Will Concrete Driveway Slabs Break if They Are Uneven?

Just how much damage can settling do? As it turns out, it can do a lot. The biggest incentive toward fixing uneven concrete as soon as you notice early problem signs is the preservation of your concrete slabs. The longer you wait to lift your driveway’s slabs, the more likely it is that you’ll have to replace them. 

• Settling and Breakage 

Uneven concrete slabs will break over time. The way they break depends on the size of the slab, where the soil shrinkage occurs, and how much weight the settled concrete has to withstand. Settling is most likely to happen at the edges of the concrete slab. This is because most driveways end where the front yard begins and most front yards have plenty of grass and soil. The front yard absorbs a lot of water, which spreads to the soil under the driveway. 

Because the edges are the weakest part of the slab, they are more likely to break off, especially if the slab is very large. Driveway slabs are especially at risk of breaking because of heavy cars. Most cars weigh about 4,000 pounds, which is a lot of weight to put on a slab with poor support. 

• Preventing Breakage  

There are a few things that can be done to prevent your driveway’s concrete from breaking. You’ll want to try prevention methods because broken concrete can be very difficult to repair, especially if it’s a piece off the edge. Cracks and breakage in the middle of the concrete can be patched up, but the cracks still allow water to seep through. 

If you’re able to, avoid driving on the sunken slab or try to drive in such a way that only a small part is driven on. If you’re unable to cover the entire driveway, try to cover the slab that settled, at least until it’s time to lift it. Limiting the amount of moisture the slab is exposed to will prevent further settling and breaking.