Repair concrete when the damage is on the surface or in one spot and the ground under it is stable. Replace it when the slab is broken into many pieces, has sunk in several places or sits on soil that keeps moving. Most decisions come down to what is happening under the slab, not what the top looks like.
The prices below are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not quotes from The Lincoln Park Concrete Company.
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it need to be replaced?
It can be repaired when the crack is narrow, both sides are level and the slab does not move when you step on it. Seal it and keep water out. It needs replacing when pieces have dropped, the slab rocks, the cracks spread like a web, or the same crack keeps opening every winter. Clay that keeps swelling and shrinking under a slab is the main reason cracks keep coming back here.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace concrete?
Repair is cheaper up front, almost every time. Nationally, crack repair is $100 to $400 and leveling is $3 to $12 per square foot, while removal plus a new driveway is $9 to $23 per square foot together. But a repair that fails in two winters costs more than doing it once. If a slab has needed repairs every year or two, replacing it is usually the cheaper choice over time.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
Most Lincoln Park driveways crack because the ground under them moves. Clay swells when it is wet, shrinks when it is dry and heaves when it freezes. Old drives were often poured thin, with little or no stone base and joints too far apart, so the concrete cracked where it chose. Roots, heavy trucks and water running under the edge add to it. A few hairline cracks in a long ribbon drive are normal. Wide cracks with one side higher are not.
My 20-year-old driveway has one section sunk by the garage, and I was quoted $9,000 to replace it all. Do I need to?
Maybe not. If the rest of the drive is level and solid, you can often replace or lift only the sunken section. As an example with national figures, a 10 by 12 foot section is 120 square feet. Removing it at $3 to $8 and repouring at $6 to $15 per square foot comes to about $1,080 to $2,760. Lifting it, if it is still in one piece, at $3 to $12 per square foot comes to about $360 to $1,440. Ask the contractor who quoted $9,000 why the whole drive needs to go. There may be a good reason, such as a failed base under the whole slab, or there may not.
Should I repair for $7,000 or replace for $14,000 if I am selling in two or three years?
If you are selling soon, the $7,000 repair is often enough, as long as it leaves the concrete safe and looking cared for. Buyers and inspectors notice trip hazards, sunken slabs that send water to the house, and big cracks. They notice a repaired driveway much less. The $7,000 difference rarely comes back in the sale price. If the repair will not survive two more winters, it is $7,000 spent twice, and replacing makes more sense.
I have a few long cracks and I am selling the house. Repair, replace or leave it?
Seal the cracks and leave the rest, in most cases. Long cracks that are tight and level are mostly cosmetic, and sealing them costs little and shows care. Fix anything a home inspector will call a hazard: lifted edges on walks, sunken slabs that tilt toward the foundation, or broken steps. Replacing a whole driveway right before a sale is rarely worth it unless it is falling apart.
One contractor says tear it out. Another says pour a new layer over it. Who is right?
The one who looked under the problem is probably right. A thin bonded overlay can work on a slab that is level, solid and only worn on top. A new layer over a slab that is cracked through, sunken or heaving will crack the same way within a few winters. It also raises the height at the garage and the doors. Ask each contractor why the slab failed. If neither can explain that, get a third opinion.
My 30-year-old driveway has root cracks and I am on a tight budget. Can I grind and patch?
Yes, as a stopgap on a tight budget. Grind down the raised edges so nobody trips, seal the cracks to keep water out, and replace only the worst panel if needed. The root will keep pushing, so this buys time rather than a cure. When you can replace the drive, the root has to be dealt with first, ideally with advice from an arborist so the tree survives. Text us photos and we will tell you which parts are worth fixing.
I have lots of small cracks but no sinking. Is sealing or resurfacing enough?
Often, yes. Many fine cracks with no sinking and no rocking usually mean shrinkage or surface wear, not a failing base. Clean and seal the cracks, then seal the whole slab. If the surface also looks rough or flaky, a resurfacing layer at $3 to $7 per square foot nationally can renew it. Watch it for a winter. If the cracks widen or one side lifts, the problem is below, and sealing or resurfacing will not hold.
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.