How Long Does Concrete Leveling Actually Last?

You want to invest in a concrete repair that will stick around for good. But where does that leave concrete leveling?

Nothing lasts forever, and concrete leveling is no exception to that rule. But even though your lifted concrete won’t stay put for the rest of time, the good news is that it can last for many decades when the repair is done correctly and properly maintained after the fact.

A-1 Concrete Leveling has been lifting unlevel concrete slabs for over 30 years, so we’ve seen how durable and effective concrete leveling can be. In fact, some of the first jobs we ever leveled are right where we left them!

We warranty our work for multiple years, but the reality is that leveling your concrete can last a lot longer than that.

Concrete leveling can last for the life of the concrete itself.

Let's break this down further and talk about why it can last so long, the reasons it may fail sooner rather than later, plus a few tips for how you can help keep it around longer.

How Long Does Concrete Leveling Last?

A good concrete leveling repair can last the lifetime of the concrete itself, which could be 20 to 50+ years.

This is true for stone slurry grout leveling, polyjacking (foam concrete leveling), and mudjacking – all concrete leveling methods can last for decades, right alongside your concrete.

Why Concrete Leveling Can Last So Long

Most concrete leveling customers typically don't have a problem with the concrete itself, but rather a problem with the soil, backfill, or gravel underneath their concrete. When these materials settle or wash out, they take the concrete slab with them. 

During a concrete leveling repair, we drill through the section of sunken concrete and replace the soil or substrate material that settled or eroded with our injected leveling compound. That material spreads out underneath the section, fills up any voids, then lifts the concrete back into place.

Concrete leveling can last so long because, if the material underneath the injected leveling compound is done settling and doesn’t erode away, the concrete leveling material won't go anywhere either.

What Makes Concrete Leveling Fail Prematurely?

Concrete leveling can last for many decades, but this section covers the factors that may cause the concrete to settle again. 

If you want to know about these factors in more detail, check out: Why Concrete Leveling Repairs Fail

Uncontrollable Natural Settling

The materials under newer concrete slabs or around new construction usually have not had the necessary time to settle or compact naturally. 

Most of the time it takes your home 5-10 years from when it was built for this natural settling to take place. If concrete is leveled on top of soil that hasn’t fully settled, both the concrete and the leveling material will settle along with the compacting soil.

This is why we don’t offer a warranty for concrete around homes less than 5 years old. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it from continuing to settle if it hasn’t on its own already. 

Water Flow

Water can wash away the important sub-material that’s holding up both the slab itself and the extra material used to lift it back into place. Over time, this erosion of the sub-material gives space for the slab to sink back down. 

Water can also expand and contract under the concrete during freeze-thaw cycles, causing it to shift and settle. 

Water access also may cause the soil or sub-material to compact at a faster rate, meaning the slab will settle along with the compacting soils below.

Improper Void Fill

In order for a concrete leveling repair to last a long time, all of the voids under the settled slab need to be completely filled.

Depending on the concrete leveling method being used, this can be tricky. While stone slurry grout leveling can achieve this with low pumping pressure, varied material consistencies, and strategic hole placement, mudjacking and polyjacking are prone to injecting pyramids or pillars of material under the slab that don’t adequately fill voids.

Pests

Animals burrowing in the soil underneath the concrete can cause voids to open up and create weak spots where the concrete is unsupported. They also disturb and loosen the soil – a perfect recipe for resettling.

Tips for a Long-Lasting Concrete Leveling Repair

Here is a list of things you can do to help your concrete leveling repair last as long as possible:

• Caulk concrete gaps, cracks, and joints to prevent water intrusion
• Redirect downspouts and water drainage away from slabs
• Clean and fix leaky gutters
• Add soil and landscaping around edges of concrete slabs to direct water away
• Remove burrowing pests

For more detail on each of these maintenance tips, check out this guide: How to Maintain Your Concrete Leveling Repair

Now What?

Now that you know how long concrete leveling can last and why, you’re one step closer to deciding whether or not concrete leveling is the right choice for your situation.

But before making the plunge, we recommend that you continue your research so you can know more about this repair method for your concrete.

These resources come from A-1’s Concrete Academy can help you learn more:

• How Does Concrete Leveling Work?
• Why Does Concrete Settle in the First Place?
• Comparing Concrete Leveling Methods: Stone, Foam, and Mud

If you’ve already decided that concrete leveling may be the solution for you, click the link below to request a free onsite concrete evaluation and cost estimate:

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