Sealing a few cracks is a small job. Fixing a slab that has moved is a bigger one. In Santa Rosa most movement traces back to clay that swells in the rainy months and shrinks by September, to tree roots, or to water running under a slab edge.
The dollar ranges on this page are national figures that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Sonoma County labor rates, material prices, truck access and the soil on your lot will push a real price above or below them. Last checked October 2026.
How much does concrete repair cost?
The published concrete repair cost for a driveway is $100 to $400 to fix cracks and $600 to $3,000 for major repairs or resurfacing. By unit, patching is $3 to $8 per square foot and crack repair is $0.50 to $3 per linear foot.
| Repair type | National published cost |
|---|---|
| Crack repair | $0.50 to $3 per linear foot |
| Patching | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Mudjacking | $4 to $9 per sq ft |
| Foam lifting | $8 to $25 per sq ft |
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it have to be replaced?
It can be repaired when the crack is narrow and both sides are at the same height. Those cracks are cleaned and filled with a flexible sealant so winter rain stays out of the clay below. It should be replaced, at least in that section, when one side has lifted or dropped, when the pieces rock underfoot, or when the slab has broken into a web of small pieces.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
The most common reason here is soil movement. Clay on the Santa Rosa Plain swells with winter rain and pulls back in the dry season, and a driveway rides up and down on it every year. Joints placed too far apart, a thin slab, tree roots, a heavy truck on a slab built for cars and old earthquake movement are the other usual causes. Hairline cracks from normal shrinkage appear in almost all concrete and are not a defect.
Why is my concrete sinking and can it be leveled?
Concrete sinks when the soil below it shrinks, washes out or was never compacted. Around here the usual suspects are a downspout or sprinkler soaking one corner, a backfilled utility trench, and clay drying out near a large tree. A slab that is still in one sound piece can often be leveled by pumping material underneath. A slab that has cracked into pieces cannot be lifted evenly and is replaced.
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Concrete leveling cost is published at $3 to $12 per square foot, with a typical job running $700 to $5,000 and a minimum charge of $300 to $700. Mudjacking is $4 to $9 per square foot and foam lifting is $8 to $25.
Mudjacking or foam: which is better?
Neither wins every time. Mudjacking pumps a sand and cement slurry through larger holes. It costs less and adds weight to the soil. Polyurethane foam goes in through small holes, weighs very little, sets in minutes and resists water. On soft or wet clay, foam's low weight is an advantage. For a big void under a thick slab, slurry can be the sensible choice. Ask the lifting company why it prefers one method for your slab.
Is foam lifting a permanent fix, or will the slab drop again?
Foam is long lasting, but it is not a permanent fix unless the cause of the sinking is also dealt with. The foam itself does not rot or wash away. The soil under it can still shrink, and a leaking drain line can still carry soil off. Redirect the downspout, repair the leak or adjust the watering first. Then a lift has a good chance of holding for many years.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced?
Yes, concrete can be resurfaced instead of replaced when the slab is sound and only the top looks bad. A bonded overlay covers stains, light scaling and small pits. The published price is $3 to $7 per square foot, or $6 to $20 for a decorative or stamped overlay, and $1,200 to $2,900 for a two-car driveway. An overlay does nothing for a slab that is moving, because every crack below will come through it.
My old patio has cracks and flaking. Can it be resurfaced, and how long will that last?
It can be resurfaced if the cracks are tight and the flaking is shallow. How long the new surface will last depends on preparation and on what the cracks are doing. On a stable slab with the weak top ground away, a quality overlay can give many years of service. If the cracks open and close with the seasons, as they often do on clay, expect them to show again within a year or two. We check for movement before recommending an overlay.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking, and can it be fixed without replacing the slab?
Spalling or flaking happens when the top layer is weaker than the concrete under it. Santa Rosa gets little hard frost, so the cause is seldom ice. More often water was added to the surface during finishing, the slab was troweled while bleed water was still on it, or it dried too fast on a hot, windy day. Rusting steel too close to the surface also pops off chips. Slabs that went through a house fire can flake badly, because intense heat damages the surface.
Yes, a flaking surface can be repaired if the damage is only in the top fraction of an inch. The loose layer is ground or blasted off down to hard concrete, and a bonded repair mortar or overlay is applied. If the flaking keeps going deeper as it is ground, the concrete itself is weak and replacement is the better use of money.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
A driveway that is lifting or heaving in this area is being pushed by tree roots or by swelling clay. Frost heave, the usual cause in cold states, is not a factor here. Root lift shows as a hump near a tree, often along a joint. Clay heave is broader and tends to be worst at the end of a wet winter. The fix differs, so the cause has to be identified first.
Can you pour new concrete over old concrete?
It is possible to pour over old concrete, but it rarely gives a good result outdoors. The new layer takes on every crack and joint of the slab below. It also raises the surface, which causes trouble at garage doors, steps and the weep line at the bottom of stucco walls. A thin topping without proper bonding will peel. Removing the old slab and fixing the base costs more and lasts far longer.
Can I patch a wide crack, or will the patch pop out?
A rigid patch in a wide crack that still moves will pop out, usually within a season or two. If the crack is wide but stable, it is cut clean, filled with backer rod and sealed with a flexible joint sealant that can stretch. If it is wide and one side is higher, patching hides nothing and the section should be replaced.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that has become a trip hazard? Can the raised edge be ground down?
There are three ways to deal with a trip hazard: lift the low panel, grind the high edge, or replace the panel. Lifting works when the panel is whole. Replacement is the answer when roots are involved or the panel is broken. Rohnert Park and Cotati both treat a height difference of half an inch or more as a hazard, which is a useful yardstick anywhere.
Yes, a raised edge of up to an inch or so can be ground down to a smooth slope. It is quick and it removes the lip. It also thins the slab at that edge and leaves a different texture, and it does nothing about whatever raised the panel. If a root is still growing underneath, plan to grind again or replace the panel later.
The real number for your property comes from a free on-site estimate with measurements and a written quote. Call (707) 385-5837, or text a photo of the area.