Concrete Repair FAQ — Ann Arbor, MI

There is no single number because the job varies a lot. A small crack fill on a patio is a short job. A sunken driveway slab in Ann Arbor that sits on soft clay fill is a much bigger one. The size of the damaged area, what caused it, and whether the base needs work all affect what it costs. Call for a free estimate.

The main reason is the clay soil. It expands when it absorbs water and shrinks when it dries out. That movement works on concrete from underneath all year long. The freeze-thaw cycle makes it worse — the ground around here can freeze and thaw 50 or more times between November and March, and that pushes slabs up and cracks them.

Small hairline cracks can wait a short while, but they do not stay small. Water gets in, freezes, and makes the crack wider every winter. If a slab has shifted or there is a lip that someone can trip over, that is a safety problem and should not wait. Getting it looked at costs nothing.

We come out and inspect the slab and the area around it to figure out why it moved or cracked. Then we give you a written quote explaining what we will do. Once you approve it, we do the repair — whether that is crack filling, foam leveling, or a full slab replacement. We clean up the site before we leave.

Most crack repairs and slab leveling jobs do not require a permit in Ann Arbor. Full driveway or sidewalk replacement sometimes does, especially if the work affects a public right-of-way near the street. We will let you know what applies to your specific job when we do the inspection.

Most homeowner's policies do not cover normal wear, settling, or cracking from soil movement — which is what causes most concrete problems here. Coverage is more likely if damage came from a specific sudden event, like a tree root rupture or a pipe burst under the slab. Check your policy and ask your insurer directly — we can provide documentation of the damage if you need it.