Lifting a Sunken Concrete Driveway Slab DIY

[@label1877]

To save time we leave the $12 bottle jack in place and pour the cement.

[@michaelmasserang8922]

The bottle jack routine is a technique we have used for years on driveways to prep the area for grouting. The only challenge I see here is the remaining voids under the concrete that were not filled. The entire area may need to be pressure grouted. Also, the underlying issue of bad soil may still remain. Without installing a deep foundation and/or conducting soil improvements this repair will only last up to 5 years at the most.

[@wyomins]

That's what I was thinking. He fixed the symptom but not necessarily the cause. There is probably a leaking sprinkler that is eroding the soil under the cement away.

[@wwaynemcg]

@@wyomins Caulking all the expansion/dummy joints would help protect the base.

[@wyomins]

@@wwaynemcg if the issue was from the top yes, but if there is underlying erosion the problem will still persist.

[@wwaynemcg]

@@wyomins But, not knowing the condition underneath...sealing the top is a quick and cheap fix. I sealed all the joints in my 3-wide driveway the first year after construction. It's now 25+ yrs and only two hairline surface cracks have appeared.

[@wyomins]

@@wwaynemcg yeah preventing moisture from getting under is most of it I bet, especially if you live somewhere that rains then freezes.

[@robertnee2606]

This video was the inspiration for me to fix my precast kitchen door cement steps that were pulling away from the house by several inches. Just like this video I dug under the bottom step, inserted a $18 bottle jack. Then the bottle jack raised the steps level again. Simply filled underneath the steps with concrete encasing the bottle jack. The next day backfilled dirt. It worked great!

[@annbloss7706]

Great video. Raised my front concrete porch in 2 places (72yo female) Had dropped and cracked back to expansion joint. It works great.

[@SarahVision]

+Ann Bloss lol thats awesome

[@rafirafia8135]

Sarah Christine

[@acorntree404]

Ann are you for hire?

[@hellohello2711]

You did not lol. No 72 year old lady is raising any slabs

[@marial4707]

Je s jealous of what women can do....or just freaked out on how strong we really are.

[@joejedenasty9432]

I was just quoted $2,700.00. Thank you for this great idea, you saved me literally thousands.

[@thebluelunarmonkey]

good diy job. to prevent future erosion of soil under the driveway, fill all the cracks. I used about 3 large caulk-gun tubes of sikaflex self leveling concrete sealant and backer rods to fill large gaps (total about $50USD). I did not use sikaflex on the expansion joints. Although the sealant seems to soften a bit under the summer sun, I don't think the sealant would allow the expansion joints to do their job. I'd use a silicone or acrylic caulk for expansion joints (IF I ever get around to it). 6 years later and all the sikaflex is holding up perfectly.

[@troylee3179]

I poured a small footer under a large concrete step and used this method. You saved me lots of money

[@rep4666]

my entire walk up to my porch including two steps dropped 2 inches on one side due to rain water drainage,,i lifted one slab at a time with a pry bar and jammed gravel in as tight as i could,,looks brand new again,,company wanted 2 grand to tear it all out,,lololol,,it cost me a couple bags of rock,,been several years hasnt moved at all,,also took care of drainage issue that caused it,,goodluck to all

[@bluetarpsnob]

That's great! But realize companies have to pay tons of money for insurance, licensing, permits, gas to get to your sight, employees, workers' compensation...the list goes on. If you can do it yourself you should, but you can't compare apples to oranges.

[@melfordnunley1493]

@@bluetarpsnob true

[@joepfeiler5911]

I did that on my sidewalk. I had to raise one of the slabs an inch several years later but I thought that was no big deal.

[@MrTubeview22]

I put cinder blocks under my sunken slab. Then back fillled with concrete mix.

[@pswish2163]

I did this to a pool slab once. Had no issues with the repair. Recently had a polyurethane expanding foam company give an estimate for lifting a 20 by 2 section a half inch & it was $4,000. They tie their rates to 60% the cost of replacement, which seems absurd.

[@wwaynemcg]

About to do the same to mine. However, in my experience with concrete I'd definitely "over-raise" the slab by about a half an inch. The concrete may shrink a bit, and also likely settle some with vehicle weight and presence of water. I'd certainly finish up by caulking that crack that remains...water is the death of pavements.

[@diegojones2481]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@starlightengram1]

I use a piece of scrap steel (from a fab shop) on the jack head because wood is too soft for very heavy loads and the ram will punch through the wood. Then with cement underneath I can sacrifice the metal.

