Repair calls in Sioux Falls come from three things: frost heave, settled fill beside basements and surfaces scaled by salt. We find the cause before we suggest a fix. Text us a photo and we can often say whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Concrete in Sioux Falls fails in a few known ways, and each has its own fix. Scaling is the top layer flaking off after winters of freeze and thaw and deicer. Heaving is a panel lifted by frost in wet clay. Settling is a panel that dropped because the fill under it compacted or washed out, which is common beside basements. Cracks come with all three.
The fix depends on the cause. A sound slab that has only sunk can often be lifted by pumping material under it. A scaled surface on solid concrete can be ground and resurfaced, though an overlay in this climate has a shorter life than new concrete. Working cracks get a flexible sealant to keep water out before winter. A slab that is broken into pieces, heaved by clay or lifted by roots usually needs the bad panels removed and poured again on a proper base.
We look at why the slab moved before we suggest anything. Where does the downspout empty? Does water sit along the edge? Is the panel hollow underneath? A repair that ignores the cause will be back in two winters. Send us a photo by text and we can often tell you whether it looks like a repair or a replacement before we visit.
Concrete repair in Sioux Falls: common questions
Can my flaking driveway be resurfaced?
If the concrete under the flaking is hard and the slab has not moved, yes. The loose layer is ground off and a bonded overlay goes on. In this climate, with salt and freeze and thaw, expect an overlay to last years, not decades.
My driveway panel rises every winter and settles in spring. Can that be fixed?
That is frost heave from wet soil under the slab. Sealing joints and moving water away helps. A lasting fix means replacing that panel on a deeper, free-draining base so there is less water under it to freeze.
When should cracks be sealed?
Before winter. A crack that lets water under the slab feeds frost heave and washes out the base. A flexible sealant in late summer or fall keeps the water out. It will not hide the crack, but it slows the damage.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit and measure.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with finish options.
- Prep & forms: We excavate, grade, compact the base and set forms and reinforcement.
- Pour, finish & cure: We pour, finish, cut control joints and tell you when you can use it.