Concrete has been used extensively in construction for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, concrete doesn’t last forever. Over time, it can be damaged. Concrete can crack, crumble, and sink. After years of wear and tear on sidewalks, patios, driveways, porches, and garage floors, it’s no wonder that the concrete takes a hit. Sunken concrete can be a particular problem. What makes concrete sink exactly?
The Causes
There are several reasons that cause concrete to sink and they both deal with the soil beneath the concrete. Soil isn’t uniform and it isn’t permanent. Different soils can settle differently over the years causing the concrete to sink. Water can also cause the soil to wash away. Damaged concrete can pose a hazard by creating tripping opportunities.
The Problems
Damaged concrete not only affects walking on the concrete, but it also prevents wheels from rolling smoothly over it. This might be important for a backyard grill over a patio, a wheelbarrow over the driveway, or a wagon on the sidewalk. Worst of all, damaged concrete is ugly and makes the space look rundown. Rather than suffer with sinking concrete, we strongly recommend having it fixed.
The Options
If you have sunken concrete, there are two main ways of fixing it. First, you can rip the concrete out and poor new concrete. This is a nice way of repairing the concrete, but it is also expensive. Another option is to lift the concrete. This process involves concrete raising and leveling and can be quicker and less expensive. Here’s how it works.
First, small holes are drilled into the concrete and a filler grout fills the voids and lifts the concrete. The holes are strategically placed for optimal concrete raising and leveling. That way, all the pieces of concrete are level with each other. Next, the holes are filled with regular concrete to match the color of the main slab of concrete. If done properly, you won’t even be able to tell that holes were drilled or the concrete was ever sunken.