Should I Lift or Replace My Sunken Concrete? How to Tell Which Your Slab Needs
Quick answer: If your sunken driveway, sidewalk, or patio is still in one piece, or a few solid pieces, and has simply dropped or tilted, lifting is usually the better choice, and foam lifting typically costs 50% to 80% less than replacement. If the concrete is crumbling, flaking apart, or broken into lots of small pieces, replacement is usually the better call. Either way, fix the water problem that made it sink, or the new slab or the lifted one can settle again.
By Drew Hubbard, owner of Utah Concrete Lifting and Repair in Mapleton, UT. Drew is a licensed General Contractor with 20+ years of construction experience. Updated October 2026.
A lot of people call me after getting a replacement quote that made their stomach drop. Sometimes lifting really is the smarter fix, and sometimes it isn't. Here's how I tell the difference when I look at a slab, so you can size up your own concrete before anyone comes out.
When is lifting the right fix?
Lifting works best when the concrete itself is still sound and the problem is what's under it. Signs your slab is a good candidate:
It's in one piece, or a few solid pieces. A slab with a crack or two can usually still be lifted, as long as the pieces are solid.
It sank or tilted as a unit. One driveway panel dropped, one sidewalk square sits lower than the next, or a patio tips toward the house.
There's a trip hazard at a joint. A raised lip between two sidewalk squares is one of the most common things I lift.
Water runs the wrong way. A driveway panel that now slopes toward your garage or house can often be lifted back so water drains away again.
A gap has opened between the slab and your steps, garage floor, or foundation.
In these cases the goal is to lift your concrete back to its original position if possible, so it's flush with the surrounding concrete and the trip hazard is gone.
When is replacement the better call?
I'd rather tell you straight than sell you a lift that won't hold up. Replacement is usually the better choice when:
The concrete is crumbling or flaking apart. Lifting raises the slab, but it can't give you back a solid surface.
It's broken into lots of small pieces. There's nothing solid left to lift as a unit.
It's badly cracked and distressed. The American Concrete Institute recommends weighing removal and replacement as an alternative to slab lifting, depending on how cracked and distressed the slab is (ACI RAP-11).
You want a different layout. If you're changing the size, shape, or slope of a patio or driveway anyway, new concrete may be the way to go.
During a free estimate, I'll tell you which of these applies to your concrete, even if the answer is "don't lift this one."
Why does lifting usually cost less than replacing?
Replacement means breaking out the old concrete, hauling it away, preparing the base, and pouring and finishing new concrete. Lifting skips all of that. Here's what we do instead:
Drill. We drill small 3/8-inch holes in the slab.
Inject and lift. We inject polyurethane foam that fills the voids under the slab and raises it back into place. We use a custom-made 3 lb hydrophobic polyurethane, made locally by Utah Foam Products, so it's made in our area for our area. Because it repels water, it won't wash out.
Patch. We patch the holes with a concrete mix that blends with your slab.
Use it. You can walk on it right away and drive on it after about 4 hours.
That's why foam lifting typically costs 50% to 80% less than replacement, and why most of your yard and landscaping stays untouched.
Will lifting fix whatever made my concrete sink?
Not by itself, and the same is true of new concrete. ACI notes that lifting a slab doesn't correct poor soil underneath, and that if settlement is still happening, a slab may need to be lifted again (ACI RAP-11). In Utah County, the trigger is almost always water: downspouts dumping next to the slab, sprinklers soaking the edges, ground sloping the wrong way, and open cracks and joints that let snowmelt in.
So whichever way you go, deal with the water too. Extend downspouts, adjust sprinklers, and seal open cracks and joints. We offer crack and joint caulking with a flexible sealant, and we also offer concrete densifying, which is how we seal flat concrete surfaces. For more on what causes sinking here, see Why Is My Concrete Sinking? Utah County Causes and Fixes.
How much does lifting cost in Utah County?
Lifting a typical sidewalk costs $300 to $1,200, depending on its length and other factors. A driveway panel typically costs $300 to $800, depending on its size and how much it needs to be lifted. There's no minimum job charge, and a fuel surcharge can apply for remote jobs. Our Utah concrete lifting cost guide has the details.
Our lifting work comes with a three-year warranty: if a slab we raised settles more than 1/4 inch within three years, we'll lift it again (a fuel fee may apply).
Lifting vs. replacement FAQ
Can a cracked slab be lifted?
Usually, yes, if it's still in a few solid pieces. If it's crumbling or broken into lots of small pieces, replacement is usually the better choice.
Will the lifted slab match the concrete around it?
That's the goal. We lift your concrete back to its original position if possible, so it's flush with the surrounding concrete and the trip hazard is gone. The small holes are patched with a concrete mix that blends with your slab.
How soon can I use my driveway after lifting?
You can walk on it right away and drive on it after about 4 hours.
Can you lift concrete in the winter?
Yes, when it's above 40°F and the slab is clear of snow and ice.
Is there a minimum job charge?
No. There's no minimum job charge, so a single sidewalk square is worth a call.
More answers are on our concrete lifting FAQ page. For a comparison of lifting methods, see Polyjacking vs. Mudjacking in Utah.
Not sure if yours can be lifted?
If you've got a sunken driveway, sidewalk, patio, or steps anywhere in Utah County, call or text (385) 398-9886 or chat with us for a free estimate. I'll tell you straight whether lifting or replacement is the right fix for your slab.
Drew Hubbard, Utah Concrete Lifting and Repair
1565 West Park Meadows Drive, Mapleton, UT 84664 · (385) 398-9886
Sources
American Concrete Institute, RAP-11: Slabjacking (removal and replacement as an alternative; lifting doesn't correct underlying soil conditions): https://www.concrete.org/portals/0/files/pdf/rap-11.pdf
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