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Raising section of sidewalk concrete

Posted on 10/25/25 at 1:22 pm
Posted by TigerKurt
Kenner, LA
Member since Apr 2005
1043 posts
Posted on 10/25/25 at 1:22 pm
Has anyone had this done? If so, a recommendation would be appreciated.
I’m in Kenner.
Thanks
Posted by Rabby
Member since Mar 2021
1532 posts
Posted on 10/26/25 at 11:43 pm to
Not sure if I understand exactly what you are asking, but if sidewalk has sunk and you hope to bring it back up to level, it can be jacked up and fill dirt scattered under it.

I had to do this several years ago. Some areas were raised by tree roots and others had sunk.

Dug under a side of each concrete panel and put a hydraulic jack under to lift it. Braced with some wood and filled the dirt to level or cut roots to relieve the high areas. It took a few tries, but it was very level by the time I finished.

Removed the bracing wood and lowered the jack. Filled in the holes which were dug for the jack.

It was a lot of work to clean up 7 panels or so, but it was worth the effort.

The things we do for family.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60649 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 1:34 pm to
I have had it done two ways. One thing you can do is just get someone to prepare the existing and pour a layer of new concrete over the existing to bring it up to the level you want.

Another way is to have someone pump expanding foam under the existing to bring up to grade.

Neither method is too expensive and both work fine.
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
23497 posts
Posted on 10/27/25 at 2:32 pm to
Just did this to 3 sections of sidewalk that were badly tilted. This is what I did after watching some YT videos. Drilled 3/8" holes in concrete sidewalk about 12 inches apart. PIcked up 2 large C-clamps from Harbor Freight and a couple of 4 x 4 posts from HD.

Laid both posts across 1 section of sidewalk. Bottle jack under low side and a cinder block on the other. Dug under sidewalk enough to get C-clamps on low side. Put C-clamps on thd concrete itself. Connected C-clamp to 4 x 4 posts with short chains.

When you jack the bottle jacks up the chain pulls the C-clamp up and the sidewalks lifts up. Very easy to do. I did both sides and alternated so they came up pretty evenly. Put a level on the sidewalk and went slightly higher than needed. I used 8 cans of expanding foam for the next part.

Use the hose nozzle on the foam and insert all the way down through the concrete. Spray the can of foam until empty then go to the next hole and repeat. Eventually I used all 8 cans and foamed under the sidewalk. In about an hour or so a lot of foam will be coming out from under the sidewalk. Leave it jacked up for 24 hours. Then you can drop the jacks, remove the C-clamps and 4 x 4s. Trim off excess foam and backfill.

It does work. Been 8 months and no issues so far.

Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
92856 posts
Posted on 10/28/25 at 9:22 am to
quote:

Just did this to 3 sections of sidewalk that were badly tilted. This is what I did after watching some YT videos. Drilled 3/8" holes in concrete sidewalk about 12 inches apart. PIcked up 2 large C-clamps from Harbor Freight and a couple of 4 x 4 posts from HD.



This is the way.
Posted by Don Quixote
Member since May 2023
4220 posts
Posted on 10/28/25 at 1:58 pm to
It likely varies by locality but be sure to check with your local govt offices first. Several years ago we had a few sunken and heaved sections of sidewalk adjacent to our house and I called the city to see where we were on the schedule to get it fixed. When they told me it was several years out I said I'd just take care of it myself - they immediately informed me that if I did that, then when they DO get around to it, they would charge me for removing the concrete I put down so they could do it again.
This post was edited on 10/28/25 at 2:00 pm
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60649 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 4:11 pm to
quote:

when they DO get around to it, they would charge me for removing the concrete I put down so they could do it again.


This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Either the city owns the sidewalk or you own the sidewalk. I would attend the next city council meeting and explain what is happening so that it is public record.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71127 posts
Posted on 10/31/25 at 8:20 pm to
quote:

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.


I work with the government for a living. That story totally tracks.
Posted by Don Quixote
Member since May 2023
4220 posts
Posted on 11/1/25 at 10:29 am to
quote:

Either the city owns the sidewalk or you own the sidewalk.


City owned

It gets better: This was in Colorado Springs and homeowners are subject to being fined for failure to clear "their" sidewalks of snow. So after the exchange I mentioned earlier I asked for a written confirmation of what they told me which they provided via email. I kept that handy in case I ever received such a fine though I never did. I know of a couple cases where the fines were levied on homeowners though.
This post was edited on 11/1/25 at 10:30 am
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