Most damaged concrete in Vacaville traces back to the ground under it. The valley clay swells in a wet winter and shrinks through a long dry summer, and a slab on a thin base moves with it. Knowing the cause tells you which repair will hold.
The dollar figures here are national ranges that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Solano County labor rates, the price of ready-mix on the day and what we find on your lot all shift the real number. Last checked October 2026.
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it need to be replaced?
It can be repaired when the pieces on both sides of the crack are still level and solid. A narrow crack is cleaned and filled with a flexible sealant so water stays out of the clay below. It needs replacing when sections have dropped, rocked or broken into many pieces, because the base has failed and a filler does nothing for that.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
The usual reasons here are soil movement, missing joints and a thin base. Clay that shrinks in August leaves gaps under the slab, and the weight of a car breaks the unsupported part. Other causes are tree roots, water from sprinklers or a downspout soaking one edge, loads heavier than the slab was built for, and concrete that dried too fast on a hot windy day when it was poured.
Why is my concrete sinking, and can it be leveled?
It sinks because the soil under it has compacted, washed out or shrunk away. Common spots are next to the garage and the house, where the ground was backfilled after the foundation went in, and beside downspouts. Yes, it can often be leveled. If the slab is in one piece, material is pumped under it through small holes to lift it back up.
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Leveling costs $3 to $12 per square foot nationally, with a typical job at $700 to $5,000 and a minimum job fee of $300 to $700. Mudjacking is $4 to $9 per square foot and foam lifting is $8 to $25 per square foot.
Mudjacking or foam: which is better?
Neither wins every time. Mudjacking pumps a sand and cement slurry. It costs less and suits large, thick slabs, but the slurry is heavy and the holes are bigger. Foam, also called polyjacking, is light, sets in minutes and uses small holes. It costs more. On soft or wet clay the lighter foam adds less load to ground that has already given way, which is a point in its favor on some Solano County lots.
Is foam lifting a permanent fix, or will the slab drop again? The foam itself does not rot or wash out. The soil is the weak point. If the reason the ground sank is still there, such as a leaking pipe, a downspout dumping at the slab edge or clay that keeps shrinking, the slab can move again. Fix the water first.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced?
Yes, when the slab is sound and only the top is worn. Resurfacing costs $3 to $7 per square foot nationally, a decorative or stamped overlay $6 to $20, and a 2-car driveway $1,200 to $2,900. An overlay follows whatever is under it, so it cannot fix sinking or wide moving cracks.
An old patio with cracks and flaking is a common case. If the cracks are hairline and the patio is flat, it can be resurfaced, and how long the new surface will last depends on the prep and the slab below. Nobody can promise a number of years. Cracks in the old slab tend to show through the overlay in time, so we tell you that before you spend the money.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking?
The surface is weak. In cold states freeze and thaw cycles and road salt are the usual cause. Vacaville rarely gets a hard freeze, so here it is more often a finishing problem: water added to the surface while troweling, finishing while bleed water was still on top, or a slab that dried in the sun and wind with no curing. The top layer ends up soft and peels.
Can a flaking surface be repaired without replacing the slab? Usually, if the damage is shallow. The loose layer is ground or blasted off to hard concrete and a bonded resurfacer is applied. If the flaking is deep or the concrete is soft all the way through, replacement is the honest answer.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
In Vacaville the two causes are tree roots and swelling clay. A root growing under a panel pushes it up at one edge. Clay that takes on water in winter can raise a whole section and then let it back down, not always to the same place. Frost heave, the cause in cold climates, is not a factor here.
Can you pour new concrete over old concrete?
You can, but it is seldom the best choice. A new layer raises the height at the garage, the door thresholds and the sidewalk, and every crack and joint in the old slab will try to come through. A bonded topping needs a clean, solid slab. A thicker unbonded slab on top needs enough height to work with. If the old slab is moving, remove it.
Can a wide crack be patched, or will the patch pop out?
A patch in a wide crack tends to pop out when the crack is still moving. Rigid patching mortar cannot stretch, and Vacaville slabs open and close with the wet and dry seasons. A flexible sealant over a foam backer rod lasts longer because it moves with the slab. If one side of the crack is higher than the other, the slab needs lifting or replacing, not filling.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that is a trip hazard?
Lift it, grind it or replace the panel. A sunken panel in one piece can be raised. Can a raised edge just be ground down? Yes, for a small lip. Grinding gives a rough sloped strip where the edge was, and it works when the difference is small. A large offset, or a panel broken by a root, should be replaced. If the walk is the public sidewalk, a city encroachment permit normally applies before work starts.
How much does concrete repair cost?
Published national figures for driveway repair are $100 to $400 to fix cracks and $600 to $3,000 for major repairs or resurfacing. Concrete driveway repair and patching runs $3 to $8 per square foot, and crack repair $0.50 to $3 per linear foot. Small repairs are often priced at a minimum charge because the crew and equipment still have to come out.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
Repair costs less today. Whether it is cheaper over ten years depends on the cause. A repair that deals with the cause is good value. A repair laid over a failed base gets paid for twice. Our repair or replace page works through real examples.
To get an actual price for your job, ask for a free on-site estimate. We measure, look at the soil and the access, and put the quote in writing. Call (707) 385-5848 or text a photo of the area.