How to Repair a Sunken Driveway

1. Use Mudjacking to Lift a Sunken Driveway

The process of slabjacking, also known as mudjacking, is a process that puts wet concrete under the concrete slabs that are currently on your driveway. This lifts the sunken area and then levels it. The substance originally used was mud and hence the name. Nowadays, cement and rocks are added to improve toughness. Mudjacking is the process of mixing topsoil and cement as well as water in a mix, liquid enough that it can move through an enormous hose.

When the slurry is pumping in, it raises the driveway and fills in any gaps that exist beneath the pavement. After drying, it provides solid support to your driveway. But, if the problems with drainage that caused the driveway sinking aren't resolved, you could see an increase in the issue.

Mudjacking is more affordable than replacing and removing your driveway's entire slab. It's also sturdy and capable of enduring the weight of vehicles with moderate vertical compress. One disadvantage of the mudjacking process is that the procedure requires drilling quite large holes into your driveway. The holes, which are usually around two inches in diameter, permit the installation of the hose to the nozzle. These holes are patched, but they'll remain visible once the driveway is finished.

2. Inject Expanding Foam Under the Concrete Slab

Similar to mudjacking, using expanding foam to lift and support your driveway is less expensive than replacing the entire driveway. In a process that is sometimes referred to as the polyjacking process, slabs of concrete may be raised and leveled with polyurethane foam. The foam, which is lightweight and high density, is injected beneath the slab, and it expands.

The foam is an enclosed cell polymer. In contrast to open-cell foams, like a sponge, this closed-cell foam contains gas pockets, which fill the space and create a barrier to water. In contrast to the larger hole for mudjacking, the hole used for foam injection is usually less than an inch in diameter.

While mudjacking fills in all spaces underneath the concrete slab, ploy foam cannot fill every empty space. Its water-resistant properties make it extremely long-lasting, but the surrounding dirt may experience some erosion in the event of drainage issues. Polyurethane foam injection can be a great option for precise levels and for driveways with smaller dimensions that do not have continuous erosion or drainage problems.

3. Resurface Your Driveway if the Sinking is Slight

Resurfacing concrete can help restore a driveway that has been sunk in only a small displacement or when the sinking is only limited to one area. Resurfacing applies the driveway with a thin layer. The driveway is first cleaned by power wash. Small cracks and holes are filled with epoxy mortar. Then, the surface is covered with new concrete over a thin topping layer. A driveway that has been resurfaced is able to be used as early as 48 hours after the application of the material for resurfacing. This procedure will level your driveway, and it can also fill cracks. It also improves the appearance of your driveway, making it appear like new.

One disadvantage of resurfacing is that it does not tackle the root causes of the sinking, like soil or drainage issues. It is possible that you will experience problems that come back. If you don't take any other mitigation steps in place, you can anticipate at least some initial cracks in your driveway are likely to resurface in the future.

4. Replacement is Your Last Resort

If your driveway has large sinking, it is time to think about changing your driveway completely. Of course, this choice is the most expensive option, generally three to four times as expensive as foam injection or mudjacking.