Leveling, cracks & resurfacing
Concrete Repair in Baton Rouge, LA
Fix what can be fixed, replace only what has to go, and know the difference before you pay.
- Free measuring visit at your property
- Written quote with each line priced
- Grade and drainage planned before forms go in
Repair First, Replace When It Is Time
Concrete repair can save a driveway, patio or walk that is mostly sound but has a sunken panel, a few cracks or a worn surface. In Baton Rouge, most damage starts underneath: clay that swells and shrinks, rain that washes soil out from under the edges, roots, and in some neighborhoods slow movement along the Baton Rouge fault. The right repair depends on which of those caused the problem, so we start by figuring that out.
Leveling sunken slabs
When a panel has dropped but is still in one piece, it can often be lifted back into place. Small holes are drilled through the slab and material is pumped underneath to fill the void and raise it. Mudjacking uses a cement-based slurry; polyjacking uses expanding foam that is lighter and needs smaller holes. HomeGuide's leveling guide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 a square foot and polyjacking at $8 to $25, and says leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more. In clay, lifting works best when the drainage that caused the sinking is fixed at the same time.
Cracks
Hairline shrinkage cracks are normal. Cracks worth attention are ones that are widening, have one side higher than the other, or let water under the slab. Filling and sealing them keeps water out of the base. HomeGuide's resurfacing guide puts crack filling at $0.50 to $3 a linear foot and notes that cracks wider than a quarter inch often point to a problem underneath that sealing alone will not fix.
Near the Baton Rouge fault, a 1981 fault damage study found that cracks in streets, driveways, patios and sidewalks line up with the fault trend and estimated movement of a few inches per decade. A crack that reappears in the same line after every repair may be ground movement. We will tell you when sealing it periodically is the practical answer.
Resurfacing
If the slab is level and solid but the top is worn, stained or rough, a resurfacing layer can renew it. HomeGuide lists basic driveway resurfacing at $3 to $5 a square foot and plain patio or walkway overlays at $3 to $7, lasting 8 to 15 years. Resurfacing does not fix sinking, heaving or wide cracks, and it is the wrong choice if the slab is crumbling.
Replacing sections
Sometimes one or two panels are beyond saving while the rest of the slab is fine. We saw-cut out the bad section, fix the base beneath it, and pour a new panel doweled into its neighbors. It will not match the color of 30-year-old concrete exactly, but it removes the trip hazard and the drainage problem without replacing the whole driveway.
When repair is the wrong call
HomeGuide recommends replacement over repair when there are large cracks, crumbling, spalling or structural problems, or when a repair would need a new layer more than two inches thick. If most panels have moved, the base has failed, and patching would only buy a year or two. In that case we quote replacement and show you the repair price beside it so you can decide.
Keeping repaired concrete in place
Repairs last longest when the cause is gone. Extend downspouts past the slab, regrade soil that slopes toward the concrete, and reseal cracks before storms wash out more base. We note any of those fixes in the quote.
Repair Work We Quote
Each option is priced on its own, next to replacement when that is closer to the right answer.
Mudjacking
Cement-based slurry pumped under a sunken panel to raise it.
Polyjacking
Expanding foam injected through small holes to lift and support the slab.
Crack repair
Cracks cleaned, filled and sealed to keep water out of the base.
Resurfacing
A bonded overlay that renews a worn but sound surface.
Section replacement
Failed panels cut out, base repaired and new concrete doweled in.
Drainage fixes
Downspout extensions and regrading so the problem does not return.
Typical Concrete Repair Costs
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Concrete leveling, per sq ft | $3 to $12 |
| Mudjacking, per sq ft | $4 to $9 |
| Polyjacking, per sq ft | $8 to $25 |
| Leveling minimum job | $300 to $700+ |
| Mudjack a 450 sq ft driveway | $1,800 to $4,100 |
| Crack filling, per linear ft | $0.50 to $3 |
| Driveway resurfacing, per sq ft | $3 to $5 |
| Full replacement, per sq ft | $6 to $15 |
Figures from HomeGuide's concrete leveling and concrete resurfacing cost guides (national averages). Baton Rouge prices can run higher or lower, and tear-out, base work, access and finish all change the total. Your written estimate is the price.
Start to Finish
1. Diagnose
We find out why the concrete moved or broke before choosing a fix.
2. Quote options
Repair and replacement priced side by side in writing.
3. Repair
Lifting, crack sealing, resurfacing or section replacement.
4. Fix the cause
Drainage or downspout changes so the problem does not come back.
Why Choose Us for Concrete Repair
Cause before cure
Water, clay, roots or fault movement identified first.
Both prices on paper
Repair and replacement quoted together so you can choose.
Concrete Repair Questions
Is mudjacking or foam better?
Both lift sunken slabs. HomeGuide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 a square foot and polyjacking at $8 to $25, with foam often lasting longest and needing smaller holes. The condition of the slab and the soil under it decide which fits.
How long does slab leveling last?
HomeGuide says professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more, with mudjacking typically 5 to 7. In clay soil, fixing the drainage that caused the sinking makes the biggest difference.
My crack keeps coming back. Why?
The ground under it is still moving, from clay, water or, in some neighborhoods, the Baton Rouge fault. Sealing keeps water out, but the slab will keep cracking along the same line until the movement stops.
When should I replace instead of repair?
When most panels have moved, the base has failed, the surface is crumbling, or cracks are wide and offset. HomeGuide also advises replacement when a repair would need a layer over two inches thick.
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Get a Concrete Repair Estimate
We look at your concrete and price repair and replacement side by side, in Baton Rouge and nearby towns.