Soil and concrete are constantly moving. When you have poor compaction and erosion involved, things REALLY move. Sidewalk slabs are forever shifting and one of the quick and inexpensive "fixes" is to grind the concrete down to level. One of the problems is that grinding leaves unsightly marks on the finished surface, which some people don't necessarily mind. But for those that have decorative finishes on driveways and pool decking, this is a serious concern that they should know about ahead of time. The real concern here is that the REASON the concrete settled in the first place. Most likely poor compaction or erosion has affected this area, causing slab movement. When grinding the slab, you are essentially shaving off the top side to make level for walking. Nothing is done to stabilize the soil beneath the slab, and so there is a very good chance for resettlement in the future. Especially since water has now found it's way past the walkway or path of least resistance. By injecting structural grade polyurethane material below the slab and lifting the slab back toward original position, you've now pushed down (or compacted) the compromised soil, void filled where soil has been eroded out, and lifted the slab back up. From the top, the sidewalk looks like it did years ago, the colors all match and the slabs are fully supported. Believe it or not, lifting and leveling sunken concrete pricing is very cost effective. We always suggest that homeowners look at all of their options before making a decision. Compare the pros & cons, pricing and estimated time the fix will last.
To find out more about lifting and supporting settled concrete slabs, contact us today 770-558-5862 or email info@correctyourconcrete.com
12 Comments
3/2/2017 11:05:42 pm
I think this would be an ideal way to fix the sidewalk.
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4/6/2017 05:56:20 pm
You said that poor compaction can cause slab movement. If I was going to get concrete I would want to know that it would be done professionally. Maybe I should hire someone that I trust so that I know it will be done correctly.
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6/12/2018 09:22:13 pm
Thanks for talking about the different ways you can deal with an uneven sidewalk. I had no idea that you could inject something beneath the sidewalk to even it out. I was always under the impression that you could either grind it or completely replace it.
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7/20/2018 09:02:13 pm
It was really informative when you said that poor compaction or soil erosion is the possible reason why the slabs moved and the sidewalk became uneven. I guess there are a lot of things that I need to settle her then. It might be best if I just get a professional concrete contractor to fix the sidewalks since they have moved a bit too much. Thank you for sharing.
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6/20/2020 02:50:20 am
Interesting! I like the photos as they certainly show what the problem is and what it will look like after the repair. Yes, settling can certainly cause concrete sidewalks and driveways to lift, sag, break, of course crack. Where I live the ground is mostly black soil with clay called gumbo. Not enough rain or watering around foundations and driveways cause severe cracking and breaking.
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7/6/2020 03:12:03 pm
Thanks for explaining that grinding down the concrete is only a temporary fix since the soil will continue to move constantly. My husband and I noticed that one of the concrete slabs of our back patio is really uneven when we went out to enjoy a drink there last night. We'll have to look for a concrete lifting service to perform mudjacking now that I understand why that's a better option than grinding!
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10/15/2020 04:06:31 pm
Some engineers used ordinary concrete but professionals used concretes that has quality.
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3/2/2021 01:16:22 pm
It's good to know that concrete settlement is usually due to issues like slab movement from erosion. I noticed my sister's concrete driveway had an uneven slab when I visited her house yesterday afternoon. Maybe I'll help her look for a concrete mudjacking service nearby now that I better understand what caused the issue.
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4/12/2021 07:48:38 pm
Filling the soil that has been eroded sounds like a great idea. Too many people might look back at this and assume that repair isn't necessary in order to avoid all the work. But I'd rather have a smooth walkway for my kids to use.
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12/9/2021 04:07:10 am
Thank you for this article. I have been teaching my son about how to repair uneven sidewalks. We found this blog for some extra help.
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9/21/2022 11:41:17 pm
Can I share this post to my blog? I'd appreciate it. Cheers!
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11/22/2023 08:06:43 am
I just wanted to express that I'm a regular reader of your blog, and I'm consistently impressed by the interesting content people share here.
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