Types of Defects in Sidewalks

Narrow Walks

• Narrow walks are typically less than 5 feet in width. A narrow walk doesn't provide sufficient space for two persons to comfortably pass each other when walking.

Missing Curb or Walk

• Sidewalks missing curbs are considered defective. The curb is the finished edge slightly raised to separate roadway from walkway and is necessary to provide safe areas for pedestrians to travel. Missing walks are sidewalks that end abruptly, with no connection to another sidewalk.

Vertical Joint Displacement

• Significant lips, or raised joints, in the sidewalk are called vertical joint displacement. Lifted sections of sidewalk that occur at the joints can be hazardous to persons in wheelchairs or on bicycles.

Horizontal Joint Displacement

• Sidewalks that run in two directions and intersect perpendicularly will meet at a joint. When this joint separates, leaving a gap, it is called horizontal displacement. Often municipalities will correct this issue by filling in the gap with crack filler or a patch if the separation isn't too large.

Wedges/Patches

• Wedges or patches are areas of sidewalks that have been filled with tar or another form of concrete patch such as crack filler to temporarily solve another defect. Typically wedges are not permanent solutions to a cracked or broken sidewalk.

Longitudinal Cracks

• Cracks down the center of the sidewalk which run in the direction of the walking path are called longitudinal cracks. These may be less than 1 foot in length or run for several panels of sidewalk.

Vegetation

• Vegetation such as grass or weeds that grow between joints or in cracks is considered a defect because the vegetation can push up between the spaces and widen the cracks it grows in.

Transverse Cracks

• Transverse cracks occur when the sidewalk surface has several cracks running in more than one direction. Transverse cracks will often lead to popouts or sections of missing pieces.

Spalling or Popouts

• Spallings or popouts are irregularities in the surface of the sidewalk, meaning there are areas that are raised or depressed more than 3 inches within 10-foot length of sidewalk or pieces missing from the sidewalk.

Cross Slopes and Grade Changes

• Cross slopes are often caused by joint separations due to the roots of a tree pushing up beneath the sidewalk. As a result the sidewalk slants, or slopes in one direction or another. When the sidewalk does not follow the street grade, and it sinks or raises more than 2 inches in an 8- to 10-foot length of sidewalk, this is considered defective. A sunken sidewalk is typically caused by drainage problems and can lead to cracking or joint displacement.