Concrete Leveling & Repair
- Licensed & Insured
- 5-Star Rated
- Local Business
- Transferable Warranty
Concrete Leveling and Repair for Porches, Steps, Sidewalks and Driveways
Best Buy Waterproofing provides concrete leveling and repair for homeowners across Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia. Outdoor concrete slabs rest on soil, and when that soil washes out, settles or shrinks, the concrete above it sinks, tilts and cracks. Across the Mid-Atlantic, clay and silt soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, heavy rain washes fill out from under slabs, and freeze-thaw winters widen every gap. The result is an uneven sidewalk, a porch pulling away from the house or steps that rock underfoot.
Sunken concrete is more than a cosmetic problem. Uneven slabs create trip hazards at your front door and along walkways. A porch, patio or driveway that tilts toward the house can send rainwater straight at your foundation, which can lead to basement leaks. Because our team also handles basement waterproofing and foundation repair, we look at your concrete as part of how water moves around your whole home. We level sunken concrete with mudjacking, which lifts the slab you already have instead of tearing it out. Every project starts with a free inspection and a clear recommendation for leveling, repair or, when a slab is too far gone, replacement.
Signs You Need Concrete Leveling
Settling concrete usually shows up gradually. These are the signs homeowners notice most often around porches, steps, sidewalks and driveways.
Uneven Sidewalk Sections
Raised or dropped edges between slabs create trip hazards along walkways and paths.
Sinking or Rocking Steps
Steps that tilt, shift or pull away from the house are unsafe and keep getting worse.
Porch Separating From House
A gap between the porch slab and foundation lets water run down along the wall.
Water Pooling or Draining Inward
Puddles on slabs or water flowing toward the house signal the concrete has settled.
Cracks in the Slab
Cracks that widen or have one side lower than the other usually mean soil has moved below.
Sunken Driveway Sections
Driveway slabs that dip near the garage or street can catch water and crack further.
Our Concrete Leveling and Repair Services
Mudjacking Sunken Concrete Slabs
Mudjacking raises a sunken slab back toward its original position without tearing it out. Our crew drills small holes through the concrete and pumps a cement-based slurry underneath. The slurry fills the space below the slab, lifts the concrete as pressure builds and hardens into a solid base that supports it. The holes are then patched with concrete so the surface is ready to use.
Mudjacking is usually faster and less disruptive than removing and replacing concrete. There is no heavy demolition, the slab you already have stays in place, and the cement-based fill is a dense, durable material for supporting porches, steps, sidewalks and driveways. During your free inspection, we check whether each slab is a good candidate for mudjacking or whether it is too broken to level.
Filling Voids Under Slabs
Many slabs settle because the soil beneath them has washed away or compacted, leaving empty pockets called voids. Even if a slab has not dropped much yet, a void means it is no longer fully supported, and it can crack under the weight of people, vehicles or furniture. Water from downspouts and poor grading often makes voids larger over time.
Mudjacking fills those voids with the same cement-based slurry, restoring support under the concrete and helping prevent future sinking. We also look at what caused the washout in the first place, such as downspouts emptying next to the slab, so the problem does not return.
Concrete Crack Repair and Joint Sealing
Cracks and open joints let water reach the soil under your slab, where it can wash out fill and lead to more settling. Concrete repair for cracks involves cleaning out the crack and filling it with a material suited to outdoor concrete, then sealing joints between slabs and along the house where water can get in.
Sealing the gap between a porch or walkway and your foundation is especially important. That joint is a common path for water to reach basement walls. If you are already seeing cracks or leaks in your basement, our crack repair service for floors and walls can handle those at the same time.
Porch and Concrete Step Repair
Front porches and entry steps take a lot of traffic, and settling here is both a safety concern and the first thing guests notice. Concrete step repair can include lifting sunken steps, filling voids underneath, and repairing cracks or broken edges so each step is solid and even again.
When a porch slab has tipped toward the house, leveling it can restore the slope that carries rainwater away from your foundation. If the porch or steps are attached to a foundation that is also settling, we will tell you, since that may call for foundation settlement repair instead.
Sidewalk and Driveway Leveling
Sidewalk leveling removes trip hazards by bringing uneven sections back in line with each other. It is a common fix where tree roots, washouts or freeze-thaw cycles have pushed slabs out of alignment. Driveway leveling addresses sunken sections near the garage, along the edges or where the driveway meets the walkway.