[@ChuckD59]

My thought too. @Starlight Engram I liked this (and the music), but the project went a little pear-shaped with the jacking. I also saw that little board and my first thought was plate (or at least two, or three layers of wood!) . @Expressions-LTD I'm getting ready to nudge and level a section of my old concrete pool apron and there's stuff here that'll help. Thanks.

[@juanventura6378]

Yeah right The pu foam used to film those gaps where is imposible to get with concrete, the foam can be injected and covers the área where you need to match the level filling the elements. Searchs in youtube illbruck pu 700 illbruck Fm 310 and 610 you find lots of information regards...

[@r3dzt]

I just can't help but notice how nice their lawn is

[@annbloss7706]

oh, by the way used cinder block to support. filled with part way with gravel and topped off with cement when I made a footer.Of course not done by professional (which I couldn't afford but I figure it will out last me.

[@MrJpsullivan]

Great video of method. Had rabbits under back porch and slab and stairs were sinking. This was how I went after it. I appreciate the confidence your video gave me to do it myself.

[@tomtebeau9930]

Need to know name of product that you put in the holes of your concreet 2:08 😊

[@nv1493]

This can work on a small section as shown. BAD idea on a large slab, you'll snap the corner right off. Most drives either have no rebar or light mesh that gets trampled to the bottom as the concrete gets poured. Large slabs need to be drilled and lifted using a foam or slurry that supports the bottom of the slab.

[@JaimeGarcia-pe7bj]

I did that to my driveway myself. You should mix your Portland Cement mix high slump. Then don’t put any serious weight on it for a week. Both sides were sunken. I used pressure treated culls and lost 5 cheap bottle jacks. The lowest estimate was $1, 300.00. I spent less than $300.00 and did a better job. Those small bottle jacks at Harbor Freight are imported from China. Make the pours high slump.

[@Ktsjdu5xi6e86r9]

OP, it's been 8 years. How is this holding up? Thanks for the great video!

[@ItsMefromSnuffys]

Love the jazz… and the fix how to. Love a level crack… fill it in

[@6977warrior1]

I liked your grass. I wonder if there was a way to "pump" in concrete instead of shoveling it in and hope for the best that it goes to the back or using that 'aircrete' stuff. Thanks for the video.

[@175IQLOSERS]

Gulfstream Manufacturing's slab-jacker pump...

[@shawnjackson4329]

Pretty good video. I do this for a living and this would be a great way to get you through the season. The issue is the soil underneath. When adding the jack and concrete to one spot you end up putting more weight in one area and this will cause it to sink over time. This was posted several years ago. Probably didn't hold up, but again good idea to get you through a season until you can get the $$ to do it right. Cheers!

[@thinkaboutit9891]

Thanks for this! I asked my mom's neighbor who is a custom home builder and he acted like this couldn't be done??? Well here it is and I'm gonna do it!!!

[@vspd303]

think about it he probably meant done correctly

[@brokenarrowez]

First, for a diy video it was good. Second, the cost to repair by a professional of $350.00 with the labor and material was reasonable. Overall, good job.

[@garethkalber7236]

I do always get confused by people who compare cost of materials and materials and labor of a professional company. Good DIY job but it was hardly an attempt at extortion, in fact the price was almost concerningly low

[@matvanhorn1858]

I don't think he's to worried about termites either. He left the wood in there didn't he

[@alabastardmasterson]

@@garethkalber7236 what country is it where a 20 minute job with 4$ of materials is worth $350?

[@qanononabong8491]

@I Sexually Identify As A 4.2 GU Patrol When was your bar mitzvah?

[@Mhammy28]

Gareth Kalber p

[@fredschendstok1577]

Have the 2023 LG Gram Style 16" since 2 weeks. FABULOUS! Only the top is a bit more "finger magnet" than i was expecting. But that's all.

[@JorgeRamos-ix1jm]

This is a place to learn so thx. Bigger bases, compaction, gravel then fill with cement. The work was not performed correctly when initially built.

[@TeslaBoy123]

Concrete supporting Concrete is best 👍

[@markfothebeast]

There's a good reason why slabs sink in some areas. Water run-off. Get that landscaping fixed first to divert water away or this will eventually happen again.

[@lendavidhart9710]

I seen a guy running a demo-saw in the slab joints, so to let them slide by each other, any resistance might cause the one your jacking to crack.

[@troylee3179]

This video saved me about a thousand dollars. Thanks

[@gregsettle9725]

I'll be using this technique to fix my driveway. Thanks!

[@loganlopez3185]

I need to do the same with some of my pavement. I'm going to weld a jig with my everlast welder to help with jacking the slabs and keeping them level until everything is completed.

[@splash5974]

Pavement?? You cant jack up pavement. You just replace it. You can break it apart with a hammer and chisel.

