6 Signs Your Concrete Needs Repair Before It Gets Worse

Concrete is tough, but it’s not invincible. Atlanta’s clay soil, heavy rainfall, and temperature swings take a toll on driveways, sidewalks, patios, and steps. The good news is that concrete gives clear warning signs before small problems become expensive ones. Here are six signs every Metro Atlanta homeowner should watch for.

1. Uneven or Sunken Slabs

The most obvious sign of a concrete problem is a slab that’s no longer level. Maybe one section of your driveway sits lower than the next, or your patio has developed a noticeable slope. Uneven concrete is caused by soil washing out or compressing beneath the slab—and in Metro Atlanta, our clay soil makes this especially common. When clay dries out during summer, it shrinks and creates voids. When it rains, water rushes into those voids and washes out more soil. The result is concrete that slowly sinks, tilts, or develops lips between sections.

Uneven concrete isn’t just ugly—it’s a trip hazard and a liability. Even a half-inch lip between sidewalk sections can catch someone’s foot. And if sunken concrete near your home is directing water toward your foundation instead of away from it, you’re looking at potential foundation damage that costs far more to fix.

2. Cracks That Are Growing

Small hairline cracks in concrete are normal—they happen as concrete cures and are generally cosmetic. But cracks that are widening, lengthening, or multiplying tell a different story. Growing cracks indicate ongoing soil movement, settlement, or water intrusion beneath the slab. In Atlanta, the expansion and contraction of clay soil puts constant pressure on concrete, and cracks are how that stress shows up on the surface. If you can fit a quarter into a crack, or if cracks that were hairline a year ago are now clearly wider, the underlying problem is getting worse.

The real danger with cracks isn’t the crack itself—it’s what happens next. Water enters the crack, reaches the soil below, and accelerates erosion. This creates a feedback loop: cracks let in water, water washes out soil, the slab settles more, and new cracks form. Sealing cracks early breaks this cycle.

3. Water Pooling on or Near Concrete

Properly graded concrete should shed water—it should flow away from your home and not collect in puddles. If you notice standing water on your driveway, patio, or sidewalk after rain, the concrete has likely settled in a way that disrupts drainage. Pooling water is a problem for two reasons. First, it accelerates the deterioration of the concrete surface through repeated wet-dry cycles. Second, water sitting against or near your foundation is the primary cause of basement water problems and foundation damage.

4. Spalling, Flaking, or Crumbling Surface

Spalling is when the top layer of concrete flakes, chips, or peels away, exposing the rougher aggregate underneath. It makes your driveway or patio look aged and neglected, but more importantly, it means the concrete is losing its protective surface. Spalling is usually caused by water penetrating the surface, freezing (even during Atlanta’s occasional winter freezes), and expanding—popping off the top layer. It can also result from deicing salts, poor original mix, or inadequate curing during installation. Minor spalling can be resurfaced, but widespread spalling often means the concrete is nearing the end of its life.

5. Concrete Pulling Away from Steps, Garage, or Foundation

Gaps forming where your driveway meets the garage floor, where sidewalks meet steps, or where concrete slabs meet your foundation wall are signs of settlement. These gaps widen over time as the settling slab continues to pull away. Beyond being unsightly, these gaps are direct pathways for water to reach the soil around your foundation. A gap between your garage apron and garage floor, for example, funnels every rainstorm straight under your garage slab and toward your foundation. Addressing settlement and sealing these gaps prevents water damage to your home’s structure.

6. Tree Root Damage

Atlanta is a city of trees, and those trees have extensive root systems. Roots growing under concrete slabs can lift, crack, and displace sections. You’ll notice humps or raised sections of sidewalk, cracks radiating from where a root crosses beneath the slab, or one side of a walkway pushed higher than the other. Root damage complicates repairs because the root will continue growing. In some cases, the root must be addressed (carefully, to avoid killing the tree) before leveling or replacement. An experienced contractor can evaluate whether root barriers, root pruning, or slab rerouting makes sense for your situation.

Why Waiting Costs More

Every concrete problem on this list gets worse with time—and more expensive. A slab that could be leveled for $1,500 today might crack into pieces that require $6,000 replacement next year. Cracks that could be sealed for $200 become entry points for water that washes out soil, causes more settling, and eventually threatens your foundation. The math is clear: early repair is dramatically cheaper than delayed replacement. If the concrete near your home is directing water toward your foundation, the cost of inaction extends well beyond the concrete itself.

Get a Free Concrete Inspection

At Reliable Solutions Atlanta, we inspect your concrete, identify what’s causing the damage, and recommend the most cost-effective repair. Whether it’s leveling, crack repair, masonry work, or full replacement, we’ll give you an honest assessment and a written estimate. We also offer financing through GreenSky® to make repairs more manageable. Don’t wait for small problems to become big ones—call 770-895-2039 to schedule your free inspection.