Driveway panels
One section of the driveway sits lower than the rest, with a lip at the joint that catches tires and shovels.
Concrete lifting / Slab lifting
Driveway and sidewalk lifting in Edmonton
A dropped driveway panel or a lifted edge on the front walk can usually be raised back to level in place. We inject polyurethane foam under the slab and bring it up.
What we fix
Driveways and walks that dropped
Most of the driveways and sidewalks we look at in Edmonton didn't crack apart. They sank.
Driveway and sidewalk lifting raises sunken concrete back to level by injecting polyurethane foam under the slab through small drilled holes. Aires does this for homeowners in Edmonton and nearby towns as a cheaper, faster alternative to tearing out and re-pouring.
A panel drops when the ground under it gives way. Around Edmonton that's usually backfill that was never compacted properly, a downspout washing soil out from the edge, or years of freeze and thaw opening up a gap. The concrete is often fine. It just has nothing under it.
We fill that gap with foam. As it expands, the slab rises back to where it should be. You can read more about the method on our concrete lifting page.
Common jobs
The slabs we see most
If one of these sounds like your yard, it's probably a lifting job.
Garage approach slabs
The slab right in front of the garage door drops away from the garage floor. It sits on backfill against the foundation, which settles more than undisturbed soil.
Front walks
The path to the door has a panel that dropped or tipped, and someone has caught a toe on it.
Sidewalk trip hazards
An uneven joint on a walk is easy to catch a boot on, worse when it's icy in January. Lifting brings the low panel flush with the next one.
Slabs tilted toward the house
A walk or driveway that slopes back to the foundation sends water straight at your basement wall. We lift it so it drains away.
The process
How we lift a driveway or walk
Small holes, foam, a level check, then patching.
Assessment
We check how far each panel has dropped, which way water runs, and whether the concrete is solid enough to lift. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Drilling
We drill small holes through the low panel where the foam needs to go.
Injection
Polyurethane foam goes under the slab, fills the void and lifts the panel. We go slowly and watch the level so it comes up even.
Stabilization
The foam cures into a strong, water-resistant base. We patch the holes and clean up.
Lift or replace
When a new driveway is the better call
Lifting works on concrete that's still in good shape. It won't fix a driveway broken into a dozen pieces, a surface that's flaking and crumbling, or a slab that has heaved and split. Those need to come out.
When the concrete is sound, lifting saves you the demolition, the disposal and the new pour. Your driveway stays where it is, and you're not parking on the street while new concrete cures.
- Lift: solid panel with a step at the joint
- Lift: walk that tips toward the house
- Lift: approach slab dropped at the garage
- Replace: concrete broken into many pieces
- Replace: crumbling or badly scaled surface
After lifting
Keep the water out from under it
The foam won't wash out. The soil around it still can.
- Extend or move downspouts so they don't drain onto the slab edge
- Seal the joints between panels so water can't get under them
- Seal cracks before winter so meltwater doesn't freeze in them
- Grade soil and flower beds to slope away from the slab and the house
Garage floors, patios and front steps are a separate page: see garage, patio and step lifting. Our Edmonton team quotes across the city, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and other towns in our Edmonton service area.
Every job carries our 1-year workmanship warranty. Book a free assessment and we'll tell you if your slab can be lifted.
Related services
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Can a sunken driveway be lifted instead of replaced?
Usually, if the concrete is still in one or a few solid pieces. We inject polyurethane foam under the low panel to fill the void and raise it. Driveways that are broken up or crumbling need to be replaced.
How do you fix a sidewalk trip hazard?
If one panel has dropped below the next, we lift the low side back up to meet it with polyurethane foam injected through small holes. The joint ends up flush, and we patch the holes after.
My front walk slopes toward the house. Is that a problem?
Yes. A slab tipped toward the house sends rain and snowmelt at the foundation and into the basement. Lifting the slab so it drains away from the house fixes the slope.
How do I stop my driveway from sinking again?
Deal with the water. Extend or move downspouts so they don't drain onto the slab edge, and seal the joints and cracks so water can't get underneath. The cured foam itself is water resistant.
Do you lift the approach slab at the garage door?
Yes. The approach slab in front of the garage is one of the most common slabs to drop, because it sits on backfill next to the foundation. We assess it along with the rest of the driveway.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you're insulating and where. We'll book a walkthrough, measure it, and send you a written quote. Serving Edmonton, Calgary and across Alberta.
Call or text(780) 916-7131Request a quote