Concrete Repairs

Stable cracks, ones that have stopped moving, can be sealed in a way that holds for 10+ years. Active cracks, ones that still open and close with temperature, require flexible polyurethane filler rather than rigid epoxy. The distinction matters because rigid filler in an active crack will pop out within a season. We identify which type of crack you have before we fill it.

Repair makes sense when the slab is structurally intact and the damage is limited to the surface or to isolated cracks. Replacement is the better call when sections have heaved significantly, when the subbase has failed and the slab moves underfoot, or when widespread spalling covers more than 40–50% of the surface area. We give an honest assessment on this, because selling you a patch that won't last isn't in anyone's interest.

The biggest cause in Davis and Weber County is freeze-thaw cycling combined with moisture penetration. Water gets into small voids or poorly sealed surfaces, freezes, expands, and widens the crack. Over enough winters this becomes visible damage. Secondary causes include shrinkage cracking during original curing (unavoidable, but minimized with proper mix design), tree root pressure, poor subbase compaction, and missing or improperly placed control joints.

Done correctly with the right materials, crack sealing holds 5–15 years. Surface patch repairs hold 5–10 years when properly bonded and sealed. Section replacements are essentially new concrete and should last 30+ years. The biggest variable is surface prep: patches that fail early almost always failed because the bonding surface wasn't properly cleaned and profiled before application.

It depends on the cause and severity. Slightly settled slabs can sometimes be lifted with mudjacking (pumping grout beneath the slab to lift it back to grade). Severely settled or cracked sections usually need to come out and be replaced with proper subbase work first. We assess the subbase condition before recommending a method, because lifting a slab without fixing the void underneath will result in it settling again.

If the structure is sound, yes. Repairs and resurfacing typically cost 20–50% of full replacement and can extend the life of a slab by another 10–20 years. If the slab has multiple heaved sections, widespread subbase failure, or surface spalling across most of its area, replacement makes more financial sense long-term. We walk this line honestly on every assessment because repeat repair calls that don't solve the underlying problem waste everyone's time.