Why is my Driveway Sinking?

If your concrete driveway is sinking there could be a number of potential causes. The most likely, however, are an issue in the soil underneath it or an excess of weight being placed onto it (or a mix of both). 

Soil Issues 

The soil underneath your driveway is important to its health. After all, your driveway relies on it for support. If the soil is loose and weak, it can shift and wear away during storms. This will lead to voids opening up under the surface and cause craters and areas of sunken concrete to appear in your driveway. 

If the soil is expansive and reactive, however, it may swell and cause your driveway to heave upward during rainy seasons. Of course, it could also become marshy and cause your driveway to sink as a result of the weight being placed on it. Finally, the expansive soil could shrink and crack during dry spells and leave voids for your driveway to sink into. 

Weight Problems 

Like a property’s foundation, your driveway was designed with a certain weight threshold in mind. If you frequently exceed the weight that it was calculated to deal with you run the risk of causing it to crack and sink. This is common around the holidays when there are more cars visiting the average property, but it can happen at other times too. 

Alternatively, driveways can start to sink or become damaged if there is a consistent weight being placed on them in a single spot. So, for example, if you buy a truck to restore and it sits in one spot for months on end, or you hire a skip and it sits in the same area for a long time, this can cause a section of your driveway to sink. Finally, there is always the possibility that the concrete itself is flawed, faulty, or was poorly laid. Either way, concrete lifting and repair are the most viable solutions for a sunken or damaged driveway on your property.