Concrete Repair & Replacement in Eden Prairie, MN

Concrete repair and replacement deals with what decades of Minnesota winters leave behind: cracks, dropped panels, tilted steps, flaking surfaces and crumbled edges. Eden Prairie has plenty of concrete at that point. In an American Community Survey summary on Point2Homes, 15.6% of the city's homes date from the 1970s and 33.7% from the 1980s, so roughly half, and their original drives, walks and patios are often 35 to 50 years old. Not every problem calls for a full tear-out. The right fix depends on why the concrete failed.

Reading the damage

Hairline cracks in a level slab. Usually just shrinkage or slight movement. Cleaning and sealing them keeps water from getting in and freezing.

An open crack with one side raised. The ground under one side has shifted. Lifting may bring it back; if the crack is wide or keeps growing, the section usually needs replacing.

A sunken panel. Often caused by water washing out or softening the soil underneath, from a downspout, a leak or poor drainage. A slab that is otherwise sound can usually be lifted.

Scaling and pitting. The top layer flaking off from freeze-thaw and salt. Light scaling can be sealed. Heavy scaling over a large area usually means resurfacing or replacement.

Crumbling edges and corners. Often thin edges or no base at the edge. The damaged section can be cut out and replaced.

Steps pulling away from the house. Usually settlement. Lifting can work if the steps are solid; broken or crumbling steps are better replaced.

Repair options

• Crack and joint sealing: a flexible sealant pressed into cracks and joints to keep water out.
• Mudjacking: cement grout pumped through drilled holes to float a sunken slab back up. HomeGuide's leveling guide puts it at about $4 to $9 per square foot.
• Foam lifting (polyjacking): expanding foam injected through small holes. It is lighter and sets faster; HomeGuide lists it at about $8 to $25 per square foot.
• Resurfacing: a thin overlay bonded to a slab that is solid underneath but worn on top.
• Sealing: a penetrating sealer to slow further flaking.

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When replacing is the smarter spend

HomeGuide's leveling guide names cracks over 1/4 inch wide, significant spalling and severe deterioration as signs that replacement is the better investment. It also warns that leveling will likely settle again if the water problem behind it is not fixed, and it gives professionally leveled concrete about 5 to 10 years or more, compared with decades for a new slab. When most of a driveway is cracked and sinking, patching one panel at a time can cost close to a new pour, and the patches never quite match.

Replacement does not have to mean the whole slab. We can saw out and repour the worst sections, such as the garage apron or the piece at the curb, and keep the parts that are still sound.

Fixing the cause

Most concrete that sinks or heaves here does so because of water. Before we lift or replace a slab, we look for the source: downspouts emptying beside the slab, soil sloping toward it, a gap along the garage where water runs under, or a sump discharge nearby. Fixing that is part of the quote.

Keeping repaired concrete in shape

Seal joints and cracks every few years, keep downspout extensions in place, and reseal the surface. Avoid fertilizer-based de-icers on concrete, and use any de-icer sparingly.