Level driveways and sidewalks shed water properly instead of letting it pool, freeze and crack the surface. We walk you through what we found and what we recommend, including which sections can be leveled and which may need repair or replacement.
Our Concrete Leveling Process
Free Inspection
We check each slab, look for voids and cracks and find what caused the settling.
Your Recommendation
We explain which slabs can be leveled, what needs repair and how we will address drainage.
Level and Repair
Our crew mudjacks sunken slabs, fills voids, seals cracks and joints and cleans up the site.
Warranty Protection
Your work is backed by our transferable warranty, which stays with the home if you sell.
Why Homeowners Choose Best Buy Waterproofing
Concrete leveling works best when the cause of the settling is fixed too, and water is usually the cause. Homeowners across the Mid-Atlantic choose us because we understand how water, soil and concrete work together around a home.
- Water Experts: We look at drainage and grading so settled concrete stops sending water toward your foundation.
- One In-House Team: The same crew handles concrete, waterproofing and foundation work, with no subcontractor handoffs.
- Licensed and Insured: We are licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia, and fully insured.
- Serving Homes Since 2017: We have worked on foundations, basements and the ground around them since 2017.
- Free Inspections: Every inspection is free, financing is available, and our warranty is transferable.
What Affects the Cost of Concrete Leveling?
We do not price concrete leveling from a list, because every slab and every settling problem is different. You get a firm price after your free inspection.
Slab Size and Count
More slabs or larger areas take more slurry, drilling and labor.
How Far It Sank
Slabs that dropped further or have large voids underneath need more fill.
Slab Condition
Heavily broken concrete may need repair or replacement rather than lifting.
Type of Surface
Steps, porches, sidewalks and driveways each involve different access and work.
Drainage Problems
Fixing downspouts or water flow that caused washout can add to the scope.
Cracks and Joints
The amount of crack repair and joint sealing needed affects time and materials.
Concrete Leveling FAQs
What is mudjacking?
Mudjacking, also called slabjacking, is a way to lift sunken concrete without replacing it. We drill small holes in the slab and pump a cement-based slurry underneath. The slurry fills the voids, raises the slab back toward level and hardens into a solid base. The holes are patched when the work is done.
What causes concrete to sink?
Concrete sinks when the soil underneath washes out, compacts or shrinks. Common causes include roof runoff and downspouts draining next to the slab, fill soil that was not compacted well, clay soils that swell and shrink with moisture, and freeze-thaw cycles in winter. Fixing the water source is part of a lasting repair.
Is concrete leveling better than replacing the slab?
When a slab is mostly intact, mudjacking is usually faster, less disruptive and keeps the existing concrete in place. Replacement makes more sense when a slab is badly broken or crumbling. During your free inspection, we tell you honestly which option fits each slab.
Can you level concrete steps?
Often, yes. Concrete step repair can include lifting sunken steps, filling voids beneath them and repairing cracks or broken edges. If the steps are attached to a foundation that is also settling, we will explain that and recommend the right repair.
Why does a sunken porch or sidewalk matter for my basement?
When a porch, walkway or driveway tilts toward the house, rainwater runs toward the foundation instead of away from it. That water can soak the soil next to your basement walls and lead to leaks. Leveling the slab and sealing the joint along the house helps send water away.
How soon can I use my concrete after leveling?
Mudjacking avoids the long curing time that comes with pouring new concrete, so leveled slabs are usually back in use much sooner. The slurry needs some time to set before heavier loads like vehicles, and we will tell you when each area is ready for foot and vehicle traffic before work begins.
Will leveled concrete sink again?
Leveling restores support under the slab, but water and soil movement can still cause problems if the cause is not addressed. That is why we look at downspouts, grading and cracks as part of the job. Fixing the source gives your concrete the best chance of staying level.
Related Services
Popular service areas: Baltimore · Washington, DC · Arlington · Alexandria · Columbia · Frederick · Silver Spring · Wilmington · All service areas
Make Your Concrete Safe and Level Again
Schedule a free inspection and we will check your porch, steps, sidewalks and driveway, find what caused the settling and recommend the right fix. Financing is available.