Concrete Repair & Replacement in Lakewood, CO

Concrete repair and replacement both start by asking what went wrong. A driveway that flaked because the mix had no entrained air needs a different fix than a patio that dropped because a downspout washed out the gravel underneath. Around Lakewood the usual causes are freeze-thaw, brine from treated streets, water working under the slab and, on some lots, clay that swells and shrinks. Once the cause is clear, the right fix usually is too.

Repairs we handle

• Cracks: routed open and packed with a flexible sealant so meltwater cannot reach the gravel
• Scaling: a bonded overlay when the slab underneath is solid
• Sunken sections: lifted back to grade when the piece is intact
• Chipped edges and step noses: patched or rebuilt
• Open joints: cleaned and resealed between slabs and along the house

When replacing makes more sense

A repair is only as good as the slab under it. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide says cracks wider than about a quarter inch usually point to problems below the surface, and that slabs with large cracks, crumbling, spalling or structural issues should be replaced, as should any repair needing a new layer more than 2 inches thick. If a slab has broken into several pieces, is heaving, or has dropped further than lifting can fix, a new pour on a rebuilt base will outlast another patch. Much of Lakewood's concrete dates from the 1960s and 1970s, and some of it has simply reached the end.

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Lifting compared with replacing

Lifting pumps material under a sunken slab to bring it back to level. On HomeGuide's leveling guide, mudjacking runs $4 to $9 a square foot, polyurethane foam $8 to $25, and a professionally leveled slab is expected to last 5 to 10 years or longer. Replacement averages $6 to $15 per square foot and starts fresh with a new base. Lifting suits one or two intact panels. If the top is also scaled or split, lifting tends to just postpone the replacement.

Fixing the water problem

No repair lasts if water keeps getting under the slab. We check downspouts, grading, gaps between slab and foundation, and joints that let water in. The Colorado Geological Survey names poor surface drainage as one of the things that makes clay-soil damage worse. Sometimes a downspout extension and resealed joints do more good than any concrete work.

Replacing only part

Often just one section of a driveway, walk or patio has failed. Those panels can be saw-cut out, repoured, doweled to the old concrete and finished to match. Fresh concrete looks lighter than weathered concrete for a while, which is worth weighing before choosing a partial job over a full one.