Repair or replace
Should You Repair or Replace Concrete? The Signs That Decide It
Stable concrete with small, isolated damage can be repaired. Major settling, wide cracks in many places or sections breaking apart mean it is time to replace it.
Free, no-obligation estimates. We look at the slab and tell you plainly which fix will last.
- RepairStable slab, isolated damage
- ResurfaceSound but worn
- ReplaceSettled or breaking apart
Start with the slab
When concrete can be repaired
Concrete is worth repairing when it is mostly stable and the damage is isolated: small cracks, minor chips or a worn surface.
That means the slab still sits where it was poured and the trouble stays in one place. We patch the crack, fill the chip or renew a worn or flaking top, the flaking the trade calls "spalling", and the rest of the slab keeps doing its job. Concrete Network: Concrete Repair walks through how damage like this is judged.
A repair is the right call when all of this is true:
- The slab is mostly stable and level
- The damage stays in one spot
- It is small cracks, minor chips or surface wear
When a repair will not last, replacement is the better choice, and we tell you so on the estimate rather than patch it twice.
When it has to go
Signs concrete needs replacing
Major settling, wide cracks in many places and sections breaking apart all point to replacing the concrete, not repairing it.
These are the signs of a slab past repair:
- Major settlingThe slab has sunk well out of level, not just a small lip at one joint.
- Wide cracks in many placesNot one crack to patch, but wide ones running across the slab.
- Sections breaking apartPieces have broken loose and the slab no longer holds together.
- Large areas that have shiftedOn a driveway, big shifting areas or damage across the whole slab usually call for a new one.
Not sure which you are looking at? We come out, look and quote it free.
Past a patch
Other ways to fix a failing slab
A sunken slab is often raised in place, while a slab past saving comes out and is replaced with new concrete. One keeps the slab you have; the other starts over on solid ground.
Whichever it turns out to be, this is how we handle it:
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- We quote the whole job before we start, with no surprise charges after
- We show up when we say we will
- We clean up when the work is done
Lifting a sunken slab instead of replacing it
Lifting a sunken slab back to level can cost far less than tearing it out and replacing it, as long as the concrete is in good condition.
The trade calls it "slabjacking" when grout or slurry is pumped underneath to raise the slab, and "polyjacking" when foam does the lifting. A slab with too many cracks may need replacing instead.
Replacing with new concrete
Replacement takes out the failed concrete, fixes what made it fail and pours new concrete on a compacted base.
Before anything new goes in, we deal with the cause, whether that is roots, poor compaction or drainage, so the new slab does not go the same way as the old one.
Google reviews
What neighbors say about working with us
These are our own Google reviews, shown exactly as they were written.
I hired this concrete contractor for my driveway replacement and I couldn’t be happier with the results. The team was professional, showed up on time, and worked efficiently to get everything done ahead of schedule. The finish is smooth, durable, and really improved the curb appeal of my home. I would definitely recommend them for any concrete work.
Nick, and coworker did a outstanding job. Working on our front yard. My neighbor was so impressed he’s planning on hiring Nick, to do their front yard. Thanks, Nick
Trustworthy, dependable, and quality service. Greenscape Projects transformed my backyard space into a beautiful oasis. Budget friendly prices. Affordable landscaping made possible with greenscape Projects. They arrived on time, cleaned up afterwards and sent pictures of the progress. Trust Greenscape Projects for all of your landscaping, gardening, yardscaping needs.
Not sure if it is repair or replace? We will tell you straight.
Call and tell us what the slab is doing. We come out, look at it and quote the fix that will last, whether that is a patch, a lift, a new surface or new concrete.
We quote the whole job before we start, with no surprise charges after.
Open Monday through Saturday. We answer the phone or call back the same working day.