A sunken driveway can almost always be lifted instead of replaced if the slabs are still in one piece. We inject polyurethane foam under each low section, raise it back to level, then seal the joints. Most driveways are done in a few hours and you can drive on them the same day.
By Rob Diederich, owner · Updated
Typical job
2–6 sections
Time on site
A few hours
Drive on it
Same day
Warranty
Written warranty
The low section by the garage comes back up, the puddle drains off, and the joints are sealed. Drag the slider.
Signs your driveway needs lifting
✓Water sits on one section after rain, or runs back toward the garage.
✓A step or lip has opened up at the garage, a joint or the sidewalk.
✓One section rocks or sounds hollow when you drive over it.
✓Joints between slabs have widened and filled with weeds or dirt.
Why driveways sink
Driveways settle where water gets underneath them: along the garage, at downspouts, and at joints that were never sealed. The section closest to the garage often sits on backfill from the foundation dig and drops first. That one has its own page: garage apron repair.
Water washout
Roof and downspout water runs into open joints and carries fine soil out from under the slab. The slab drops into the hollow.
Fix: We seal the joints, and point out downspouts that need extending.
Settling backfill
The soil pushed back against a new foundation is rarely compacted well. Anything sitting on it settles for years after the house is built.
Fix: Foam fills the voids and stiffens the zone under the slab without adding weight.
Freeze-thaw
Clay-heavy Green Bay soil holds water. Every winter it freezes, swells and thaws softer, loosening the base a little more each year.
Fix: Sealed joints keep water out of the base, which is what freezes.
Thin or loose base
Some slabs were poured on a thin or poorly compacted base. Gaps under the slab let it settle at joints and corners.
Fix: Foam fills the gaps and supports the slab across its whole footprint.
How we lift a driveway, step by step
1Measure and set the lineWe set a line off the driveway sections that didn't move, with the pitch running away from the garage and toward the street.
2Drill 5/8″ holesPenny-sized holes go through the slab a few feet apart, kept off the edges and corners where concrete is weakest.
3Inject and lift, section by sectionFoam fills the empty space under each low section first, then every short shot raises it a little. We work the low edge first so a section doesn't tip, and stop each one at the line.
4Patch and sealHoles are filled with cement grout and joints get a flexible sealant, so water can't wash the soil out again.
Illustrations, not to scale. Most residential jobs take a few hours, and you can walk on the slab when we pack up.
The last step matters most. Open joints are how the water got under the slab in the first place, so every lift ends with joint sealing.
Why lift a driveway instead of replacing it?
A new driveway section means jackhammers, a dump truck, new forms and about a week of parking on the street while it cures. Lifting is one visit, and you park on it that evening.
Fraction
of what tearing out and pouring new concrete costs
Same day
Walk on it when we pack up. Drive on it in hours, not a week.
No demo
No jackhammers, no dumpster, no torn-up lawn or landscaping.
5/8″ holes
Penny-sized and patched flush. No new slab that won't match.
Stays up
Foam adds almost no weight and doesn't wash out like soil.
Warranty
Written, and spelled out in your quote before you approve it.
Replace
tear out + pour
Demo
Base
Pour
Curing: no cars for about a week
Lift
foam, one visit
Done in a few hours. Use it the same day.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Replacement timing is typical; a contractor's schedule and the weather can stretch it. New-concrete cure times from Concrete Network.
What it costs
Driveway pricing depends on how many sections are low and how far. A typical driveway job is two to six sections. See the leveling cost guide.
Your price, without a sales visit
Send three photos and a tape-measure shot. You'll get a firm price by text within 24 hours.
If the surface is crumbling, the slab has broken into many small pieces, or a tree root has pushed sections up, lifting isn't the right fix. We'll say so from the photos. Our lift or replace guide walks through it.
Questions
Common questions
Can you level a driveway instead of replacing it?
Usually, yes. If the driveway slabs are still in one piece or a few large pieces and they sank rather than heaved, they can be lifted back to level with foam for a fraction of the cost of tearing out and pouring new concrete.
Why is water pooling on my driveway?
Pooling almost always means a section has sunk and now forms a low spot, or a slab has tipped so it drains the wrong way. Lifting that section back to its original pitch lets the water run off again.
Will lifting fix the cracks in my driveway?
Lifting closes up height differences at cracks and joints, but it doesn't erase the crack itself. After lifting we seal the cracks with a flexible sealant so water can't get under the slab through them.
Can you lift the driveway where it meets the street?
Usually. The approach at the curb is often in the public right-of-way, so city rules can apply. We check that first, then lift it like any other section.
