Exterior: Settled Patios, Walkways & Driveways
Settled patios and walkways raise two main concerns: safety, because uneven surfaces create trip hazards, and water runoff from negative slope, which is a grading concern. The best fix depends on what the area is made of, the look the owner wants, and how severe the settling is.
Hardscaping materials fall into three general categories: bricks and pavers, asphalt, and concrete. Below we cover each material and its common repair methods.
Concrete
Concrete tends to heave or settle and often cracks in the process. A settled section of concrete can generally be fixed by replacing it or by a repair called mudjacking. Mudjacking is popular because it is often less expensive than replacement. A series of holes is drilled in the slab, and sand, cement or a foam product is pumped underneath at high pressure to lift the slab back into place. The holes are then patched.
Asphalt
Asphalt is mostly used for driveways but can also be used for sidewalks. A common place for asphalt to settle is where it meets the garage floor slab. Settled asphalt can be patched, filled or replaced. For a driveway that has settled at the garage, a common repair is installing a concrete apron between the garage and the driveway.
Pavers and Brick
Pavers and brick are the most prone to heaving, but they can sometimes be reused by lifting them, regrading the base and reinstalling them.