What goes wrong with driveway aprons?
The apron is the slab right in front of the garage door. It sits on soil that builders pushed in around the house foundation. That soil is often loose. Over a few years it packs down, and the apron drops.
- A lip forms at the garage door, often 1 to 3 inches.
- Rain and wash water run back toward the garage.
- The apron cracks where it bends over the low spot.
- Low cars scrape, and the garage door seal no longer meets the slab.
How does foam lifting fix a driveway?
The crew drills small 5/8-inch holes through the low slab. They inject expanding polyurethane foam underneath. The foam fills the empty space and pushes the slab up a little at a time, while the crew checks it against the garage floor. Then they patch the holes.
The foam is light, about 2 to 4 pounds per cubic foot, so it adds very little load to the soil that already settled. Read polyjacking vs mudjacking to see why that matters.
How do I get ready, and how soon can I drive on it?
- Move cars out of the garage and off the driveway before the crew arrives.
- Clear bikes, bins and pots from the slab.
- Tell the crew where sprinkler lines run along the driveway.
Most aprons take about 2 hours on site. The foam cures in about 15 minutes, and then you can drive on it. A new poured driveway, by contrast, usually needs about a week before you park on it.
How much does driveway leveling cost?
A 2-car or 3-car apron of 120 to 240 square feet usually costs $950 to $1,850. That is inside the standard rate of $6 to $12 per square foot, with a $650 minimum. A bigger drop or more washed-out soil moves the price toward the top of the range. See the cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you lift a driveway that has cracks?
Usually, yes. Foam can lift a cracked driveway slab as long as the pieces are large and solid. The crew lifts each piece so the crack closes up and the surface lines up again. A slab broken into many small pieces is a better fit for replacement.
Will the lifted apron line up with the garage floor?
The goal is to bring the apron back up close to the garage floor so the lip goes away. The crew lifts in small steps and checks as they go. How close it gets depends on the slab. Ask the contractor what result to expect for yours.
Why did my driveway sink if my house is fine?
Your house sits on a post-tension foundation built on packed soil. The driveway apron sits on looser backfill next to it. When that backfill settles, the apron drops while the house stays put. That is why the lip shows up right at the garage door.