Small concrete repairs cost $100 to $400 by national figures, and major repairs or resurfacing cost $600 to $3,000. In Lincoln Park, most damage comes from clay and frost moving the slab, from soil washing out underneath, or from freeze-thaw and salt eating the top layer. The right fix depends on which of those it is.
Every price on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide for 2026. None of them is a quote from The Lincoln Park Concrete Company. Local labor and material costs, how easily a truck can reach the work and what turns up under the old slab all push a real price up or down. Checked October 2026.
How much does concrete repair cost?
HomeGuide puts driveway crack repair at $100 to $400 and major repairs or resurfacing at $600 to $3,000. Patching runs $3 to $8 per square foot, and crack filling runs $0.50 to $3 per linear foot. Repairs have to wait for warm enough weather, because most patching and sealing products need temperatures above freezing to cure.
| Repair | National cost |
|---|---|
| Crack repair | $0.50 to $3 per linear foot |
| Patching | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Leveling (lifting) | $3 to $12 per sq ft |
| Removal before replacement | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Leveling costs $3 to $12 per square foot nationally, and a typical job runs $700 to $5,000. Most companies charge a minimum of $300 to $700, so lifting one small walk panel can cost about as much as lifting three. HomeGuide lists mudjacking at $4 to $9 per square foot and polyurethane foam at $8 to $25.
Mudjacking or foam: which is better?
Both raise a sunken slab by pumping material under it. Mudjacking uses a cement and soil slurry through holes about the size of a coin or larger, and it costs less. Foam goes through smaller holes, weighs much less and sets fast, so it adds less load to soft clay. Foam usually suits a slab over wet or weak soil, and mudjacking suits a simple job on firmer ground. Neither one helps a slab that is broken into pieces.
Is foam lifting a permanent fix, or will the slab drop again?
It is not always a permanent fix. Foam does not break down, but if the soil under it keeps washing out or keeps shrinking and swelling, the slab can settle again. Stopping the cause matters more than the choice of material: send downspouts away from the slab, seal the joints and the crack along the house, and fix any spot where water runs under the edge.
Why is my concrete sinking, and can it be leveled?
Concrete sinks when the ground under it compresses or washes away. Around Lincoln Park homes the usual causes are loose backfill along the foundation, a downspout or leaking gutter dumping water at one spot, and old utility trenches that were never compacted. If the slab is still in one piece and rides as a unit, it can usually be lifted. If it is cracked into several pieces, replacing that part is more reliable.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking?
Spalling and flaking come from water freezing in the top layer of the concrete. Each freeze pushes a little of the surface off, and rock salt makes it worse by keeping the surface wet and adding more freeze-thaw cycles. Concrete without air entrainment, or concrete finished while water was still on the surface, flakes first. Driveway aprons near the street flake most, because plows push salty slush onto them all winter.
Can a flaking surface be repaired without replacing the slab?
Yes, if the flaking is shallow and the slab is still solid, level and not cracked through. The loose surface is ground or blasted off, and a bonded resurfacing layer goes on top. HomeGuide puts resurfacing at $3 to $7 per square foot. If the flaking goes deep or the slab is also broken or sunken, the overlay will fail, and replacement is the better buy.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced?
It can when the problem is only on the surface. Resurfacing hides worn spots, light flaking and fine cracks, and costs far less than new concrete. It does not fix a slab that rocks, has sunk or keeps cracking from movement below, because the overlay cracks right along with it. Nationally, a two-car driveway resurfacing is $1,200 to $2,900.
My old patio has cracks and flaking. Can it be resurfaced, and how long will that last?
Often yes, if the patio is still level and the cracks are tight. A good overlay on a sound slab can last many years with resealing, but it lasts only as long as the slab under it stays put. Cracks that open and close with the seasons will come back through the new surface. HomeGuide lists decorative or stamped overlays at $6 to $20 per square foot if you want a new look at the same time.
Can a wide crack be patched, or will the patch pop out of the crack?
A patch often pops out when the crack is still moving. If one side is higher than the other or the gap opens wider each winter, any rigid filler breaks loose. A wide crack that has stopped moving can be cleaned, cut back to sound concrete and filled with a flexible sealant or a repair mortar. A patch on a moving crack is only a short-term fix.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that is a trip hazard? Can a raised edge just be ground down?
Fix a trip hazard soon, before someone falls. A small lip on a panel that is otherwise sound can be ground down flat. A panel that has sunk in one piece can be lifted. A panel that is broken, badly tilted or lifted by a tree root should be cut out and replaced. Until it is fixed, mark the edge with bright paint so people see it.
Can you pour new concrete over old concrete?
A thin bonded overlay can go over old concrete, but a full new slab poured straight over an old one is usually a mistake here. The new slab copies every crack and movement of the old one, it raises the height at doors and the garage, and water gets trapped between the layers and freezes. On most Lincoln Park driveways the old slab should come out so the base can be checked and rebuilt.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
Lifting or heaving here is usually frost or roots. Water in clay under the slab freezes, expands and pushes it up. If the base drains poorly, the slab may not settle back evenly when it thaws. Street trees and large maples can also lift drives and walks from below. A drained stone base, sealed joints and roots dealt with before a new pour reduce how much a slab moves.
To get a price for your own property, book a free on-site estimate. Call (313) 889-7953, or text a photo of the concrete to that number.