How to Lift a Sinking Concrete Slab

Written By Ted DrycePublished on 12/23/2022Updated on 11/4/2025

Take a look at the images in the photo gallery. Do any of them look familiar? When concrete starts to sink, it leads to tripping hazards and an unpleasant look on your property.

If you’ve noticed your garage floor sinking or uneven concrete in other areas of your property, it’s time to explore professional concrete slab repair options.

Why Your Concrete Slab Is Sinking

Concrete sinks for several reasons. Most of them are due to environmental factors such as:

Dry, shrinking soil due to drought
Soil washout due to excess rain or poor drainage
Shifting soil due to invasive tree roots
Improper soil preparation before installation
Inadequate mixing and pouring during installation

While there are many causes behind sinking concrete, it can be resolved. In the next section, we’ll look at the best options for sinking concrete repair.

Sinking Concrete Slab Repair: The Basics

A sinking concrete slab won’t fix itself—and leaving it untreated can lead to further cracking, structural instability, and costly repairs. Here are some practical steps to take:

Call a professional team (like Alpha Foundations) for a concrete inspection.
Look into the various concrete leveling methods on the market.
Work with professionals to come up with a repair plan.
Implement the chosen leveling method.
Continue to inspect the concrete every few months.

Working with professionals is always the best way to repair concrete effectively. DIY methods may end up causing even more damage or lead to injury without the right gear.

The Best Ways to Fix a Sinking Concrete Floor

If you’re wondering how to raise the level of a concrete floor, here are the most common methods:

Polyurethane Foam Injection (PolyRenewal™) – The most advanced and effective method for raising concrete floors. This lightweight yet durable material lifts the slab, stabilizes the soil, and cures within 15 minutes.
Mudjacking (Outdated & Temporary Solution) – Involves pumping a heavy slurry under the concrete. However, this method doesn’t last as long as polyurethane injection and can add unnecessary weight to unstable soil.
Self-Leveling Concrete (Not a Long-Term Fix) – While self-leveling compounds can temporarily smooth out uneven concrete, they don’t address underlying soil issues, meaning the slab may continue to sink.

Why Polyurethane Injection is the Best Solution

Here’s how the solution works:

Small holes (the size of a penny) are drilled into the concrete
High-density polyurethane foam is injected beneath the slab
The foam expands, lifting the concrete floor evenly

This state-of-the-art foam injection material is lightweight but durable and versatile.

Not only will it lift your sinking concrete slabs, but it takes problematic soil out of the equation—two birds with one stone!

Work With Alpha Foundations for Sinking Concrete Repair in Florida

If your concrete garage floor is sinking, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. DIY solutions may seem appealing, but they won’t provide long-term results and could lead to further damage. At Alpha Foundations, we specialize in raising concrete floors with state-of-the-art PolyRenewal™ technology.

With over 20 years of experience, our team provides permanent solutions for sinking slabs across Florida. Schedule your free Inspection today, and let’s restore your concrete!

Does homeowners insurance cover sinking concrete?

Unfortunately, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover sinking concrete.

This is similar to what most insurance companies refer to as “preventable” circumstances, including foundation problems like settlement brought on by problematic soil.

If you are unsure what is covered and what isn’t, contact your insurance agent to review your policy.

How can you tell if concrete is sinking?

Sinking concrete is generally easy to spot. You will start to notice the following:

Slabs that are uneven and don’t match up
Puddles form and remain after rain
People trip over the uneven surface
It’s more difficult to drive over your driveway or garage floor

How fast does concrete sink?

Sinking concrete can happen as soon as a month after it is poured if the area of installation was not properly prepared and the underlying soil was incorrectly tamped.

However, it is more realistic to see some settlement 10 years after the concrete slabs were poured.

Related Resources

Tree Roots Breaking Concrete? Here’s What to Do

Many species of trees have invasive root systems that can damage the integrity of your foundation. Learn how soil aids this process and how to spot the signs.

Concrete Corrosion in Florida Explained

Learn how saltwater exposure, high chloride content, and salinity affect concrete corrosion in Florida. Discover how to repair and stop the damage!

Concrete porch with a noticeable crack and an uneven surface, ready for expert concrete patio repair, near a white brick house with black shutters.

Why Homes in Leon County Built in the 1990s Are Showing Signs of Concrete Issues

Written By Ted DrycePublished on 12/23/2022Updated on 11/4/2025 If you own a home in Leon County, especially one built in the 1990s, you might be noticing cracked concrete or uneven surfaces around your property. These concrete issues can be frustrating and concerning, but they’re not uncommon. The unique geography of Leon County and specific challenges […]

Ted Dryce

SEO Content Specialist

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.

_{*Disclaimer: “Concrete leveling” means the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in many cases lifted, by means of PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. Alpha Foundations does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make your concrete perfectly level.}