Concrete Settlement: Causes & Fixes
Sunken patios, walks, and slabs are almost always a soil story. Here’s why exterior concrete settles and how it’s corrected.
Why it sinks
Poorly compacted fill, eroded base, and shrinking clay let flatwork drop — the same forces behind driveway cracking.
Lifting options
Concrete repair and leveling restores flatwork; structural slabs use steel piers. Drainage often accompanies the fix.
Fix the cause
Lifting without addressing water and base just resets the clock — pair with drainage and grading.
- Settlement comes from fill, erosion, and clay.
- Flatwork is leveled; slabs use steel piers.
- Address water and base or it returns.
Not sure how serious it is?
Get a free, ±⅛-inch elevation survey and a written, engineer-backed plan — no pressure.
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Is concrete leveling permanent?
Patio vs. foundation — different fix?
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