Concrete Leveling

Concrete slabs sink when the soil underneath them shifts, settles, or washes away. This happens for several reasons. Water erosion is a big one. Heavy rain or poor drainage can wash out the soil beneath your concrete, leaving empty spaces. When there is nothing supporting the slab from below, it drops.

Soil compaction is another common cause. When your driveway or patio was first poured, the soil was likely compacted during construction. But over time, natural settling happens. The ground compresses under the weight of the concrete, especially in areas with clay-heavy soil like we have here in Hamden, CT.

Tree roots can also play a role. As roots grow and spread, they push against the soil and create voids when they decay. Freeze and thaw cycles during Connecticut winters make things worse. Water gets into the soil, freezes, expands, and then melts. This repeated cycle weakens the ground and causes uneven settling.

When your concrete sinks, it creates trip hazards. An uneven driveway or sidewalk can catch your foot or cause someone to stumble. It also affects drainage. Water pools where it should not, which can lead to more erosion and bigger problems down the road. The longer you wait, the worse it gets.

We use a process called polyurethane foam injection, also known as polyjacking or foam jacking. This method is faster, cleaner, and more affordable than tearing out and replacing your concrete. Here is how it works.

First, we drill small holes in the sunken concrete slab. These holes are usually about the size of a penny, so they are not noticeable once the job is done. Next, we inject a two-part polyurethane foam through those holes. The foam expands as it is pumped under the slab, filling the voids and lifting the concrete back to its original level.

The foam is lightweight but incredibly strong. It hardens within minutes, so you can walk or drive on the surface within an hour. Unlike older methods that use heavy mud or grout, polyurethane foam will not add extra weight to the soil. This means less chance of future settling.

We carefully monitor the lift as we work. Our team uses laser levels and precision equipment to make sure everything is even. Once the slab is at the right height, we fill the small drill holes with concrete patch. The whole process is minimally invasive. You will not have to deal with heavy machinery tearing up your yard or weeks of downtime.

This approach works for driveways, sidewalks, garage floors, and patios. If your concrete is cracked but structurally sound, leveling it will make it safe and functional again without the cost of full replacement.

Concrete leveling costs a fraction of what you would pay to remove and replace a slab. Replacement means tearing out the old concrete, hauling it away, preparing the base, pouring new concrete, and waiting days for it to cure. That process is expensive, messy, and time-consuming.

Leveling, on the other hand, takes just a few hours in most cases. You save money on labor, materials, and disposal fees. Plus, you get to keep your existing concrete, which might match the rest of your property perfectly. New concrete never quite looks the same as old concrete, so leveling maintains the consistency of your outdoor spaces.

Key benefits of concrete leveling:

• Costs 50 to 70 percent less than full replacement
• Completed in hours, not days or weeks
• No heavy equipment tearing up your landscaping
• Surface is ready to use within an hour
• Environmentally friendly since you are not disposing of old concrete
• Keeps the original appearance and color of your concrete
• Lightweight foam will not overload the soil like traditional mudjacking

Leveling also eliminates trip hazards immediately. Whether it is a sidewalk near your front door or a driveway with a sunken section, getting it level makes your property safer for you, your family, and visitors. You will also improve drainage, which protects your foundation and prevents water damage.

For homeowners in Hamden, this service makes a lot of sense. Our winters can be tough on concrete, and once a slab starts to sink, it only gets worse. Leveling it now prevents bigger, costlier problems later.