A concrete slab that has dropped on one side is more than an eyesore. It can create a trip hazard at a walkway joint, and it can send water toward the house instead of away from it. If you are looking into Las Cruces concrete lifting, the first step is understanding why the slab moved.
This page covers driveways, sidewalks, patios and garage floors. Call (575) 249-7768 and you will be connected with licensed and insured local contractors who can look at the slab and explain the options for your property.
Signs a slab has sunk
Settled concrete is usually easy to spot. You may notice one or more of these around the yard:
- A sidewalk panel with one edge higher than its neighbor.
- A driveway that dips or tilts toward the garage door.
- A patio that holds a puddle after the sprinklers run or after rain.
- A gap between the slab and the wall of the house.
- A garage floor with a step or crack that was not there before.
A thin hairline crack is often just the concrete shrinking as it cured. A crack with one side higher than the other, or one that widens over time, deserves a closer look. Photograph it next to a ruler or coin and date the photo. Compare it every few weeks.
Why trip hazards and pooling matter
A raised edge of even a small height can catch a toe, a cane or the wheel of a stroller. Walkways, front entries and the path to a back patio are places where people step without looking down.
Pooling water is the other concern. A slab that tilts toward the house can direct runoff to the foundation. In Las Cruces, long dry stretches are followed by heavy late-summer monsoon storms, so a low spot that stays dry for months can suddenly collect a lot of water. Where a caliche layer keeps water from soaking in, that water tends to stay near the surface and look for the lowest path.
Lifting or replacing
There are two main ways to fix a sunken slab. Which one fits depends on the slab and what is going on under it.
Lifting raises the existing concrete back toward level by filling or supporting the space beneath it. It can suit a slab that is still in one solid piece but has dropped. It also avoids breaking out and hauling away concrete that is otherwise sound.
Replacing means removing the slab and pouring a new one. This may make more sense when the concrete is badly broken up, crumbling at the surface, or cracked into many pieces. A new slab also needs a prepared base. If the soil under it is not fixed, the new concrete can sink the same way.
A contractor can tell you which approach suits your slab after seeing it in person. Cost depends on the cause, the size of the area and the method, so quotes come after the contractor has seen the problem. Call (575) 249-7768 to reach a local provider.
Fix the water problem, not just the slab
Concrete rarely sinks for no reason. Soil that is washed out, soaked or loosened under a slab leaves a void, and the concrete settles into it. Lifting a slab without finding out why it dropped can mean the same thing happens again.
Some things worth checking around the property:
- Gutters and downspouts that empty right next to the house or onto a slab edge.
- Yard grading that slopes toward the house instead of away from it.
- Irrigation lines or sprinklers that soak the soil near a patio or walkway.
- A leaking pipe under or beside the slab.
- Places where runoff from a heavy thunderstorm tends to cut a channel or collect.
Homes near arroyos, which often carry water after heavy storms, are worth a careful look at how runoff moves across the lot. The same goes for larger lots on the slopes toward the Organ and Robledo Mountains, where water has room to travel before it reaches your driveway.
When the drainage is corrected along with the lifting, the repair has a better chance of lasting.
When it may be more than a slab
A sunken patio next to the house can be a sign that the soil near the foundation is also changing. Watch for sticking doors, cracks in stucco or drywall, or uneven floors inside. If you see those, ask about a foundation inspection as well. In some cases a homeowner may also want a licensed structural engineer's evaluation.
If you are not sure whether a slab problem is only cosmetic, call (575) 249-7768. A local contractor can walk the property and explain what they see.
Help across the Las Cruces area
Contractors connected through this site serve Las Cruces, including neighborhoods such as Sonoma Ranch, Telshor Hills, Picacho Hills, Mesilla Park and East Mesa. They also serve nearby Mesilla, Doña Ana, Organ and Anthony, and the rest of Doña Ana County.
Homeowners with older properties in the Mesilla Valley and homeowners in newer subdivisions on the desert edge can both deal with sunken concrete. The setting changes, but the questions are the same: where is the water going, and what is happening to the soil under the slab?
To start, describe what you see and where the slab sits relative to the house. The more specific you are, the easier it is for a contractor to point you in the right direction.