Concrete Repair in Calgary: What Homeowners and Businesses Need to Know

If you’re searching for concrete repair, chances are you’ve got sunken steps, a cracked driveway, or maybe an uneven garage floor that’s starting to feel like a hazard. These aren’t just cosmetic issues. Left untreated, they can create tripping hazards, water drainage problems, and lower your property’s value.

In this article, you will learn:

• What causes concrete to sink, crack, or shift
• The best repair options available in Calgary
• How to tell when it’s time to call in the pros

Let’s start with why concrete fails in the first place.

Why Concrete Fails in Calgary’s Climate

Concrete might look tough, but in Calgary’s unpredictable climate, even the strongest concrete surfaces can take a beating.

The freeze-thaw cycle is a major culprit. Water seeps into cracks or joints, freezes, and expands, which breaks apart concrete from the inside. Over time, this cycle leads to spalling, crumbling edges, and uneven slabs. Combine that with poor soil compaction or erosion under the surface, and your sidewalk, patio, or driveway could start to sink or crack. 

For a deeper understanding of the underlying problems, here’s a closer look at what causes a driveway to sink. These factors often go unnoticed until the damage becomes visually or physically significant.

For many homeowners and property managers, these issues pop up within just a few years of the original construction.

In commercial spaces, the impact is often worse. Uneven walkways or warehouse floors create safety risks and disrupt daily operations. A sunken slab near a storefront can quickly turn into a liability issue.

This kind of concrete damage doesn’t go away on its own. In fact, the longer you wait, the more it can cost to fix. Repairing concrete structures quickly preserves functionality, improves curb appeal, and protects the structural integrity of your property.

Fortunately, not every problem requires a full replacement. There are smarter, faster ways to restore concrete, and we’ll cover those next.

Concrete Repair Options: Pros and Cons

When it comes to damaged concrete, there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Your ideal solution depends on the extent of the problem and the purpose of the surface.

For small cracks or minor spalling, ready-to-use patch kits and concrete repair products like filler, adhesive, or sealant can work well. Brands like Sika offer DIY options for vertical and horizontal repairs that are paintable and designed for exterior use. They’re fine for surface-level cracks, but won’t help if the slab is sinking or unstable.

Resurfacing is another method, often used on decks, porches, and basement floors with cosmetic wear. A resurfacer creates a new top layer, which restores the look but does not fix underlying structural issues.

For more serious problems like settled slabs or uneven surfaces, people often consider mudjacking or full slab replacement. Mudjacking involves pumping a mortar-like mixture under the slab to lift it. It works, but it’s messy, heavier, and takes longer to cure.

A more modern alternative is polyurethane foam lifting. This method uses lightweight, self-levelling, high-strength foam injected under the concrete. It expands quickly, fills voids, and lifts the slab with minimal disruption. It’s cleaner, faster, and far more precise, which is ideal for both residential and commercial use.

For long-term durability and minimal downtime, polyurethane offers one of the most high-performance and cost-effective solutions available today.

How Polyurethane Concrete Lifting Works

Polyurethane lifting is a smart, mess-free way to bring sunken concrete back to level.

Here’s how it works: A trained contractor drills small holes, about the size of a coin, into the slab. Through these, a two-part polyurethane mix is injected with a special nozzle and cartridge system. Once underground, the foam expands to fill voids, stabilize weak soil, and gently lift the concrete back into place. 

To see how this process is handled from start to finish, explore the process for lifting and levelling concrete. This detailed breakdown highlights the steps professionals take to ensure accurate and lasting results.

For Calgary’s climate and soil conditions, polyurethane is ideal. It resists moisture, won’t erode over time, and provides a waterproof, stable base. Unlike some traditional building materials, it handles the freeze-thaw cycle without breaking down. It also adheres well to both concrete block and masonry surfaces, preserving the structure’s integrity.

Another major advantage? 

Speed. The foam cures in minutes, not days, so your walkway, driveway, or loading dock is ready for use the same day. No long drying times, no torn-up landscaping, and minimal disruption.

If you’re managing a tight timeline or need to keep your business running, it’s a high-performance option that checks all the boxes for durable, lasting results.

Signs You Need Concrete Repair

Not sure if it’s time to start a concrete repair project? Watch for these warning signs.

The most common clue is visible cracking, especially if the lines are widening or forming trip hazards. If sections of your driveway, patio, or walkway are starting to sink or shift, that’s another red flag. You might also notice pooling water around the edges after a rain, which can cause long-term deterioration.

For businesses, uneven floors or settling around doorways and loading areas could mean the foundation is shifting. 

These aren’t just cosmetic issues; they affect functionality and can become serious liability concerns.

If ignored, the damage often spreads. A small crack can turn into a large leak. A slightly sunken slab can pull away from the structure, damaging stucco, brick, or even anchors and bolts holding adjacent building materials in place.

That’s why it’s smart to act early. 

Whether you’re dealing with minor repairs or something more extensive, timely maintenance helps protect your investment and avoids the higher cost of full-scale restoration or renovation down the road.

Protect Your Property with the Right Concrete Repair Approach

Concrete problems don’t get better with time, they get more expensive.

As we’ve covered, Calgary’s freeze-thaw cycles and unstable soils can lead to cracking, sinking, and serious deterioration of your concrete surfaces. We explored how various repair work methods, from basic DIY concrete patches to full slab replacements, offer different pros and cons depending on the damage. And we walked through how polyurethane foam lifting provides a high-quality, fast-curing, and long-lasting solution for both homes and businesses.

In short, the sooner you act, the easier (and more affordable) your concrete repair project becomes.

If you’re noticing uneven concrete around your home, business, or commercial site, it’s time to bring in Calgary’s expert concrete repair team. At Sunny South Inc., we’ve been serving Alberta since 1979 with proven solutions like self-levelling polyurethane injection, a cleaner, more effective alternative to mudjacking or full replacement.

We proudly service Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Airdrie, Okotoks, Medicine Hat, and surrounding areas.

Contact us today for a free inspection and no-obligation quote. Let’s fix your concrete before it becomes a bigger problem.