Concrete leveling in Waterloo, Iowa

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and which concrete has sunk, tipped or cracked.

2. We connect you

   We pass it to an independent concrete lifting contractor that works in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale and Hudson.

3. They call you back

   The contractor measures the slab and gives you a quote directly.

Who uses this site?

Homeowners and landlords in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Evansdale, Hudson and the rest of Black Hawk County, Iowa, whose concrete has moved: public sidewalks, front walks, driveways, garage floors, steps, stoops and patios. It's also for people who just got a written notice from the City of Waterloo saying the sidewalk along their lot failed inspection.

Can sunken concrete in Waterloo be raised instead of replaced?

Usually, if the slab is still in one or two solid pieces. A lifting contractor drills a few holes, injects material into the hollow space under the concrete, and uses that pressure to bring the slab back up. Most residential jobs take part of a day. Nothing has to be broken out, hauled away or left to cure for a week. Tearing out and repouring makes more sense when the slab is shattered into many pieces, the top has flaked away, or the ground underneath is still moving for a reason lifting won't fix.

Foam or mudjacking?

• Polyurethane foam. A two-part foam pumped through holes about the size of a pencil eraser to a dime. It's light, hardens in minutes, and won't soak up water. It usually costs more. See foam leveling.
• Mudjacking. A cement-and-soil slurry pumped through larger holes, typically an inch or more across. It's the older method, it adds real weight, and it's often the lower-cost choice for big, simple slabs. See mudjacking.

Some Waterloo-area crews run both rigs. Others only do one. Ask which they'd use on your slab, and why.

Why does concrete sink and heave in Black Hawk County?

• Long freeze-thaw season. Waterloo averages about 35 inches of snow a winter, and January's mean temperature is around 18.5°F. On average the last freeze comes around April 29 and the first one around October 1. Water that seeps under a slab expands when it freezes, pushes the concrete up, then leaves a gap when it melts.
• Mixed glacial ground. The 1978 Black Hawk County soil survey describes soils formed in deep loess, in loess over glacial till with a stone line between them, in wind-blown sand, and in sandy river alluvium. Slabs sitting across different materials settle unevenly.
• Wet, high water table areas. The same survey notes that much of the mapped urban land in the county is poorly drained with a high water table, and that houses built on poorly drained soils or modified drainageways are likely to have wet basements.
• Downspouts and sump lines. Roof water dumped next to a walk or stoop carries fine soil out from under it, one storm at a time.

Which concrete problems shouldn't wait?

• A sidewalk edge high enough to catch a toe or a stroller wheel
• A stoop, walk or patio that pitches water back at your foundation
• A gap opening up between the slab and the house
• A garage floor or apron that has dropped below the door seal
• Steps that rock underfoot or have pulled away from the threshold
• A written notice from the City of Waterloo about the public sidewalk

How does Waterloo's sidewalk inspection work?

The City of Waterloo inspects public sidewalks on a twelve-year cycle. The city is split into twelve zones and one zone is inspected each year. Abutting property owners are responsible for keeping the public sidewalk next to their lot in repair, and owners with a defective panel are notified in writing. The city covers repairs at corners, alleys and other public property. If you want to fix your own sidewalk, the city says you'll need a permit. More on sidewalk leveling and city notices.

When is the best time to lift concrete here?

Most lifting in Waterloo happens between spring thaw and late fall, when the ground isn't frozen. Spring is when new trouble shows up: panels that heaved in March often settle lower than before once the frost leaves. Foam can usually be installed in cooler weather than slurry, but no method works well on frozen ground. If the city gave you a deadline, get on a contractor's calendar early in the season.

What should be fixed along with the slab?

Lifting puts the concrete back where it belongs. Keeping it there means dealing with the water that moved it:

• Run downspout extensions past the edge of walks, stoops and patios
• Point sump pump discharge away from concrete and the foundation
• Seal the joint against the house and any open control joints (joint sealing)
• Build up soil that slopes back toward the house

Are you a concrete company?

No. Waterloo Concrete Leveling is a referral service. We connect you with an independent contractor that serves your address in Black Hawk County, Iowa, and that contractor quotes, performs and warrants the work. Before you hire, read our tips on choosing a contractor and the Waterloo, Iowa concrete leveling guide.

Areas we cover

• Waterloo
• Cedar Falls
• Evansdale
• Hudson

Planning ahead? Read our Waterloo, Iowa concrete leveling guide.