Abilene, TX
Concrete Leveling
If your concrete has sunk, tilted, or become uneven, leveling it is often faster and far cheaper than tearing it out and starting over.
What Is Concrete Leveling and How Does It Work?
Concrete leveling, sometimes called slab lifting or mudjacking, is a process that raises sunken or tilted concrete back to its original position. Instead of breaking out the old slab and pouring a new one, we inject material underneath the existing concrete to fill the void and push the slab back up.
The most common method we use is polyurethane foam injection. Small holes are drilled through the slab, foam is pumped in, it expands to fill the gap, and the concrete rises. The holes are patched, and the surface is ready for light use within hours. It is much less disruptive than a full replacement and costs significantly less.
When your concrete is a good candidate for leveling
- The slab has sunk or settled but is not cracked all the way through
- One section of your driveway or walkway is lower than the sections beside it
- Steps have pulled away from the house or tilted forward
- Patio sections are uneven and creating a tripping hazard
- Water is pooling in low spots because the slope has shifted
- The concrete is otherwise in decent shape but just needs to be raised
We serve homeowners and property owners throughout Abilene, TX and the surrounding area. If you are not sure whether your slab is a candidate for leveling, call us and we will come take a look at no charge.
Why Does Concrete Sink in the First Place?
Concrete does not move on its own. When a slab sinks, it is because the soil underneath it has shifted, compressed, or washed away. Understanding the cause matters because if we level the slab without addressing what caused the settling, it can sink again.
Soil Erosion
Water washing away the soil beneath a slab is one of the most common causes of settling. Poor drainage, broken irrigation lines, and runoff from gutters that do not extend far enough all push water under the concrete and gradually wash the base away. We look for drainage issues every time we assess a leveling job.
Soil Compaction
If the base was not properly compacted when the concrete was first poured, the weight of the slab gradually compresses the loose soil underneath. This is common in areas where new fill dirt was used without adequate settling time. The slab slowly drops as the soil beneath it gets squeezed tighter.
Drought and Soil Shrinkage
In the Abilene area, we have extended dry periods that cause clay-rich soils to shrink. When the soil pulls away from the bottom of the slab, there is nothing to support it and it drops. This is a common problem here that homeowners often do not realize is happening until a section has dropped noticeably.
Tree Roots and Decay
Roots grow under slabs, push them up, and then when they die and decay, they leave behind a void. That void has no support, and the concrete drops into it. If there are mature trees near your slab and you are seeing uneven sections, root activity is worth investigating during the leveling assessment.
Once we identify the cause, we can often address it at the same time as the leveling work. If the damage is beyond what leveling can fix, we will tell you and recommend a concrete repair or replacement instead.
Leveling vs. Replacement: Which One Do You Need?
This is the most important question we answer before starting any leveling job. Leveling works great when the slab itself is structurally sound. It does not work well when the concrete is badly cracked, broken into multiple pieces, or severely deteriorated. In those situations, replacement makes more sense.
The cost difference is significant. Concrete leveling typically costs 50 to 70 percent less than removal and replacement. You also skip the curing wait time. With foam injection, you can walk on the surface the same day. A new pour needs to cure for days before foot traffic and weeks before vehicle traffic.
We will always give you an honest recommendation. If your slab can be saved, we will level it. If it cannot, we will tell you that clearly and walk you through what replacement would involve. We do not push one option over the other. We give you the truth.
For sidewalks and walkways that are uneven due to settling, our sidewalks and flatwork service covers both leveling repairs and full new installations depending on what the situation calls for.
Common Questions About Concrete Leveling
How long does the leveling process take?
Most residential leveling jobs take between one and four hours. A single sunken driveway panel or a short walkway section can often be done in under two hours. Larger jobs with multiple panels, or situations where the cause of settling needs to be addressed first, may take longer. We give you a time estimate upfront so you can plan your day. There is no long curing wait after the work. Foam injection sets quickly, and the surface is usually walkable the same day.
Will the patch holes from drilling be noticeable?
The holes drilled for foam injection are small, typically about five-eighths of an inch in diameter. After the leveling is done, we fill and patch them with a concrete mix. They are visible on close inspection but blend in reasonably well, especially as the patching material weathers over time. On decorative or stamped concrete, we take extra care to match the surrounding finish as closely as possible. The patch holes are a small trade-off for avoiding a full replacement at a fraction of the cost.
Can leveling fix a slab that keeps settling repeatedly?
If a slab keeps settling, it means the underlying cause has not been fixed. Foam injection fills the void and raises the slab, but if water keeps washing soil away or the drainage issue is not corrected, the process can repeat. During our assessment, we look hard at what is causing the movement and talk through solutions with you. In some cases, improving drainage or adding a soil stabilizer alongside the leveling is the right move. We would rather solve the problem permanently than have you call us back every couple of years.
Get a Free Concrete Leveling Assessment in Abilene, TX
Sunken concrete is a safety hazard and it tends to get worse over time. Call us today for a free on-site evaluation. We will tell you whether leveling is the right fix and give you a clear quote before any work starts.