Concrete Repair & Leveling in Brentwood, TN

Concrete repair and leveling can bring a sunken driveway, patio, walk or pool deck back to level for far less than a new slab, as long as the concrete itself is still in good shape. In Brentwood most settling has the same root cause: clay soil under the slab that softens when water gets to it and shrinks when it dries out. A repair that ignores the water usually has to be done again, so we look at downspouts, slope and runoff along with the concrete.

Repair options

Mudjacking. A cement-based slurry is pumped through holes drilled in the slab, filling voids and raising it back into place. HomeGuide's leveling guide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 per square foot.

Foam lifting (polyjacking). A lightweight foam is injected through smaller holes, lifting the slab with less weight added to soft soil. HomeGuide lists it at $8 to $25 per square foot, the highest of the leveling methods, and notes the area can be used soon after.

Resurfacing. A thin cement-based overlay over a solid but worn, flaking or stained surface. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide says it suits minor flaking and cracks under a quarter inch, and lasts about 8 to 15 years.

Crack repair. Cleaning and filling cracks so water stops getting under the slab. HomeGuide lists crack filling at $0.50 to $3 per linear foot and notes that cracks wider than a quarter inch can point to deeper problems.

Section replacement. Cutting out and repouring only the failed panels, doweled into the sound concrete around them.

Repair or replace?

Leveling and resurfacing make sense when:

• The slab is in large, intact pieces that have simply dropped
• The surface is worn but the concrete underneath is solid
• Cracks are narrow and not offset

Replacement is the better choice when:

• The slab is broken into many small pieces
• Large areas are crumbling or spalling
• Cracks are wide and the sides sit at different heights
• The base has washed out or the slab has settled repeatedly

HomeGuide's resurfacing guide adds that if a repair would need a new layer more than two inches thick, replacing the concrete is the right call. We price both options on the same quote when both are realistic.

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Common Brentwood repairs

• Driveway panels at the garage that have dropped and hold water at the door
• Patios tipping toward the house, sending rain to the foundation
• Front walks and stoops lifted by roots or sunk near downspouts
• Pool deck sections that have settled away from the coping
• Worn surfaces on 1980s and 1990s driveways and walks

Stopping it from happening again

After a lift, the joints and the crack between slab and house are sealed so water stays out. We also look at where downspouts empty, whether the lawn grade drains toward the slab, and whether a swale or extension would move water away. HomeGuide notes that professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, and that poor drainage can cause a slab to settle again, which is why the water plan is part of every repair quote.