[@alfkey4155]

I think a dryer mix and some hardcore like brick ends ect

[@exnjute]

The section you raised is only about 2 feet wide....not a lot of weight, my driveway slabs are each about 10ft x 8 ft. I don't think they would budge with a bottle jack

[@rogerswift3323]

I just bought a house here in the city and I would like to know if anyone can repair and patch concrete surfaces on my driveway

[@kshitijtiwari9144]

I think the water cement ratio is a little high.

[@joepfeiler5911]

I haul concrete, I have seen flowable mortar use in this application by contractors inspected by engineering firms. High strength of the concrete is not as important as filling the void.

[@kshitijtiwari9144]

@@joepfeiler5911 noted

[@theskyerow]

Thanks for the video, too many negative people on here. An inexpensive way to fix a small issue.

[@jrivas5563]

White people always on some negative shi

[@neilrobson9485]

@@jrivas5563 bit racist

[@Laffy1345]

@@jrivas5563 no, just fuctard racist people. Like yourself. Idiot

[@Laffy1345]

@@neilrobson9485 not a bit...alot

[@notsohandytim5090]

@@jrivas5563: ...siiiiiit Rivas.

[@phildesautels2720]

Thanks for sharing. So simple, yet so effective. Love the Accompanying music!

[@THEREALDATALORD]

I use a carjack with a trashbag over it... then I spray great stuff spray foam in the gap, let it cure for 4 hours and then remove the carjack and backfill the dirt.

[@brianallen8091]

It’s not just about a couple bucks in material & a simple fix. It’s the time it takes hourly, Experience, tools, etc. It took more than a few minutes to do it. Most folks will just pay the pro if it’s just $350, to spend more time doing something with family, etc.

[@leavethemkidsalone860]

The quotes to repair are 10x that much.

[@marylawson6060]

Good video. First step off my porch has sunken almost 2 inches on left side. Was wondering about using a jack and filling in.

[@rep4666]

yes that would work,,did u fix it

[@anthonybattistoni1097]

L

[@stevealexo]

I bought mine (4 ton husky) at homedepot for 10 bucks.(in canada)

[@mjj8788]

You da man!

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

This is a great video. Is there much difference if you were raising one of the bigger pavement stones, the ones the vehicle sits on? Can it be raised from the edge similarly?

[@yaseenmeyer8452]

Are you fixing a flat Tyre or a concrete driveway just lift up the slab fill and compact it relay the slab.

[@juanrrobledo89]

The hardware store has concrete type silicone you can fill in the cracks

[@_MichaeI_]

Excellent. Insurance company is telling me that I need to fix the lower slab on my driveway and contractor estimated $1200 to slab-jack it. Wondering if this is feasible to do in the case of a slab that is 15x10, jacking up both sides at once.

[@jasoncurtis4404]

They have a way of lifting it by drilling holes and putting expanding foam thru it. It lifts the concrete, seal the holes, spread the powder concrete from drilling, and good as new. Might be less than 1200

[@elcomandante9299]

Question is,,,will it work on a 10x20 foot slab?

[@C18H19NaO5S]

This was incredibly helpful

[@markanders250]

I did the same except I filled it with gravel. That way if it sinks again in a few years, I can easily add more gravel.

[@johngalt7313]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandjacking Ground squirrels drop a lot of concrete where I live.

[@anon31415]

Great video!!! Someone did mention that the issue was water washing away the support. This is probably true. It wasn't shown but I would have put down filler stone lateral to the 2x6 he used as a concrete form. or maybe even a formal french drain. Note that I saying "maybe do this slightly differently" rather than "this video sucks, should have done blah, blah, blah"

[@DrMarvinLara]

I would find big rocks to fill it up with the concrete for a more solid foundation

[@username8171]

Hey, music is a nice change from frickin heavy metal guitar !

[@susanflax2807]

I have to raise one side of a large chattahoochee covered concrete tile that a 3-tier concrete fountain sits upon to level the fountain. The whole area slopes but we did level the area under the fountain when we installed it. It lasted 2 years. Our soil in south florida is very sandy. Would I be able to use a jack to raise the side of the concrete tile while the fountain is on it? Would filling the area under it with pieces of concrete pavers and gravel keep it level longer?

[@chemdog73]

Thank you guys, just what I was looking for, I need to pour concrete under my driveway, great video

[@aaronsoto4622]

Great job. Wow. I would guess you can use a mortar base crack filler then do some concrete sanding. Looked amazing afterwards though.

[@wheelsmcdealsace]

get some OSI and colored sand to make them cracks look better

[@alessandrawilson5571]

Genius. I learned a lot. But is there a reason you have the car parked on the end of the slab you are lifting.

