Read the damage first
| What you see | Likely cause | Usual first fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline cracks that do not widen | Normal shrinkage | Clean, fill and seal |
| Cracks wider at one end, edges offset | Settling or soil movement | Level, or replace the panel |
| Flaking, pitted top layer | Freeze-thaw, weak finishing, de-icers | Resurface if the slab is sound |
| Broken corners and edges | Wheels, thin edges, no support | Patch, or cut and re-pour the section |
| Many pieces, heaving | Failed base, water, clay | Replacement |
Why concrete cracks around Lubbock
All concrete shrinks as it cures, which is why joints are cut in the first place. Beyond that, local conditions add stress. Clay-rich soils near playas and draws swell and shrink with moisture. Caliche below many lots can keep water near the surface along a slab edge. Winter lows average 27.2°F with freezes into April, so water in cracks freezes and widens them. And hot, windy pour days can leave a weak top layer if curing was skipped.
Repair methods
- Crack routing and sealing. The crack is widened slightly, cleaned and filled with a flexible sealant so water stays out.
- Patching. Polymer-modified repair mortar rebuilds chipped edges and small spalls.
- Partial replacement. A broken panel is saw-cut at joints, removed and re-poured, doweled to its neighbors.
- Resurfacing. A thin overlay over a worn but sound slab. See concrete resurfacing.
- Lifting. A sunken panel is raised by mudjacking or foam. See concrete leveling.
Store-bought crack filler is among the most-searched concrete products in Lubbock. It can help on hairline cracks, but it does not fix a slab that is still moving.
Garage aprons and curbs
The strip where the driveway meets the garage floor takes every tire, and repairs there are common. So are broken curbs and approach edges at the street. Remember that curb and approach work in the public right-of-way needs a City of Lubbock construction permit.
Cost
We did not find a reliable national figure for crack repair, because jobs vary from a tube of sealant to cutting out panels. National guides put resurfacing at about $3 to $9 per square foot, leveling at about $3 to $8, and removal at about $2 to $6 before any new pour. Ask contractors to price repair and replacement side by side.
Back to the main guide: concrete contractors in Lubbock, TX.