Why Does Concrete Crack and Sink?

It doesn’t matter if it’s a driveway, walkway, patio, garage floor, or pool deck… the causes of concrete settlement and sinking are the same.

It’s all about voids being formed beneath a slab creating unstable support. When under compression, exterior concrete slabs are very strong, but they do not have much flexural or bend strength. So, if the supporting soils are strong, then the concrete can withstand enormous loads. However, if the supporting soils have shrunk, settled, or washed away (leaving behind gaps or voids) then the concrete slab will crack, sink, and create an unlevel surface.

Concrete slabs are typically subject to a lot of stress. Tree roots may grow under the slabs, moving around the soil and creating voids. Poor drainage can create excess amounts of moisture or even pools of water to erode the soil below the slab. Unexpected heavy loads (like a truck delivering building supplies or a dumpster) may even sink sections of a sidewalk or driveway.

Unfortunately, most of us with deal with cracked and unlevel concrete surfaces on our property. The good news is that there is an easy and non-invasive solution – PolyLevel! This process involves drilling tiny pea-sized holes into the slab and injecting them with a special polymer formula. The poly foam is strong enough to provide accurate lifting of a concrete slab, but so lightweight that it adds no pressure to weakened soils below. The material will never wash or dry out, and the surfaces can be used within minutes of installation!

Are you dealing with cracked and unlevel concrete surfaces? Give us a call and schedule your free, no obligation, quote, and inspection today!