A slab that has dropped two inches at the garage door, a walk panel that tips toward the house or a patio that now holds a puddle by the back step all have the same root problem: the ground under the concrete moved or washed out. Call (817) 207-5579 and we will check how far it dropped, why it dropped and whether lifting it will last.
Why slabs sink
- Settled fill: dirt pushed back against a new foundation keeps settling, so walks and driveway panels at the house drop first
- Washout: a downspout, a broken sprinkler line or a low spot sends water under the slab and carries soil away
- Drought shrink: clay soil pulls back in a long dry summer, and slabs drop with it
- A thin base: concrete poured on loose dirt with no compaction
A slab that tips toward the house is the one to fix first. It sends rain straight at the foundation, and that is the costly problem.
Lift it or pour it again
When lifting makes sense
A slab that dropped in one piece and has no big cracks can be raised. Material gets pumped through small holes into the void under the slab, either an expanding foam or a cement grout, and the slab rises back to grade. The holes are patched afterward. Lifting costs less than new concrete and the slab is usable the same day.
When to cut it out
If the slab broke into pieces as it dropped, or the drop is so large that lifting would crack it, we cut it out and pour a new panel. Rebuilding the base at the same time fixes the cause, too.
Either way, we point out the water source if there is one. Lifting a panel without fixing the downspout that washed it out means paying for it twice.
Call and we will check it and tell you if it can be lifted.
Common spots around Fort Worth homes
The first panel of the driveway at the garage, the front walk where it meets the porch, the patio at the back door, the pool deck near the skimmer and steps that pulled away from the stoop. If one of those has a gap you can slide a finger into, water is already getting under it. For a sunken section of driveway, the cracked driveway page helps you tell how far the damage goes.
Questions about Sunken or Uneven Slabs in Fort Worth
- How long does a lifted slab stay up?
- As long as the ground under it stays put. If the water problem that washed it out gets fixed, a lifted slab can hold for many years. If not, it will settle again.
- Can a sunken slab that tips toward my house hurt the foundation?
- It can send water toward the foundation, and that is bad for the house on clay soil. Fix the slope first.
- Is it cheaper to lift or replace?
- Lifting usually costs less for a slab in one piece. Replacement costs more but gives you a new base. We price both when both will work.
Call us, or send the form, and we will set a time to look at the job and price it in writing.