Why Driveway Maintenance Matters – Five signs that your concrete driveway needs repair

Your driveway does more than just connect your garage to the street, it handles the daily wear of cars, Texas heat, and torrential rain. Over time, the concrete can start to shift, crack, or sink, creating hazards and hurting curb appeal. The earlier you catch these signs, the cheaper and faster repairs will be.

Beware of the five most common warning signs that your concrete driveway needs repair and immediate attention and what you can do to fix each one.

1. Visible Cracks or Fractures
Cracks are the first and most obvious sign of driveway distress. While hairline cracks are common, widening fractures signal deeper issues. These cracks can be caused by several issues, but most commonly:
➔ Thermal Expansion: Houston’s temperature swings cause concrete to expand and contract, eventually forming splits.
➔ Subgrade Movement: Clay soil beneath the driveway expands when wet and shrinks when dry, pulling the slab apart.
➔ Water Intrusion: Once a crack opens, rainwater seeps in, washing out support below and making things worse.

Repair Tip: PolyTex Concrete can inject polyurethane foam beneath cracked sections, sealing gaps and stabilizing the soil. For surface-only issues, cracks can be sealed to prevent further erosion and breakdown.

2. Uneven or Sunken Slabs
If one side of a slab sits lower than another, it’s a telltale sign the soil underneath has settled or eroded, leaving an empty void. This often happens near garage entrances, walkways, and street edges where water runoff collects and pools. Beyond being an eyesore, uneven slabs pose trip hazards and can channel water toward your foundation, a major red flag for homeowners in flood-prone areas like Conroe or The Woodlands.

Repair Tip: Concrete leveling with polyurethane foam lifts the slab back into place without demolition. The foam expands beneath the concrete, filling every void and restoring a level surface in hours, not days. This is especially important when the uneven surface creates a trip hazard on walkways and customer-facing areas on commercial properties.

3. Pooling or Standing Water
If puddles form every time it rains, your concrete is likely uneven. Standing water not only damages the slab but also penetrates through joints and expansion cracks, softening the subgrade soil.
Over time, that moisture leads to more settling, more cracks, and sometimes even foundation problems.

Repair Tip: Leveling the driveway restores proper slope and drainage, redirecting water away from your home. PolyTex’s foam injection method is waterproof, so future rainfall won’t compromise the repair.

4. Crumbling Edges or Surface Breakdown
Driveway edges take a beating from tires, water runoff, and lawn equipment. When those edges start crumbling or breaking apart, it’s a sign of aggregate exposure and weakening concrete.
This problem worsens quickly: small chips turn into chunks, which then let water underneath the slab. Once the edges erode, replacement costs skyrocket.

Repair Tip: Early stabilization is key. Foam injection can lift and support the outer edges, while sealing prevents more damage. If you wait until pieces are missing, replacement might be your only option.

5. Gaps Between Driveway and Garage Floor
Notice a gap forming where your driveway meets your garage slab? That’s a clear indicator that the driveway is settling away from the structure. These separations let water flow under the foundation and invite pest entry.
This is especially common in neighborhoods built on expansive clay or areas with poor drainage, both typical of Montgomery County.

Repair Tip: Foam lifting fills the void and gently pushes the slab back to its original elevation, closing the gap and restoring a smooth transition between the garage and the driveway apron.

What Happens If You Ignore These Signs

Concrete never fixes itself. Left untreated, these symptoms lead to larger issues such as:
➔ Deep cracks that require full slab replacement
➔ Water damage and foundation movement
➔ Safety hazards for vehicles and pedestrians
➔ Decreased property value and curb appeal

The longer you wait, the higher the cost of repair becomes. After years of helping Texas customers, we can assure you that quick action today can save thousands compared to full replacement measures in the future.

Why Foam Injection Beats Traditional Methods

Traditional mudjacking adds a heavy cement mixture under the slab, but that same weight can cause future sinking. Polyurethane foam, used by PolyTex Concrete, is lightweight, durable, and water-resistant.

Advantages of polyurethane foam include:
● Small, clean injection holes (about the size of a penny)
● Immediate curing allowing you to drive on it the same day
● Precision control for perfect leveling
● Environmentally safe and non-toxic

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a foam injection repair take? Most driveways can be completed in a few hours and you can park on the surface later that same day.

Will the repair match my existing concrete? Yes. The process lifts from beneath, there’s no patchwork or color mismatch on the surface.

Is the foam safe for the environment? The polyurethane used is inert once cured, non-toxic, and doesn’t leach into soil or water,
making it a perfect solution for residential properties, lakeside properties, bulkhead repair, and around plants and vegetation.

The PolyTex Difference

PolyTex Concrete serves businesses and homeowners throughout Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, and the surrounding areas. Their locally trained team understands the soil movement unique to this region and uses only high-grade materials engineered for Gulf Coast conditions.

Every project includes:
➔ Free on-site evaluation and quote
➔ Transparent pricing with no surprises
➔ Fast turnaround and minimal disruption
➔ Expert installation by our respectful and highly-trained team

Take Action Before It Gets Worse

If you’re noticing any of the five signs that your concrete driveway needs repair, don’t wait until the slab cracks beyond repair. Leveling now can extend your concrete’s life for decades.

Contact PolyTex Concrete Leveling today for a free inspection and same-day quote.
281-969-3005