Concrete Leveling & Lifting in Madison, WI

Concrete leveling, also called concrete lifting, raises a sunken slab back into place by pumping material underneath it through small drilled holes. It is one of the most searched concrete services in Madison for good reason. Slabs here settle when the soil under them washes out, softens in spring or was never compacted well in the first place, and a panel that drops an inch or two at the garage door or front step is both a trip hazard and a water problem. If the concrete itself is still sound, lifting fixes the problem without the cost and mess of a tear-out.

When lifting is the right call

• A driveway panel by the garage has dropped and now holds water
• A walk section has sunk, leaving a lip that catches toes and shovels
• A patio has tipped toward the house and sends rain to the foundation
• A stoop has settled away from the door
• A garage floor section has sunk at one edge

HomeGuide's leveling guide says leveling is usually not the right choice when cracks are wider than a quarter inch, when there is significant spalling or when the slab is badly deteriorated. In those cases replacing the section is the better use of money. The guide also warns that if the drainage problem that caused the settling is not fixed, the slab will likely settle again, so we always look at downspouts, grading and where water goes.

Mudjacking vs. foam lifting

Mudjacking pumps a cement-based slurry under the slab through holes about the size of a coin or larger. It is the less expensive option and works well on driveways, walks and patios. HomeGuide lists it at $4 to $9 a square foot and says mudjacked slabs typically last 5 to 7 years with proper drainage maintenance.

Foam lifting (polyjacking) injects an expanding polyurethane foam through smaller holes. The material is lightweight, sets quickly and is often the longest-lasting option, according to HomeGuide, which puts it at $8 to $25 a square foot.

Both are far cheaper than replacement, which HomeGuide lists at $6 to $15 a square foot. We will tell you which method suits your slab and why.

Public sidewalk vs. your own slabs

If the sunken section is on the public sidewalk in Madison, the city handles it through its annual sidewalk program. The city's brochure notes that some small offsets marked with a pink paint mark and a white "c" can be sawcut to a taper at no cost to the owner, and owners may not grind those down themselves. Lifting and leveling on your own driveway, walk, patio and stoop is the work we do.

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What a lifting visit looks like

We check the slab for cracks, measure how far it has dropped and find out why it sank. Holes are drilled in a pattern across the panel, material is pumped in slowly while we watch the slab rise, and the holes are patched with cement. Joints and cracks are then sealed so water cannot get back underneath. Most driveways and walks can be used the same day or the next, depending on the method.

Keeping it level

Settling usually comes back to water. Extend downspouts away from slabs, keep soil graded so it drops away from the edges, and seal the joint between the driveway and garage floor. Many lifting contractors have a minimum charge, which HomeGuide puts at $300 to $700 or more, so it can pay to lift several sunken sections in one visit.