Most concrete in New Orleans fails from below. The soil sinks, a void opens, and a slab that was poured well breaks over the gap. So the first step in any repair is finding out what the ground did.
The dollar figures on this page are national ranges that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from New Orleans Concrete Solutions. What you pay in New Orleans depends on local labor and material prices, how a truck reaches the pour, and what the soil under the slab needs. Last checked October 2026.
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it have to be replaced?
It can be repaired when the pieces are still flat, level with each other and solid underfoot. It has to be replaced when the slab is broken into many pieces, rocks when you step on it, or has dropped so far that water now runs the wrong way. A narrow crack in a steady slab is filled and sealed. A crack with one side higher than the other means the ground moved, and filling it changes nothing.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
In New Orleans the usual answer is that the soil under it has settled unevenly. Concrete is strong when squeezed and weak when bent, so a slab that loses support along one edge snaps. Other common causes here are live oak roots, a base that was never compacted, a slab too thin for the trucks that use it, joints spaced too far apart, and water washing soil out from under the edge.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
Repair is cheaper today. Whether it is cheaper to repair over ten years depends on the cause. Nationally, crack repair on a driveway is $100 to $400 and major repair or resurfacing is $600 to $3,000, while a new two-car driveway is $2,400 to $8,600 before removal. If the base is failing, repairs repeat, and their total can pass the price of doing it once.
Why is my concrete sinking, and can it be leveled?
Your concrete is sinking because the ground below it is compressing, drying out or washing away, and all three happen in this city. Much of New Orleans stands on old marsh soil that keeps shrinking. A leaking drain line or a downspout at the slab edge speeds it up. A sunken slab can be leveled if it is in one or two sound pieces. Material is pumped through small holes to fill the void and raise it.
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Concrete leveling cost nationally is $3 to $12 per square foot, with a typical job at $700 to $5,000 and a minimum charge of $300 to $700. Mudjacking is $4 to $9 per square foot and foam is $8 to $25. The size of the void matters more than the size of the slab, and a void cannot be measured until the holes are drilled.
Mudjacking or polyurethane foam: which is better?
For most slabs on New Orleans soil, foam has the edge, because it weighs very little. Mudjacking pumps a heavy cement and soil slurry under the slab, and that weight sits on ground that is already giving way. Foam uses smaller holes and sets within minutes. Mudjacking costs less and still makes sense for small lifts on firmer spots. Neither one repairs a slab that is broken up.
Is foam lifting a permanent fix or will the slab drop again?
Foam lifting is not a permanent fix in this city, and anyone who promises that is overselling. The foam itself does not rot or wash out. But it rests on the same soil, and that soil keeps going down. A lifted slab commonly stays put for years. It lasts longest when the cause is dealt with too: a leaking pipe repaired, downspouts piped away, gaps at the edge sealed.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced? My old patio has cracks and flaking. If I resurface it, how long will it last?
Yes, concrete can be resurfaced instead of replaced when the slab is solid and only the top is worn, stained or lightly pitted. A thin bonded overlay goes on after the surface is ground or blasted clean. Resurfacing costs $3 to $7 per square foot nationally, $6 to $20 for a decorative overlay, and $1,200 to $2,900 for a two-car driveway. Every crack that moves will come back through the new layer.
A resurfacing job on a steady patio can last many years, but we cannot give a fixed number, because the life depends on the slab below and on moisture. In New Orleans the ground is damp nearly all year. Vapor coming up through an old patio is the main reason overlays let go. We test for moisture and for hollow spots first. If the cracks are still opening, an overlay is the wrong fix.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking? Can a flaking surface be repaired without replacing the slab?
In the north, spalling or flaking comes from freeze and thaw with road salt. That is rare here. In New Orleans the usual causes are a surface that was finished with too much water, rain that hit the slab while it was fresh, concrete that dried too fast in summer heat, or rusting steel too close to the top. Rust takes up more room than steel and pushes the concrete off above it.
Yes, when the flaking is shallow and the slab is sound, the surface can be repaired without replacing the slab. The loose layer is ground off down to hard concrete and a bonded overlay goes on. If the damage follows rusting bars, or you can chip deeper than about half an inch across a wide area, the trouble is not only on the surface and replacement is the better spend.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
A driveway lifting or heaving in New Orleans is nearly always tree roots. Frost heave does not happen here. Live oaks, water oaks and crape myrtles all send roots under paving, and the roots thicken each year. Sometimes what looks like lifting is really the panel next to it sinking. A level across the joint tells you which one moved.
Can you pour new concrete over old concrete?
You can pour new concrete over old concrete only when the old slab is stable, drains well and has room above it. The new layer copies every crack below it within a season or two. It also adds weight to ground that is already settling and raises the surface at doors, steps and the street. On most New Orleans driveways, removal is the better choice.
Can I patch a wide crack, or will the patch pop out?
You can patch a wide crack and expect it to hold only if both sides have stopped moving. Rigid patch material in a crack that still opens and closes will break loose, usually within a year. A flexible sealant over a foam backer rod is better for a working crack. It keeps water and weeds out, which protects the soil below, but it does not make the crack disappear.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that has become a trip hazard? Can a raised edge just be ground down?
There are three ways to fix a trip hazard, and the right one depends on the cause. Lift the low panel if it sank and is whole. Grind the high edge if the difference is small. Replace the panel if it is broken or if a root pushed it up. On the public sidewalk in New Orleans the work needs a sidewalk repair permit from the Department of Public Works.
Yes, a raised edge of up to about an inch can be ground down to a gentle bevel. It is fast and costs little. Grinding leaves a rougher, lighter patch and thins the panel at that edge. If a root or settlement is still at work, the lip will be back, so count grinding as a few years of safety, not a cure.
How much does concrete repair cost?
Concrete repair cost by the national figures: crack filling at $0.50 to $3 per linear foot, patching at $3 to $8 per square foot, $100 to $400 for a typical crack job and $600 to $3,000 for major repairs or resurfacing. Cleaning and sealing is $1 to $3 per square foot. A small job often lands on the contractor's minimum charge.
| Repair | National range |
|---|---|
| Crack filling | $0.50 to $3 per linear foot |
| Patching | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
| Leveling | $3 to $12 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Cleaning and sealing | $1 to $3 per sq ft |
The real number for your address comes from a free visit and a written quote. Call (504) 732-1542, or text a photo of the area and we will tell you what we see.