[@anoka114]

So that end doesn't raise

[@maxjasmine]

Was Linus and Charlie Brown providing the music?

[@danielcarroll6010]

What about at a side walk right before a step up? Would it cause a problem with the step?

[@makmar4484]

Not likely

[@dongray6834]

Excellent musical choice!

[@TheMonkeyMan016]

The real problem here- no rock bed under the driveway

[@markcotter4213]

My original driveway didnt have rock under it, and it sunk. Replaced driveway with one foot of rock under it, and 10 years later it is as bad as when it was replaced. Sucks.....

[@nonyobussiness3440]

Mark Cotter I guess in Europe the pack the ground down for six months to a year before they put the driveway in

[@owbeer]

@@nonyobussiness3440 mostly some big compacted gravel,then a layer of stabilisé (sand+cement)

[@bitenmein]

The real problem is the drive was still isn’t level. Maybe it the took jazz to jazz up the slab.

[@kalijasin]

Or a couple big boulders underneath there before filling in with concrete.

[@pebblesintheshoe4438]

Thanks. I could successfully do exactly the same thing as shown in this video. Now I have a sunken area in the middle of my stamped concrete. Any idea how to lift that up?

[@memargolis]

I know companies that bore a hole into the middle of it, and pump mud in the hole to lift if. Maybe there is a video on a do it yourself mud jack.

[@scottthomlison9895]

It’s been 9 years now. How does your sidewalk look now? Thanks

[@ExpressionsLTD]

We sold the place years ago, but did a drive-by last summer and I paid attention on just this area looking at the fix... and the area lifted with this jack still looked nice and flat

[@Ratchman_5000]

Just leave the bottle jack and cement it in for extra support.

[@behramcooper3691]

I am told that a foam filler will do the same job. Is it true?

[@stringlarson1247]

People do it with GreatStuff, but that isn't engineered to be structural. There are products (polyjacking) that are for structural applications. They aren't cheap, but they do penetrate into the substrate and become much harder than insulating foam. Some of them are made to expand more than others. One key is to try to identify why a slab sank. This one looks like a pretty poor initial build/pour as there is no substrate (ie. packed gravel, stone, etc. ) . Finding out why the sections have cracked/sunk is important. If you do it with proper concrete mix and it fails again, it will be easier to breakout and redo than if you have a whole bunch of foam under there.

[@jboy7339]

It looks good! It's not even... But now the water can run off and keep your pretty grass growing.

[@jaykay643]

Nice lawn. What about sand instead of concrete?

[@haiderconstruction2861]

Very good and efficient quick way to renovate concrete slab. Farrukh

[@albundy3696]

I do not think was necessary to pour concrete under . just gravel would work fine for future sink no you have to list even thicker concreate .

[@flhusa1]

i would use dish washing soap between the seams to let them slide easier as it comes up.

[@rogerswift3323]

I just bought a house here in the city and I would like to know if anyone can repair and patch concrete surfaces on my driveway get back to me

[@markmiller6402]

Nice fix mate

[@missionDan]

in future always use a sub base on the sub grade, preferably with a geo textile membrane to stop cross contamination on the soil and sub base

[@missionDan]

also, you should dry pack the concrete, your mix was too wet and concrete will shrink

[@missionDan]

+Guy in Colorado, Greetings! if you go to paving expert website, it is the life work of a man called tony mcormack, considered one of the top authoritys on hard landscaping, he has written up everything you need to onow and with diagrams. for me to explain fully would be more to write than i really have time

[@infraprods]

What?? No! Completely unnecessary for this scope job. This guy did a great DYI job jacking a driveway slab. He wasn't rebuilding a highway, or an entire high traffic commercial driveway. Let's not use overly complicated methods and materials meant for large projects to confuse DYI'ers just because we know the words. Geo membrane would do NOTHING over a 2 square foot area. It wouldn't spread load, it wouldn't enhance drainage, and what cross contamination between 2 sq ft of concrete and soil ?? I design highways using precast or cast in place concrete, load transfer devices and geo synthetic grids.

[@NewsBroadcasting]

what if the garage is sitting on the edge of the concrete?

[@bzins17]

I just raised my concrete slab using a Farmers Jack. Simple and safe.

[@bullrun44]

That was a very informative and super helpful video. Thank you

[@michaelvendick2785]

Ummmm, the slab is still sunk

[@seth-bullock]

My thoughts exactly. Fail on their part.

[@SANTA17]

I'm sorry but I can still tell it's not level and is still down. Needs at least 1/4" if not more lifted. Just saying. Good idea with the concrete except I would have added gravel underneath.

