Cracks, settling, scaling

Concrete Repair & Replacement in Manhattan, KS

We look at why your concrete failed in Manhattan, Kansas, then tell you whether to repair it or replace it.

We measure on site before naming a price, and the quote arrives in writing, line by line
Every outdoor pour: compacted crushed rock underneath, air-entrained concrete, joints laid out ahead of time
Permit and right-of-way questions checked with the city or county before a date is booked

Fix the Cause, Not Just the Crack

Concrete Repair & Replacement starts with one question: why did this slab fail? In Manhattan, KS the answer is usually water. Rain soaks the soil under a slab, clay swells and then shrinks, frost lifts the edges, salt eats at the surface, and over time the concrete cracks, sinks or flakes. A patch that ignores the cause will be back next spring.

We look at the whole picture: the slab, the drainage around it, downspouts, the age of the concrete and what is under it. Then we give you a straight answer on whether repair makes sense or whether replacement will cost less over the long run.

Problems that come up most

Settled slabs: a walk square, patio or driveway panel that has dropped, often beside the house or garage where backfill was loose.
Cracks: fine shrinkage cracks are normal; wide ones, or cracks with one side higher, point to a base problem.
Scaling: patches of surface flaking, usually from freeze-thaw and de-icing salt on concrete that lacked air entrainment or was finished too wet.
Spalling: chunks breaking away at edges and joints.
Heaving: panels pushed up by roots or frost.

Repair options

Crack filling and sealing: keeps water out of cracks that are not moving much.
Leveling: lifting a sound, settled slab by pumping a cement slurry (mudjacking) or foam (polyjacking) underneath.
Resurfacing: a thin overlay on a slab that is solid but worn on top.
Section replacement: saw-cutting out only the failed panels and pouring new ones.
Full replacement: when the slab or base has failed across the board.

Get a Free Estimate

Repair or replace?

HomeGuide's leveling guide describes leveling as a fit for slabs that are structurally sound but have sunk, and suggests replacement when cracks are wider than 1/4 inch or there is significant spalling or deterioration. It also says professionally leveled concrete lasts 5 to 10 years or more. In practice, one sunken square in an otherwise good walk is a strong leveling candidate; a driveway broken into a dozen pieces is not.

Section replacement

Often the smartest fix is in between. If two driveway panels near the garage have sunk but the rest are fine, we saw-cut along the joints, remove only those panels, rebuild the base and pour new ones doweled into the old concrete so they stay level. It costs less than a full tear-out and fixes the actual problem.

Keeping repaired concrete sound

After any repair, point downspouts away from slabs, keep joints sealed, reseal the surface every few years, and use sand instead of heavy salt on concrete in its first winters. Call (785) 509-7585 and we will come look.

Repair and Replacement Services

We pick the fix based on the cause and the condition of the slab.

Crack repair

Cleaning and filling cracks to keep water out of the base.

Slab leveling

Lifting sound, sunken slabs with slurry or foam.

Resurfacing

A new wearing surface on solid but scaled concrete.

Panel replacement

Saw-cut, remove and repour only the failed sections.

Full tear-out and replacement

When the slab and base have failed across the board.

Joint sealing

Flexible sealant in joints and along the house to keep water out.

Typical Repair and Replacement Costs

Item	Published range
Mudjacking, per sq ft	$4 to $9
Polyjacking (foam), per sq ft	$8 to $25
Sidewalk leveling, 100 sq ft (mudjacking)	$400 to $900
Steps leveling, 40 sq ft (mudjacking)	$300 to $700
Driveway leveling, 450 sq ft (mudjacking)	$1,800 to $4,100
Crack repair add-on, per crack	$250 to $800+
Concrete resurfacing, per sq ft	$3 to $7
Replacement, per sq ft	$6 to $15

National ranges from HomeGuide's concrete leveling and concrete sidewalk cost guides. Prices in Manhattan, KS can differ, and access, slope, thickness and how much old concrete comes out all change the total. Your written estimate is the price.

Our Repair Process

1. Find the cause

We look at the damage, drainage, downspouts and the base where we can.

2. Recommend a fix

Repair, level, resurface, replace sections or replace it all, with the reasons.

3. Do the work

The repair or replacement, plus any drainage changes it needs.

4. Seal and protect

Joints sealed and care steps explained so the fix lasts.

Concrete Repair & Replacement Questions

Can a cracked driveway be repaired?

Narrow cracks in a solid slab can be cleaned out and sealed. When cracks are wider than about 1/4 inch, panels have dropped or the surface is badly flaked, replacing the failed sections is usually cheaper over time.

What is the difference between mudjacking and polyjacking?

Both lift a sunken slab by filling the void under it. Mudjacking pumps a cement slurry; polyjacking injects expanding foam through smaller holes. HomeGuide lists foam at roughly twice the cost per square foot and notes it often lasts longer.

Why is my concrete flaking?

That's scaling. It usually happens when freeze-thaw and de-icing salt hit a surface that wasn't air-entrained, was finished with extra water or was never sealed. Light scaling can be resurfaced; heavy scaling usually means replacement.

Will a repair match my old concrete?

New concrete is lighter than old at first and never matches perfectly. It blends in over time. Replacing whole panels joint to joint looks cleaner than patching the middle of a slab.

Do you fix steps that are separating from the house?

Yes. If the steps are sound, leveling can work. If they are cracked through or badly tipped, we rebuild them on a compacted base.

Get a Concrete Repair & Replacement Estimate

Send photos of the damage and where it is. We will come look and tell you honestly whether to repair or replace.

Call (785) 509-7585 Free Estimate