Tulsa homeowners know it is common to have cracks and settling in your driveway and sidewalk over time. At Edens Structural Services, we are experts at repairing cracks in your sidewalk and driveway. We can fix most of these problems without the need to pour new concrete—with our concrete lifting process.
Let’s dive into what causes sidewalks and driveways to settle, and gain understanding of a cost-effective way to deal with concrete settling.
What Causes Concrete Sidewalks and Driveways to Settle?
1. Drying Soil
If the ground under your concrete starts to dry and shrink, your driveway or sidewalk may not be able to maintain a level surface. You may notice cracks in your concrete or lopsided areas that are hard to walk around. Your driveway and sidewalk’s condition will suffer in the wake of unusual weather in the Tulsa area, and cracks will often appear.
2. Plumbing Leaks
If the plumbing below your concrete leaks, it can wash away the soil that supports it. It may also cause flooding under it, which will create a shift in its weight and balance.
3. Tree Roots
While not as common as the other causes of pavement settlement, tree roots growing near a home can cause concrete to become unlevel. This is usually the case for old, large trees with thick roots near the surface. If you have a big tree on your property, you may want to have it removed before your concrete is installed.
4. Soil Washout and Erosion
When water has access to the underside of the concrete on your property, it can wash out and erode the soil holding it up, causing it to settle and crack. This is most often visible when downspouts are pointed directly at your concrete, there is a great deal of water runoff in your area, or gutters are overflowing onto your driveway. Open cracks can also open the door for moisture to make its way under your property’s concrete and erode the soil in time. Get your pavement repaired and then redirect water to ensure it won’t resettle again.
5. Burrowing Pests
Pests like chipmunks and moles erode the soil under your concrete. They create tunnels, displace soil, and open up voids. This loosens the ground and in time, the soil needs to compress back down with the help of gravity, taking the pavement on top of it with it. Take action to rid your property of pests at the first sign of them to minimize concrete settling, and to ensure they don’t come back and damage your property again after it is fixed.
6. Time
There is a natural settling of concrete over time. It can take between five and ten years for soil to settle naturally. When new construction occurs, soil is moved around and displaced. Once concrete is poured on it, the loosened soil eventually sinks as it compacts naturally over time.
7. Poor Soil Compaction
When soil is loosened, it can be compacted by backfilling deep, big areas with dense rock instead of purely soil, or by rolling the loose soil down to compact as the area is backfilled. When soil isn’t fully compacted, it will sink down over time, bringing the concrete with it.
How Concrete Is Repaired to as Good as New
High density (HD) Polyurethane Foam Concrete Lifting can be completed in about a day and is a fraction of the cost of having a new concrete slab poured. Once repaired, your driveway can be driven on almost immediately.
After a professional assessment, small holes are drilled in your damaged sidewalk or driveway, and polyurethane foam is pumped into the holes to fill any voids and raise your concrete back into place. The holes in your home’s sidewalk or driveway are then filled and sealed, causing it to be lifted back into place and look brand new again!
We Repair Your Concrete to As-Good-As-New Status for a Fraction of the Cost of New Concrete!
If your sidewalks and driveway are showing signs of settling, they can look unsightly and cause tripping hazards for you, your family, and friends. Don’t risk the possibility of someone getting hurt on your property. Contact our experienced team at Edens Structural Services if you’ve noticed that your concrete settled. You’ll benefit from our 40-plus years of experience in the concrete business. We’ll get your concrete looking new again in a day!