[@peterlarssonhedlof6515]

Do you rember the concrete cube Hitler let Speer build in Berlin? It was to heavy and it sunk couple of decimeters each year. Its cooler to have a Atv or a 4 wheel drive when you dont need the plates perfect.

[@assog5737]

They make a special product for performing this task. Instead of concrete. And it's simple to use. It's just kinda hard to find. What it is is a special foam product made just for performing this task. It's just like that expandable foam that is used to fill gaps around doors and windows. And the best thing about this expandable foam is you can use it to lift low spots in the center of slabs. It's fairly simple to perform that task. Anyway the person in the video did ( what we call ) a temporary fix. After a few heavy rains it will sink again. But he saved himself $300.00. But 8 hours of his time at $40.00 a hour = $320.00 for a temporary fix. So did he really save any money?

[@anoka114]

Guessing you do this for a living and don't want people to figure out how to DIY for themselves.

[@assog5737]

​@@anoka114 You guessed wrong.

[@cosakti]

just wonder about the concrete, pouring this way will create bubbles and gap, it wont hold the slab, it will sink immediately, and make extra job to repair it again

[@wenonahcosta3674]

co sakti

[@billathens7263]

Who did the background music on the video?

[@yeahsure1234]

So.. what happened to the cat that walked on the fresh cement when the drive was first poured?

[@NM-js8ky]

yeahsure1234 nothing, why would it? Sicko comment

[@ChakatNightspark]

well with a little bit more. could use rebar, drill a hole in thur the slab and into the main part on other side. after leveling it out. then fill in with concrete.

[@fridaynighthikes]

The Little Bottle Jack That Could: I think I can, I think I can. 👍👍💪💪

[@MrTtmich]

The ground along my sidewalks is so hard even after flooding it that I can't even dig in 6" to lift the slab up. I will have to let the township's contractor to replace them and that will cost over $600! The levering by pumping cement by a contractor cost more that replacing the pads. It's wasteful for replacing the whole slabs of concrete while they can be repaired, but that's the township's regulations!

[@grigoryzeltser2415]

Try using pickax to break through the ground

[@johngregg9187]

Dude 350 dollars to do that job is VERY REASONABLE, company truck, company employee 15 to 20 an hour, truck insurance, workers comp insurance, gas for the company truck, paid vacation for employee, health insurance for employee, tools to do said job, taxes, city,state and fed. Materials for job. I can go on all day. 350 dollars is VERY REASONABLE sir.

[@alabastardmasterson]

A wrecking bar, a piece of firewood and some packed ROC worked for me

[@df56gh4d5h]

Packed ROC?

[@darkvader47]

Thoroughly impressed

[@charlestait5303]

Good job and nice looking grass!!!

[@MichaelJohnson-lx1lc]

Great video, I could not use mud jacking because have a heat wire in my concrete. What a great solution.

[@9serios5shit13]

yooooo is this the same music from little bill lmao

[@augie6029]

@Ernie Stepro must be nice talking to your self

[@Hunter-ir4kp]

Super helpful! Great video

[@MYDODGEYUTUBENAME]

The ground is uncompacted underneath. It's only going to sink again. Expandafoam would have been better.

[@Big_ol_bass]

Tell us you've never done this without telling us.

[@andrewwiltzius6228]

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for

[@Isayitwithmychest]

any footage will piss people off, I came to see all the "nice jobs but" or "next time use" or "your video did not receive approval from me" or "you should make your video how I see fit" or.

[@mountainviews5025]

Makes no sense at all

[@bubbagreensmith7174]

Overall this is a good job. Thank you for posting!!!

[@sharonlee1948]

Problem all started due to lack of a two foot footer around the edge of the Drive way. That's what happens when lack of experience causes problems later on.

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

Not always a lack of experience but a way to keep prices down for customers with high expectations of low prices ;) Proper jobs are mega-expensive and most working people can't afford proper jobs.

[@aeridyne]

This is also a true factor, people hire the cheapest guy a lot, and that leads to problems like that. Of course, a good contractor should say what you should do to not potentially have problems, but many don't, they'll say it'll be swell, no problems. But yeah, I tend to agree. Really pisses ya off though when you pay someone to do something and they do a shit job. Happens to me all the time.

[@markcotter4213]

A 2 foot footer?! Holy shit! The highway dept doesn't even do that.... I'd like to see that done though.

[@gw5309]

Pretty slick 👍

[@Bazorko]

How do I lower my house so it is level with my driveway?

[@p.graham7519]

fire usually works

[@sidsid9808]

House moving companies would do it for about $15,000.