When Do You Need Concrete Leveling?

If you're wondering whether or not your concrete needs a little TLC, you've come to the right place. A-1 Concrete Leveling specializes in lifting up settled slabs and protecting concrete from future damage.

First things first, let's define concrete leveling. Simply put, it's the process of drilling strategic holes in a settled slab, then injecting a specialized compound through to lift it back up and create a new stable base. But how do you know if your concrete needs leveling?

Well, if you have sections of your concrete that are no longer the same level as the slabs next to them, then you'll most likely need concrete leveling. On the other hand, if your concrete is looking smooth and level, then you're in the clear!

In this article, we'll dive deeper into the signs that your concrete needs leveling, and we will also explore when alternative solutions may be a better fit for your needs.

When to Choose Concrete Leveling

Here are some instances where concrete leveling is a good choice:

• Your concrete is sunken or settled, causing trip hazards and eye sores
• Your concrete is mostly intact, with minimal cracking throughout the slabs
• You have issues with water pooling around your home or entering your basement
• You want to avoid the hassle and risks of concrete replacement

Concrete leveling is a great solution to uneven concrete in most cases, but if the concrete is severely damaged and unable to be lifted back into place, replacement is likely your best bet.

Common Concrete Leveling Locations

There are several areas we typically look for when it comes to leveling. Here are just a few:

• Concrete walkways or sidewalk slabs

These can be dangerous areas for unlevel concrete. Kids flying down your sidewalks on scooters. Folks going in and out of your place of business, maybe with their hands full. Even small levels of unevenness can catch a toe, causing someone to stumble and fall.

• Concrete driveways and aprons 

Areas next to garages are prime locations for sunken concrete. These areas often have issues based on backfill against the garage foundation settling over time.
 

• Steps next to your porch

It may come as a surprise, but our skilled technicians have the expertise to lift concrete steps, whether it's just one or an entire flight.

• Concrete patios next to your house

Poor drainage around house foundations is often the culprit behind water issues in basements. Concrete patios that have settled next to the house can direct water toward the foundation, leading to all sorts of problems.

Voids

There are times when it isn’t clear that you have issues. Voids can develop under slabs without any apparent issues. Here are some things to look for:

• Does a slab rock when driven over? 
• Does it sound hollow if you tap on it with a rubber mallet?

If you suspect you may have a void under your concrete, give us a call right away. It is much simpler to solve the problem before the concrete slab settles than after.

When is Concrete Leveling Not the Right Solution?

If your concrete is cracked in too many places, with all the pieces being smaller than a foot or two square, then concrete leveling is probably not right for the project.

To level the concrete properly, the compound must be pumped underneath the slabs and if there are dozens of pieces that need to be all lifted to the same level, the desired results will be very hard to achieve.

In cases like this, your only option is to tear it out and pour new concrete. Read more about when concrete is too far gone for concrete leveling.

This is a good example of concrete that is too far gone to be leveled by our concrete repair process. Besides tearing it out and replacing it, there's not much that can be done to fix it.

Up Next

Want to know more about concrete leveling? Check out the following resources from our Concrete Academy:

• Top 4 Problems with Concrete Leveling
• Can you level concrete in bad weather?
• Your Concrete Leveling Appointment

You can also click the link below for a free consultation and estimate from one of A-1 Concrete Leveling's expert team members!

concrete leveling

Sarah Etler

December 28, 2022

Sarah Etler joined A-1 Concrete Leveling after receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Northern Kentucky University. As A-1's Digital Content Manager, she works closely with industry experts to produce content that will best answer questions related to concrete repair and maintenance practices. Sarah loves living a life full of discovery and is excited every day to see what new things she can learn and share with those around her.