Guide
Signs your concrete has settled
Settlement usually develops gradually. These signs suggest a slab may have lost support.
Common signs
- Trip edges between slabs
- Water pooling on the slab or flowing toward the house
- Gaps between a slab and the foundation, steps or garage door
- Hollow sounds when a slab is tapped
- Slabs that rock under load
- Sealant pulling out of joints
Signs that suggest something else
- Slabs pushed upward — often roots or frost heave
- Surface flaking or crumbling — deterioration, not settlement
- Cracked foundation walls or sticking doors — get a structural opinion
Next step: an assessment
Photos help, but the only reliable way to decide whether a slab can be lifted is an on-site look at the concrete, the drainage and the likely cause of settlement. Submit a request and the HAUSE intake team will review it and confirm whether a suitable contractor is available in your area.
Conceptual illustration
Concrete photo field guide
Four shots that tell the story of a settled slab, taken from safe ground.
Whole area
Step back so the slab and surroundings are in frame.
Worst joint
Close-up of the trip edge or largest drop.
Water source
Downspouts, grading, stains or pooling marks.
Scale
A tape measure beside the drop.
Text version
- Whole area: Step back so the slab and surroundings are in frame.
- Worst joint: Close-up of the trip edge or largest drop.
- Water source: Downspouts, grading, stains or pooling marks.
- Scale: A tape measure beside the drop.
- Take photos from stable, dry ground.
More in the visual guides · try the slab self-check.
Have a settled slab?
Describe it, add photos if you have them, and the HAUSE intake team will review your request and confirm whether a suitable contractor is available near you.
Request an assessment