Nationally, crack repairs on a driveway cost $100 to $400 and bigger repairs cost $600 to $3,000. In Concord the cause is usually clay soil moving under the slab, so a repair only lasts if it deals with the soil and the water as well as the concrete.
The dollar figures on this page are national ranges that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. What you pay in Concord depends on local labor and material prices, access to the site and the clay under the slab. Last checked October 2026.
How much does concrete repair cost?
By national figures: $100 to $400 to fix driveway cracks, $600 to $3,000 for major repairs or resurfacing, $3 to $8 per square foot for patching and $0.50 to $3 per linear foot for crack filling.
| Type of repair | National range |
|---|---|
| Crack filling | $0.50 to $3 per linear foot |
| Patching | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Leveling | $3 to $12 per sq ft |
| Mudjacking | $4 to $9 per sq ft |
| Foam lifting | $8 to $25 per sq ft |
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it need to be replaced?
It can be repaired when the crack is narrow and the slab is flat across it. Those cracks are cleaned and filled with a flexible sealant so rain stays out of the clay below. Replace the section when one edge stands higher than the other, the slab moves under a car, or it has broken into small pieces. At that point the ground has let go and filler will not hold.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
In Concord the most common reason is expansive clay. It swells in the rainy months and shrinks in the dry ones, and the slab bends each time until it breaks. Thin concrete without steel, joints spaced too far apart, tree roots, a leaking sprinkler line and heavy vehicles on a light slab all add to it.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
A repair is cheaper on the day. Whether it is cheaper over ten years depends on the slab. Filling cracks, lifting one panel or grinding one edge costs a fraction of new concrete and makes sense on a sound slab. Spending repair money several times on a slab that keeps moving costs more than replacing it once.
Why is my concrete sinking, and can it be leveled? How much does leveling cost?
Concrete sinks when the soil under it shrinks, washes away or was never compacted. Around here the usual causes are clay drying out along the edge, a downspout emptying beside the slab, or loose fill next to the foundation. A slab that is still in one piece can be leveled by pumping material under it. The national leveling cost is $3 to $12 per square foot, or $700 to $5,000 for a typical job, and companies set a minimum fee of $300 to $700.
Mudjacking or foam: which is better, and is foam lifting a permanent fix?
Each has its place. Mudjacking pumps a cement and soil slurry through larger holes and costs $4 to $9 per square foot nationally. Foam uses smaller holes, weighs very little and costs $8 to $25 per square foot. Foam's low weight is useful on weak ground. Neither is a permanent fix unless the cause is dealt with. If the clay keeps drying and wetting, or the downspout still dumps there, the slab can drop again. Fix the water first, then lift.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced? How long will resurfacing last on an old patio with cracks and flaking?
Yes, if the slab is solid and the damage is only in the top layer. Resurfacing is $3 to $7 per square foot nationally, $6 to $20 for a decorative or stamped overlay and $1,200 to $2,900 for a two-car driveway. On an old patio with level cracks and light flaking, a bonded overlay can last for years, but we do not put a number on it. Its life depends on the slab under it. An overlay on concrete that still moves will crack along the old lines.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking, and can a flaking surface be repaired without replacing the slab?
Spalling or flaking means the top skin of the concrete was weak. Common reasons in our area are finishing while water was still on the surface, adding water to the mix, or letting a slab dry too fast on a hot, windy day. Freeze and thaw damage is rare here. A flaking surface can be repaired by grinding to hard concrete and applying a bonded resurfacer, provided the weak layer is shallow. If you can dig deep into it with a screwdriver, replacement is the better answer.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
In Concord a driveway lifts for two main reasons: roots and wet clay. A root grows under a panel and raises one edge. Clay that takes on water, from winter rain or a broken pipe, swells and pushes the slab up, often in the middle or along a lawn. Finding which one you have decides the fix.
Can you pour new concrete over old concrete?
It is possible, but it is seldom the best choice outdoors. The new layer needs to be thick enough to stand alone, which raises the surface at the garage, gates and doors. Cracks and joints in the old slab come up through the new one. Pouring over old concrete only makes sense when the old slab is stable and the added height causes no problem.
Can a wide crack be patched, or will the patch pop out?
You can patch a wide crack, and a rigid patch will often pop out within a season or two because the slab keeps moving with the soil. A flexible sealant over backer rod moves with the crack and lasts longer. If the crack keeps getting wider, cut that section out and repour it.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that is a trip hazard? Can a raised edge just be ground down?
A sunken panel that is otherwise whole can be lifted back level. A lip of an inch or so can be ground down to a smooth ramp, and that is a quick, low-cost fix for a trip hazard. Grinding thins the slab and leaves a rougher, lighter patch, so it suits small offsets. A broken or badly tilted panel should be replaced. On the public sidewalk, any of this work needs a City of Concord encroachment permit.
The real number for your job comes from a free visit, where we measure and look at the ground. Call (925) 690-1468 or text a photo of the area.