Uneven driveway (sinking over time)

[simpsongal]

Since DH and I are TTC, I'm starting to focus on projects that should be done before baby comes.  If I have a baby in winter, it would be nice to park in the garage.  We just got a new car too, so we'd like to start keeping it in the garage. 

We have a really old garage door (1971 original), so we're thinking of replacing it w/a new insulated door and reliable opener w/key pad & remote control.  Our other issue is the driveway has settled over time.  The concrete is about 4"-5" low, particularly on one side. 

I'm going to call a masonry company for an estimate - do you think this is something they could build up over the existing concrete?  Or would they have to jackhammer it up?  DH was thinking of just putting a ramp or something there but I'm nervous about using a temporary fix like that - especially if I'm driving over top of it.

Sidenote:  I'm hoping to Epoxy the garage floor, paint, and organize the space.  This is like the goal of 2013.

[wawa]

To do it right they need to fix the base layers. You either have improper compaction under there or improper drainage. Or both. the obvious way to do that right would be to jackhammer the slab and start from scratch.

Another possibility (depending on your soil/base conditions and the state of the slab) would be pumping one of a variety of substances (special foam, a sand slurry, special hydralic grout, etc) under the slab to raise it and stabilize the base. (they'll drill holes in the slab for this) If your slab isn't in great shape to begin with than this won't work since it'll just crack.

If they just pour new concrete over the old it's just as temporary of a fix as building some sort of ramp.

[simpsongal]

I think you're right on, wawa. I think our driveway has 4 quadrants and the top right one is cracked and sinking the worst. They would probably have to take it up. I'm not sure why it's sinking, we're on pretty hard clay soil here. And I don't think there's a drainage issue.

This is going to be expensive right?

[soozy87]

Feb 7, 2013 11:42:12 GMT -5 wawa said:

To do it right they need to fix the base layers. You either have improper compaction under there or improper drainage. Or both. the obvious way to do that right would be to jackhammer the slab and start from scratch.

Another possibility (depending on your soil/base conditions and the state of the slab) would be pumping one of a variety of substances (special foam, a sand slurry, special hydralic grout, etc) under the slab to raise it and stabilize the base. (they'll drill holes in the slab for this) If your slab isn't in great shape to begin with than this won't work since it'll just crack.

If they just pour new concrete over the old it's just as temporary of a fix as building some sort of ramp.

We plan on doing this for part of our sidewalk.

[wawa]

well yeah...concrete ain't cheap. But is any part of home improvement cheap?

Clay can be tricky even though it seems nice and solid. It doesn't drain...like at all...and it expands and contracts a LOT depending on moisture levels. Or you might have just had a pocket of organic materials under there though, which eventually decomposed. Something as simple as the original house builders leaving a big ole' chunk of wood in the hole and then backfilling around it.

(side note: this is why I decided against geotech as my specialty. Soil goes wrong in so many ways)

[simpsongal]

After perusing Angie's List and noting the cost of such jobs, I think I'll just try to park on the left side and leave it for a bit.

Ugh, everything costs so much - I'm sick of doing maintenance-type upgrades (e.g., roof, insulation, water heater).

[mrs.jacinthe]

Concrete jacking is a definite possibility, like wawa said.

[stephm0188]

We had the concrete pad outside our front door jacked. The sellers paid for it, but it wasn't too terribley priced I don't think.

[jloww]

This is exactly what our old house had, 4 quadrants, the top right two were sinking so we drove up over a 2" slab of concrete to get into the garage.

We ended up mudjacking it.  We can't remember exactly, but we think it was $500?  Came with a 1 year warranty too.

[simpsongal]

Hmm, maybe I'll call for an estimate. I have a feeling jacking is a no go because of the big crack (and awful patch job).