Lifting a Sunken Concrete Driveway Slab DIY

A cheap technique to lift and fix sunken concrete slabs using a car jack and few dollars of concrete mix. Bottle Jacks are $12-$18 on Amazon: www.amazon.com/...

[@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!

[@r3dzt]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@label1877]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@Ktsjdu5xi6e86r9]

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

[@starlightengramA]

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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@tomtebeau9930]

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

[@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.

[@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?

[@9serios5shit13]

yooooo is this the same music from little bill lmao

[@augie6029]

@Ernie Stepro must be nice talking to your self

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@elcomandante9299]

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

[@phildesautels2720]

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

[@bzins17]

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

[@maxjasmine]

Was Linus and Charlie Brown providing the music?

[@juanrrobledo89]

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

[@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"

[@C18H19NaO5S]

This was incredibly helpful

[@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

[@fridaynighthikes]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@darkvader47]

Thoroughly impressed

[@michaelvendick2785]

Ummmm, the slab is still sunk

[@seth-bullock]

My thoughts exactly. Fail on their part.

[@jaykay643]

Nice lawn. What about sand instead of concrete?

[@ben-vf]

That grass bro !

[@FatsacksAllday]

Song name? those cats were swingin!

[@TinnonFamilyFarm]

Man they sholl was Swanggin doc

[@DrMarvinLara]

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

[@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

[@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?

[@danielcarroll6010]

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

[@makmar4484]

Not likely

[@alabastardmasterson]

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

[@df56gh4d5h]

Packed ROC?

[@bubbagreensmith7174]

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

[@bullrun44]

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

[@flhusa1]

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

[@MichaelJohnson-lx1lc]

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

[@andrewwiltzius6228]

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for

[@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

[@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.

[@Hunter-ir4kp]

Super helpful! Great video

[@sixlucks2]

Wow!!! Thank you sooooo much. I know how to do it now

[@billathens7263]

Who did the background music on the video?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@MrTonyshit80]

Good video..

[@ryannorman1610]

Wow nice video!!!

[@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.

[@Irenef7]

wow....impressive tool!

[@johnsmith-bv2wc]

no sub base

[@charlieharrison7234]

Thank you guys thats awesome

[@CaryGlennDavis]

fill the crack with a color polymer and you won't even notice the crack

[@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

[@gw5309]

Pretty slick 👍

[@ks13077]

Can't we just put more concrete on the top to level it ?

[@aarons4996]

The concrete below is already hardened and won’t mix and bond well with the new concrete causing it to break easily and also flake if it’s a thin layer

[@miketourigny852]

It’s still not level ... hello

[@mgtazco]

$350 sounds reasonable. You were there probably half day I noticed you had a helper. The job looks half way done if you paid a good contractor and they do that I see why seems too much but if you happen to find a star great contractor. Will be no less than $1k with warranty and wouldn't happen again.

[@anoka114]

Really

[@garybailey2578]

Thanks....nice video

[@bobbycoates5994]

no one has a short slab like that I busted a 2 ton jack trying to lift my big slab up a 4 peace slab walk way

[@sajidullah]

How can I raise my driveway in the center area ? Any idea?

[@dalltex]

mudjacking. Company will drill small holes in driveway and inject high pressure mix of cement and topsoil type fillers. Either that or jackhammer and re pour.

[@JorgeRamos-ix1jm]

Sajid Rafique you may be able to core it in two places then lift slowly. If it raises put 2"s of gravel then fill with cement. Will need to fill cores once done. Hard to evaluate without seeing the job. Good luck!

[@RaspyOB174]

If any of the broken pieces are level to begin with it's easier but you can use one piece as jack platform to raise another piece. Drill in concrete anchors on piece to level first and bolt wood to create lift point. Attach that point to a jack that's leveled with shims and based on another piece. Lift it level and core a decent size hole all the way through and pour in some aircrete or concrete with an expanding agent. Best to use multiple jacks or a rigged chain or rope system to level all platforms before you pour in support media.

[@mountainviews5025]

Drill holes every two feet and spray in expanding foam it's very simple I've done this over fifty times and there all still the way I left them perfect

[@YesuAiNimen]

@@mountainviews5025 What brand/type of expanding foam do you use?

[@thomasbarker6833]

why didnt they go pass leave and let the slab resettle down to level? and why would u use a wood block that will rot and leave a weak void in concrete?

[@ejohnson3131]

If it sinks gain and now you've filled the side with solid concrete and won't be able to dig. 😬

[@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.

[@freedommakers101]

Love this

[@jamesebola1250]

This will sink again soon after the rains return, as the ground under the new concrete is top soil. Need to go down to the bedrock.

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good!

[@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.

[@philipthomey7884]

good tunes

[@drekelley2352]

Hold my beer.

[@complexteo-iwnl3321]

Where is penny-wise

[@kennethiman2691]

Nice!

[@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.

[@rkundi]

Great video, but that piece of wood on the top is really not able to distribute the load.

[@Isayitwithmychest]

why not

[@bobf3598]

Yikes....I'd use a 4x4 cut post to support that weight. The added concrete will just do it all over again and sink over time. Spread the weight away from the slab using the 2" thick pink insulation foam, with stone packed right under in all directions to fill the void.

[@dannys.1736]

Bro pay the $350.

[@scinto23]

$350 sounds reasonable but there is the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

[@dannys.1736]

I would have done a Paver driveway.

[@jamesdevinstewart]

$350 is not bad to have it professionally done. This video is a nice little bandaid on the problem, professionals do a much more thorough job and have invested thousands in the equipment to have it properly fixed.

[@pozzee2809]

Never Ever put your hand underneath!!!!

[@PairOfHounds]

There is a reason it settled... simply lifting it up and adding concrete is only temporary unless you excavate deeper and leg off stable soil...

[@enriquerice9131]

Whats with the music

[@davidebratton]

The old way.

[@sicksonezer0]

omg I did this to my driveway and when i was digging the hole the concrete slab fell on my leg and now i am a double amputee because i thought i messed up the first time but two times i dont think so.

[@sothickitssickk]

Lies

[@anoka114]

There always has to be one clown

[@deepriver6155]

Pre dug , not level and I would not park Mr. car there 🤔

[@shawnwilson4871]

Pick the slab up by hand, then put parts of an old tire cut in pieces fill with water

[@MadMax-yq9ix]

Careful doing that, pressure can explode it like a frag grenade right into your eyes.

[@KP-sg9fm]

That's why you should always engage safety squints first in dodgy situations

[@ericsanchez5981]

Nice job I can lift my house