Concrete leveling for Bismarck and Mandan homes
Sidewalk heaved into a trip hazard, garage apron dropped an inch, or a stoop tipping toward the house? One call connects you with a concrete contractor that works in your area.
What does your concrete need?
- Concrete leveling (mudjacking and foam)Raise sunken sidewalks, driveways, garage aprons and patios back to level without replacing them.
- Sidewalk repair and city noticesFix trip hazards and public sidewalks the City of Bismarck has flagged, by lifting or replacing panels.
- Driveway and garage apron repairLevel sunken driveway slabs and garage aprons, and fix the step-down at the garage door.
- Steps, stoops and patiosLevel tilted front steps and stoops, and patios that slope toward the house.
- Joint sealing and crack repairSeal joints and cracks so water can't get under the slab and start the cycle again.
How it works
Call or send a request
Tell us your town and what the slab is doing.
We connect you
Your call goes to an independent concrete leveling or repair contractor that serves Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln.
They call you back
They look at the concrete and quote the repair directly.
Who is this for?
Homeowners in Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln and nearby towns with concrete that has sunk, tilted, heaved or cracked: front walks, public sidewalks, driveways, garage aprons, stoops, steps and patios. It's also for anyone who has received a notice from the City of Bismarck saying a sidewalk in front of their property needs repair.
Can a sunken slab be lifted instead of torn out?
Often it can. If the concrete is still in one or two solid pieces, a leveling contractor can drill small holes, pump material into the empty space underneath, and raise the slab back into place. The job usually takes hours rather than days, there's no new concrete to cure, and the cost is typically well below tear-out and replacement. Replacement is the better answer when the slab is shattered, the surface is crumbling, or it's sinking because of a problem that lifting won't solve.
Mudjacking or foam: which one?
- Mudjacking (slabjacking). A cement-based slurry pumped through holes about an inch and a half across. It's the long-standing method and usually the lower-cost option.
- Polyurethane foam lifting. A two-part foam injected through holes roughly the size of a dime or nickel. It weighs much less, sets within minutes, and doesn't soak up water, but usually costs more per job.
Some contractors offer both; others specialize. Ask which they'd use on your slab and why. More on concrete leveling.
Why does concrete move so much in Bismarck?
- Long, cold winters. Bismarck averages about 50 inches of snow a year, and January's average temperature is around 13°F. Water under and around slabs freezes, expands and lifts them, then leaves gaps behind as it thaws.
- Fill that keeps settling. Soil backfilled around foundations, utility trenches and new streets can keep compacting for years. The North Dakota Geological Survey notes that fill thickness around Bismarck varies widely and that settling has occurred in filled excavations.
- Runoff washing out the base. Downspouts and sump lines that empty onto or beside concrete carry soil out from underneath it.
- River-bottom and hillside ground. South Bismarck sits on Missouri River floodplain silt, sand and clay, while uphill neighborhoods sit on glacial deposits and clay-rich bedrock. Concrete on very different ground ages differently.
Which problems shouldn't wait?
- A raised sidewalk edge someone could trip on
- A stoop, walk or patio draining water toward your foundation
- A widening gap between a slab and the house
- A garage apron that has dropped below the garage floor
- Steps that rock, tilt or have pulled away from the door
- A repair notice from the city for the public sidewalk
When is the best time to fix concrete in Bismarck?
Most leveling and replacement happens between spring thaw and the first hard freeze, when the ground isn't frozen and concrete and sealants can cure properly. Spring is a good time to look for new problems, because that's when frost heave and washouts from snowmelt show up. If you've received a sidewalk notice late in the season, ask the city about moving your deadline to the next construction season, and get on a contractor's schedule early.
What should I fix along with the slab?
Lifting a slab treats the symptom. To keep it from sinking again, deal with the water that caused it:
- Extend downspouts so they empty well away from walks, stoops and the foundation
- Route sump pump discharge away from concrete
- Seal the joint between the slab and the house, and any open control joints
- Regrade soil that slopes toward the house
Are you a concrete company?
No. Bismarck Concrete Leveling is a referral service. We connect you with an independent contractor that serves your address, and that contractor quotes, performs and stands behind the work. Before you hire anyone, read our tips for choosing a concrete contractor and the Bismarck concrete repair guide.
Areas we cover
Planning ahead? Read our Bismarck concrete repair guide.
Common questions
Who will do the work?
An independent concrete leveling or concrete repair contractor that serves your area. We connect you with them. We don't do concrete work ourselves.
Does it cost anything to use this site?
No. Calling or sending a request is free. The contractor quotes and bills the work directly.
What areas do you cover?
Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln, Wilton, Sterling, McKenzie, Menoken and the rest of Burleigh and Morton counties.
Does a contractor need a license in North Dakota?
Yes, for jobs over $4,000. You can check a contractor's license on the North Dakota Secretary of State's FirstStop site. Work on sidewalks and driveway aprons in Bismarck's right-of-way also requires a city permit and a city-approved licensed and bonded contractor.
Got a slab that's sinking or a sidewalk notice from the city?
Call now and a local concrete contractor will look at it and quote the repair.