Frequently Asked Questions

• What causes concrete settlement and damage?

  Driveways, walkways and sidewalks are exposed to a lot of wear and tear. When the soil supporting it becomes weak or a void is formed, concrete slabs can crack and sink. There are many things that can create a void beneath a concrete slab, such as erosion from rainwater or gutter runoff, or a tree root that has rotted over time. Clogged gutters, downspouts that are not installed correctly, and poor yard drainage can make erosion worse. Dirt fill underneath the slab that has not been well compacted can also create voids beneath concrete.

• What are the advantages of concrete repair vs. concrete replacement?

  Tearing out and replacing a concrete driveway, sidewalk or patio is a huge undertaking. The old concrete must be jackhammered into manageable pieces and hauled away. Then, new concrete must be poured and left to harden and cure -- a process that can take several weeks, during which you'll have to park on the street and avoid the area. It's noisy, messy and incredibly disruptive. On the other hand, concrete repair is a quick, easy process that requires minimal disruption, yet offers the same look and functionality of total concrete replacement. Unlike brand new concrete, it can be ready for use the very next day. Learn more about lifting and leveling concrete with PolyLevel here.

• Is concrete repair more cost-effective than concrete replacement?

  Yes. Concrete leveling with PolyLevel is not only less expensive than full concrete replacement, it's also a much quicker repair process and far less disruptive to the surrounding grass and landscaping. There's almost no wait time for the concrete to cure before you can walk or drive on it, and unlike concrete replacement, PolyLevel actually fills voids and compacts underlying soil, which stabilizes your concrete for years to come.

• How long does it take to level my concrete with PolyLevel?

  Most concrete leveling and repair projects take our crews a single day to complete, and Polylevel cures quickly, allowing your concrete to be used normally the same day. Alternate solutions like mudjacking or concrete replacement often require more time and disruption, as well as longer cure times, which could mean parking on the street or avoiding your sidewalk or front steps.

• My concrete seems to have settled over the winter. What should I do?

  Your concrete most likely didn't settle, but instead the adjacent concrete slabs heaved upwards, due to the frozen dirt below. There is nothing that can be done, but wait for the ground to thaw and the concrete to return to its original position. If the concrete doesn't return to its normal position in the spring, you may want to have one of our experts take a look to determine if a permanent solution is necessary.

• My concrete seems to have moved up during the winter months, is this a problem?

  If your concrete has shifted up during the winter months, it is most likely heave from the frozen dirt below the concrete. This is normal, and usually the concrete will return to normal once the ground thaws. If it doesn't return to its normal position in the spring, you may want to have one of our experts take a look to determine if a permanent solution is necessary.