My Driveway Is Sinking and Settling

Why is my driveway sinking?

Sinking happens below the slab: the subgrade compresses, soil washes out, or the base was never compacted properly when the driveway was poured. In Akron, the freeze-thaw cycle accelerates it — water penetrates through cracks and joints, erodes the base, and each spring the slab sits a little lower.

What sinking looks like

Low spots that collect water, a driveway that slopes back toward the garage, gaps under the slab edge, and the tell-tale step between the driveway and the apron or sidewalk. Water pooling in the low spot refreezes and drives the cycle faster — a settling driveway is also a spalling and cracking driveway.

The options

Mudjacking or polyurethane injection can lift a slab that has settled — if the slab itself is sound. If the concrete is cracked through or the base has failed completely, replacement with a properly compacted subgrade is the lasting fix. The decision comes down to the slab's condition and how much movement is happening.

Find a pro who measures

Get matched with Akron concrete contractors who will check the slab condition, measure the settlement, and quote either lifting or replacement with the numbers to back it up.