Serving Bloomington, MN
Concrete Leveling & Raising in Bloomington
Benchmark Concrete Raising lifts sunken sidewalks, driveways, patios, and garage aprons in Bloomington using polyurethane foam — no demolition, walkable the same day. Most homeowners who call us have already been quoted for full replacement. In the majority of cases, they don't need it.
Why Concrete Sinks in Bloomington
The Soil Under Bloomington Moves. Your Concrete Follows.
A homeowner in Bloomington called last spring about a sidewalk panel near her front entry that had dropped nearly an inch over the winter. She'd already had two contractors out — both quoted replacement. Neither mentioned that the slab itself was in perfect shape and the entire problem was a void beneath it, not the concrete.
That call is not unusual. Bloomington sits on clay-heavy glacial soils that absorb moisture and swell, then dry out and shrink. Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles drive that process hard — sometimes two or three times in a single winter. Each cycle shifts the soil a little more. Water drains through cracks and carries fine particles with it. Eventually there's a gap beneath the slab, and gravity does the rest.
Polyjacking addresses the actual cause. We drill small holes through the slab, inject high-density polyurethane foam that expands to fill the void and lifts the panel back to grade, and the foam cures in about 15 minutes. The holes are patched. The surface is walkable the same day.
What We See in the Field
Numbers From Actual Jobs in the South Metro
- Roughly 70% of sunken slabs we evaluate in the south metro are good lift candidates — the concrete is intact and the problem is entirely below the surface
- Most residential jobs in Bloomington are completed in under 3 hours, including cleanup
- Polyjacking typically costs 50–70% less than tearing out and replacing the same concrete
- Polyurethane foam weighs about 2 lbs per cubic foot — versus 100+ lbs for mudjacking slurry — so it doesn't add load to already-unstable soil
- We've lifted slabs that had been sunken for 5+ years; as long as the concrete is structurally sound, age of settlement doesn't disqualify it
Before You Call Anyone
How to Evaluate Your Sunken Concrete in Bloomington
Most homeowners wait until a trip hazard is obvious. But the best time to evaluate sunken concrete is before it gets worse. Here's what to look for before you get a quote from anyone.
A panel that's settled 1–2 inches but is otherwise intact is usually a good lift candidate. Deep spalling, widespread cracking across the face, or crumbling edges are signs the concrete itself may need replacement — and we'll tell you that honestly during an estimate, even if it means losing the job.
If water pools near a settled panel or drains toward your foundation, that's an urgency signal. In Bloomington's clay soils, water sitting against a foundation accelerates soil movement beneath adjacent slabs. A lifted and leveled panel re-establishes proper drainage slope.
The most significant settlement in Minnesota typically happens during spring thaw. Getting an assessment in fall gives you options. Waiting until spring means reacting to a drop that's already happened. We've lost jobs by being too honest about timing — but homeowners who plan ahead spend less.
Common Questions
Concrete Leveling in Bloomington — FAQ
How much does concrete leveling cost in Bloomington, MN?
Most jobs run significantly less than full replacement — often 50 to 70 percent less. Cost depends on how many slabs need lifting, severity of the drop, and site access. We provide free on-site estimates. Call 952-295-0500 or request a quote online.
Why does concrete sink in Bloomington?
Bloomington sits on clay-heavy glacial soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry. Minnesota's freeze-thaw cycles push this process hard — slabs level in October can drop half an inch by spring. Voids form beneath panels as soil shifts or washes away, and the concrete follows. Polyjacking fills those voids and lifts the slab back to grade.
How long does polyurethane concrete lifting last in Minnesota?
Polyurethane foam is waterproof and doesn't degrade — it won't wash away the way traditional mudjacking material can. Properly lifted slabs routinely hold for 10 to 15 years or more. The key is whether the underlying cause of settlement has stabilized. We're upfront about that during the estimate — if we think a slab is likely to re-settle quickly, we'll say so.
Can you lift concrete near my foundation in Bloomington?
Yes — and it's one of the most common jobs we do. Settled concrete near a foundation directs water toward the house and creates trip hazards at entry points. Polyurethane foam is injected in small, controlled amounts and expands precisely, making it well-suited for foundation-adjacent work.
Is it too late to fix concrete that's been sunken for years?
Usually not. As long as the slab is structurally intact — no major cracking, spalling, or crumbling — it's a candidate for lifting regardless of how long it's been settled. We've lifted Bloomington slabs sunken for five or more years. The main question is whether the void beneath is stable — that's what we assess during the free estimate.
The Bottom Line
Sunken Concrete in Bloomington Doesn't Have to Mean Replacement
A settled sidewalk panel is a liability. In Minnesota, property owners are responsible for maintaining walkways — and a trip hazard that's been visible for a season is harder to defend. The longer a void goes unaddressed, the more surrounding soil destabilizes, and the more panels get pulled into the same settlement pattern.
Benchmark Concrete Raising has lifted and leveled concrete across Bloomington and the south metro. We'll tell you whether your slabs are good lift candidates — and if they're not, we'll say that clearly rather than take the job. Call 952-295-0500 or request a free estimate online.