Sidewalk Repair: 6 Signs It’s Time to Call a Professional Paving Service
Concrete sidewalk lifting and cracking due to tree roots from a large tree.
Sidewalks of all types sometimes need a bit of TLC. But whether you have mild or really serious sidewalk damage, you probably need a concrete repair company’s help.
In this post, we’ll talk about six of the most common sidewalk repair problems clients face.
Looking for sidewalk repair near you in the Columbia, SC area?
If you need help repairing your sidewalk, we are here for you. We handle every kind of paving installation and repair service for commercial and residential clients.
Asphalt repair and installation
Concrete repair, installation, staining, and stamping
Paver repair and installation
And if you have tree root issues, we also do tree services and landscaping so we can help with any issue in your yard. Whether it’s big or small — we do it all!
Contact us today for a FREE estimate.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
Next-day and same-week services are available.
The corner of a concrete sidewalk has cracked beside an asphalt driveway and the grass.
1. Cracked sidewalks
Small cracks may not be a huge concern. After all, eventually, poured concrete tends to crack at least a bit. If there are just some hairline surface cracks here and there on your sidewalk, it’s likely not an urgent situation, unless you just want to have better aesthetics.
But if you are seeing significant cracks, it’s a good idea to look into sidewalk repairs ASAP. If you don’t address the bigger cracks when they start, they tend to spread and cause more and more damage. It’s also important to have your paving contractor examine your sidewalk to make sure there is no structural damage below the pavement.
For example, it’s likely that the concrete slab above didn’t have enough soil beneath to support the load. So a concrete contractor would want to address that, as well, in addition to fixing the crack.
Sidewalk crack repair is the most common repair needed for concrete and asphalt sidewalks. Paver sidewalks don’t tend to crack as easily. For paver sidewalks, patios, and driveways, if you do develop a crack, you can often just replace the affected stones or blocks.
A cracked and crumbling concrete slab on a sidewalk.
2. Crumbling concrete
Sidewalk concrete repair is definitely needed when you start to see a significant portion of a concrete slab crack and crumble.
The pavement above started with some cracks that just kept growing until the surface of the concrete layer began to deteriorate. If the area is confined and limited, a patch may be an option.
It’s also likely that the pavement contractor will want to look at the drainage needs of this area to see if water pooling in a low spot may be contributing to the damage.
Of course, if there is crumbling all over your concrete sidewalk, then it may be past the point of being able to repair it and it may need replacing.
A deep depression or pothole in a concrete sidewalk.
3. A depression or hole in the sidewalk
If you see a hazardous hole like this on your sidewalk or driveway, it’s a good idea to get it corrected right away to prevent people from tripping and to keep wheelchairs, bikes, and strollers from tipping over.
It’s also worth asking the paving company to look into the drainage situation in an area like this to see if better drainage needs to be added when they come to repair the sidewalk.
Sidewalk with a frost heave crack in a residential neighborhood near some large drainage rock.
4. Sidewalk heaving or buckling
Heaving, like above, can be created during times of frost and freezing weather. Buckling tends to happen when concrete gets too hot and expands too much and then two slabs pop up against each other at the joint like a tent.
Both heaving and buckling can be issues here in South Carolina. We don’t get a lot of cold weather, but we get enough freezing temps to create problems for concrete, at times. And we definitely get more than enough hot weather to be rough on the pavement.
Professional sidewalk leveling can often correct these issues. If they are severe enough, the section can be replaced.
An asphalt sidewalk is being lifted by large tree roots nearby.
5. Tree roots lifting the sidewalk
Tree roots are notorious for wreaking havoc with sidewalks, driveways, and roadways nearby. The roots may grow slowly, but they are powerful enough to push up pavement into an uneven, messy hill that can cause people to trip or make it difficult to navigate.
When there are tree roots that need to be dealt with, it’s important to involve a tree service company that can properly address the tree issues. That’s why we handle everything from tree services to pavement and landscaping so our clients can just call us and we can take care of any repairs that may be needed.
A partially missing concrete sidewalk curb with a bit of rebar sticking out is unsightly and unsafe.
6. Damage to the sidewalk curb
Sidewalk curbs add a nice, finished look to a sidewalk and they can also help to direct water runoff, keeping it off of the sidewalk and on the side of the street. A damaged curb can be a tripping hazard. And this one above even has a piece of metal poking out that could ruin someone’s day if they were to step on it just right or fall on it.
A paver sidewalk being destroyed by tree roots close to the growing tree trunks.
Factors in sidewalk repair cost
There are several factors in how much sidewalk repair costs to keep in mind.
How much damage there is.
How thick the sidewalk is.
Local material costs.
The type of pavement.
Any special finishes.
Whether there is any issue with the underlying foundation of the pavement.
How much material is needed.
How many hours of labor are needed.
How much heavy equipment is necessary.
Whether other repair or installation jobs are also being done at the same time.
If any debris needs to be hauled off.
How far the job site is from the service area of the pavement contractor.
How accessible the area of the sidewalk is.
What area of the country you’re in.
The time of year.
Sometimes repairing the sidewalk pavement is the most cost-effective solution. But for more extensive damage, replacing large damaged areas or replacing the entire sidewalk may be the best option.
Your sidewalk repair specialist can answer any questions and when they take a look at your sidewalk damage, they’ll be able to tell how extensive the damage is and whether repair or replacement is best in your situation.
For paver, asphalt, or concrete sidewalk repair near you in Columbia, SC, we’re ready to help.
From paving repairs to replacement or installation, we can handle any of your paving needs in the Greater Columbia, SC area.
And not only can we take care of pavement and hardscaping, we offer tree services and landscaping services, as well. Big or small, we do it all!
Contact us today for a FREE estimate.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
