How to Raise a Driveway

Concrete and asphalt driveways are built to endure frequent use by heavy vehicles. Well-built driveways require almost no maintenance and they can last for decades. When a section of a driveway sinks into the ground, it's often because the soil underneath was not stable enough and the gravel foundation is worn away. Raising a sunken concrete or asphalt driveway is a process known as slabjacking. It involves replacing the unstable foundation with concrete without removing the surface.

Chalk
Core drill
Masonry bit
2-inch hose
Mudjacking pump
Clamp
Concrete filler mix
Wheelbarrow
Shovel
Mortar mix
Putty knife

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the sunken area of the driveway. Use chalk to mark three drill holes in a triangle in the center of the driveway. The three holes should be 3 to 8 feet apart, extending from the highest spot of the sunken area to the lowest, and not be closer than 1 foot from the edge of the area.
- 2
  Use a core drill with a masonry bit to drill the holes through the driveway. They must be deep enough to go through the driveway slab to the soil beneath.
- 3
  Insert a 2-inch hose through the lowest hole until you feel resistance. Do not try to push the hose any deeper or it could get clogged with soil or gravel. Attach the other side of the hose to a mudjacking pump. Clamp the end to secure it so it won't pop off.
- 4
  Dump concrete filler mix in a wheelbarrow and add the suggested amount of water. Stir the mix with a hoe until it is thick like peanut butter. Scoop the mix into the mudjacking pump with a shovel.
- 5
  Turn the mudjacking pump to 10 PSI and switch it on. Observe as the area surrounding the first hole rises to its original level. Turn the pump off and move the hose to the next hole.
- 6
  Turn the pump back on and pump filler until the sunken area around the second hole is level with the area around the first.
- 7
  Continue to fill each hole with filler before moving on to the next hole. Note that the lowest holes will require the most fill and therefore take the longest to rise.
- 8
  Patch the drill holes with stiff mortar mix using a putty knife, and smooth the top with a trowel so the patch is less noticeable.

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