Cracked or settled concrete is a major trip hazard and one of the main reasons why this repair should be considered critical and taken care of quickly. Unlevel surfaces are nearly guaranteed to cause someone to slip, trip, or fall at some point, which could lead to serious injuries. Because the damaged concrete is part of your property, you could be held liable if someone is injured due to negligent maintenance.
Again we have an example of a situation where a small, easily remedied problem could grow into a much larger and more expensive one. Depending on your state, you could be on the hook to pay for someone’s medical bills in addition to any lost wages, which would likely add up to more than it would cost to repair your damaged concrete slab.
In addition to mitigating concerns about serious hazards for yourself and anyone visiting your property, you can also avoid common annoyances that come with living with damage concrete. For instance, it’s difficult to ride a bike, push a stroller, or shovel snow on an uneven or damaged surface. Save yourself the trouble and fix these issues before they become a real problem.
3. Property Value and Curb Appeal
Damaged concrete is unsightly, and typically the less maintained and attractive your property is, the less likely you are to get full value if you decide to sell it. Concrete cracks and unlevel slabs often signal buyers to other problems as well, so you may have trouble even finding someone interested in your property. Real Estate experts frequently advise clients to repair cracked or settled concrete before attempting to sell. Even if you’re not selling your home now, it’s worth taking care of as soon as possible to avoid more potentially costly repairs later if you change your mind.
How Settled Concrete Is Repaired
Concrete settling repair works on the cause, not the symptom. The slab dropped because the soil beneath it moved — washed out by water, compacted under load, or never properly compacted to begin with. Replacing the slab without addressing that leaves a new slab sitting over the same void.
Polyurethane injection handles both at once. A contractor drills small ports through the slab, injects liquid polyurethane into the void beneath, and the material expands to fill the space and lift the slab back toward grade. Because it expands against the soil rather than simply resting on it, it also compacts the ground it meets, restoring some of the support that was lost.
The work is usually a matter of hours rather than days, and the area generally returns to service the same day.
Why Settlement Happens
Concrete settles when the soils beneath it can no longer provide consistent support. This is often caused by poorly compacted fill, erosion from water intrusion, or changes in moisture content that lead to soil shrinkage or consolidation. As voids develop or soils lose density, the concrete above begins to shift or sink into these weakened areas. Addressing the underlying soil conditions is key to a lasting repair, which is why polyurethane injection has become a widely used solution. NCFI’s geotechnical polyurethanes are specifically engineered to fill voids, densify soils, and restore support beneath settled concrete, helping to stabilize structures with minimal disruption.
What Are My Repair Options?
There are a few minimally invasive and cost-effective solutions to repair your uneven, cracked concrete. Foam jacking is a popular and fast options for lifting a settled concrete slab. The process is non-disruptive and uses only dime-sized small holes into the affected concrete slab to inject a material into underlying soil voids below the slab. This process lifts the settled concrete slab back to its original, level position and helps to ensure that your property remains safe, structurally sound, and visually appealing.
Foam jacking can be used to lift settled sidewalks, driveways, walkways, floors, garages, and foundations. Polyurethanes by NCFI are the perfect solution for these applications.
The full range of slab lifting work is covered under concrete leveling.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about your options and schedule a free consultation with a qualified concrete repair specialist in your area.