Cracks, sunken slabs and worn surfaces

Concrete Repair in Medford, OR

Fix what can be fixed, replace what cannot, and know the difference before you spend.

Itemized written estimates: base, thickness, steel, finish and joints on separate lines
Right-of-way work flagged up front under Medford code section 3.040
Pour days picked around valley heat, winter rain and frost

Repair or Replace? We Help You Decide

Concrete Repair makes sense when the slab underneath is still sound. A sunken walk on a solid base, hairline cracks, or a surface that has flaked but not crumbled can often be fixed for far less than tearing it out. With a median home build year of 1984 in Medford, according to Point2Homes' summary of Census data, a lot of local concrete is old enough to need attention. Our first job is telling you honestly which category your concrete falls into.

What causes damage here

Water under the slab. Medford's wet winters can wash fine soil out from under slabs, leaving voids that let sections sink.
Freeze-thaw. With about 64 freezing mornings a year, water in the surface of older concrete freezes and pops off thin flakes, called scaling.
Tree roots. Mature trees in older neighborhoods lift walks and driveways.
Thin or unreinforced slabs. Older work poured without rebar cracks and shifts under load.
Heat and shrinkage. Concrete that dried too fast during a hot summer pour can craze and crack at the surface.

Repair options

Crack sealing. Cracks under about a quarter inch can be cleaned out and sealed with a flexible filler to keep water out. HomeGuide lists crack filling at about $0.50 to $3 per linear foot.

Slab leveling. A sunken section can be lifted by pumping a cement slurry (mudjacking) or expanding foam (polyjacking) underneath. This works well on walks, steps, patios and driveway panels that are intact but have settled.

Resurfacing. A thin cement-based overlay covers scaled, pitted or stained concrete and gives it a new surface. It can be plain, colored or stamped. Resurfacing only works on sound concrete; it will not hold a slab that is breaking up.

Joint repair. Old, failed joint fillers are cleaned out and replaced so water cannot get under the slab.

Step and edge repair. Broken corners and chipped edges rebuilt with repair mortar.

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When replacement is the better choice

HomeGuide's guides note that cracks wider than a quarter inch often point to a problem with what is underneath, and that such cracks can show through a new overlay. Heavy spalling, crumbling, or sections that keep moving are also signs that repair will not last. In those cases we will recommend removing and replacing the concrete, and you can see our driveway, patio and sidewalk pages for what that involves.

Sidewalk repairs and the City

If the damaged concrete is the public sidewalk in front of your home, Medford code section 3.010 generally makes the abutting owner responsible for keeping it safe, and section 3.040 requires a permit for repair work in the right-of-way. We account for that when we plan the repair.

Keeping repaired concrete in good shape

Seal exterior concrete every few years to keep water out.
Keep gutters and downspouts draining away from slabs.
Fill new cracks while they are small.
Use sand instead of de-icing salt on new or resurfaced concrete.
Watch for new settling after heavy winter rains and call early.

Repair Services

We match the repair to the cause, not just the symptom.

Crack sealing

Cracks cleaned and filled with flexible sealant to keep water out.

Concrete leveling

Sunken walks, steps, patios and driveway panels lifted back to level.

Resurfacing

A new cement-based surface over scaled or pitted concrete.

Joint repair

Failed expansion and control joint fillers replaced.

Step and edge repair

Chipped corners and broken step edges rebuilt.

Typical Concrete Repair Costs

Repair	Published range
Crack filling, per linear ft	$0.50 to $3
Mudjacking, per sq ft	$4 to $9
Polyjacking (foam), per sq ft	$8 to $25
Level a 100 sq ft sidewalk, mudjacking	$400 to $900
Level concrete steps (40 sq ft), mudjacking	$300 to $700
Resurfacing, per sq ft	$3 to $7
Replacement instead of repair, per sq ft	$6 to $15

National ranges from HomeGuide's concrete leveling and concrete resurfacing cost guides. The cause of the damage and the size of the area set the price. Your written estimate is the price.

Our Repair Approach

1. Diagnose

Drainage, roots, base and thickness checked, not only the visible crack.

2. Give a straight answer

Repair or replace, with what each would cost and how long each should last.

3. Prep

Cracks routed and cleaned, voids found, or the surface scrubbed for an overlay.

4. Fix and protect

Fill, lift or resurface, then seal and leave care notes.

Concrete Repair Questions

Can sunken concrete be raised?

Often, yes. If the slab is intact, mudjacking or foam leveling can lift it. HomeGuide puts professionally leveled concrete at a lifespan of 5 to 10 years or more.

Will a crack repair be invisible?

Usually not. Crack filler keeps water out and slows damage, but the line will show. Resurfacing can hide minor cracks on sound slabs.

Is resurfacing worth it?

On solid concrete with surface damage, yes. On slabs with wide cracks or movement, the problems tend to come back through the overlay.

Why is my concrete flaking?

That is scaling, usually caused by water freezing in a weak surface. Finishing with bleed water, too little air in the mix, or early de-icing salt make it more likely.

How do I know if I need replacement?

Cracks wider than a quarter inch, crumbling, heavy spalling or sections that keep moving usually mean replacement. We look at it and tell you.

Get a Concrete Repair Estimate

Free assessments and written estimates for concrete repair in Medford and the Rogue Valley.

Call (541) 287-7959 Free Estimate