Have you noticed a growing gap between your garage floor and the concrete driveway? Or what about that “lip” on your sidewalk that always catches the shovel when you’re trying to get rid of snow in the winter?
If you’re living in Holland, Michigan, then you’re not the only one with these problems. In places like Ottawa County, sinking driveway repair is one of the most searched-for home maintenance issues.
Before you call for a quote to replace the entire concrete slab, read this short article! It’ll show you why repairing your sinking driveway is a better (and cheaper) use of your money.
Why Is Your Concrete Driveway Sinking?
The culprits are sandy soil and Holland’s “lake effect” climate.
Most of our driveways sit on sandy, porous soil. While sand is great for drainage, it is incredibly vulnerable to erosion and compaction.
In West Michigan, we deal with two primary geographical challenges:
- Heavy spring rains and melting snow add moisture to our soil. As the water seeps underground into the earth, it weakens the layer supporting the concrete slab.
- Winters bring freeze-thaw cycles. When moisture trapped under your slab freezes, it expands, pushing the concrete up. Once it thaws, the concrete drops back down into those hollow openings created by erosion.
Over time, these factors wash away the support keeping your concrete driveway in place. As a result, slabs sink, crack, or tilt.
Why Replacement (Often) Isn’t The Answer
If your slab is sunken, you may worry that it’s time for a total replacement. However, for a typical Holland homeowner, this is often overkill.
Replacing a driveway involves jackhammering the old concrete, hauling it away, and pouring new material. As you can imagine, this is expensive. But more than that, it doesn’t address the real problem: the soil.
If you pour heavy new concrete on top of the same unstable sandy soil, your new driveway will likely start sinking again within a few years.
How To Repair Sinking Concrete Driveways In Holland, MI?
Ask a trusted local concrete contractor like JDE Concrete, and they’ll tell you: the most effective way to fix a sunken driveway in 2026, in West Michigan, is Polyjacking (or polyurethane foam injection).
How Does Polyjacking Work?
- Instead of a massive construction crew, a technician drills a few penny-sized holes into the sunken slab.
- A high-density, structural foam is injected into the void.
- The foam expands with incredible force, filling every nook and cranny of the eroded soil and lifting the concrete back to its original height.
Why Holland Homeowners are Choosing Polyjacking
- Immediate Use: Unlike new concrete, which takes days to cure, you can drive your car over a polyjacked driveway just 15 to 30 minutes after the repair is finished.
- Soil Stabilization: The foam doesn’t just lift the slab, but also compacts the surrounding sandy soil and becomes waterproof. This prevents future erosion from heavy rains and Lake Michigan’s moisture.
- Cost-Effective: Generally, polyjacking costs about 50% less than a full concrete replacement.
Protect Your Property, And Its Value
A sunken driveway is more than just an eyesore.
Trip hazards on your property can lead to insurance headaches, and pooling water near your foundation can cause basement leaks.
If you’ve noticed your concrete starting to settle, don’t wait for it to crack into pieces. It might not be salvageable. By addressing the issues under your slab now, you can save thousands of dollars and keep your property looking its best.
Get A Free Consultation From JDE
Ready to save money and repair your concrete driveway?
JDE Concrete Contractors have nearly three decades of experience building strong, winter-ready projects in Holland, Grand Rapids and greater West Michigan.
Click here to get a free estimate today!
Or Call now – (616) 551-2126.