Bellingham Concrete Slab Repair
Sunken driveways, cracked garage floors, and settled patios, repaired and lifted back into place.
Concrete does not fail on its own. It fails because of what is happening underneath it. When the soil beneath a slab settles, washes out, or shifts, the concrete loses its support and starts to crack, tilt, or sink. You see it as a driveway with a lip you catch your foot on, a garage floor with a crack running across it, or a patio that now slopes toward the house instead of away from it.
Foundation Restoration has been repairing concrete slabs across Bellingham and Whatcom County since 2009. We will look at the slab, figure out what is going on below it, and tell you plainly whether it needs lifting, repair, or full replacement. Some slabs need less work than people expect. That is worth knowing before you spend money on a concrete project.
No pressure. No upselling. Just honest assessments and deep foundation systems installed the right way.
Ready for a Free Quote?
Give us a call at (360) 383-7500 or fill out the form below for a free quote. Need more info? No problem! Just keep scrolling.
What Is Concrete Slab Repair?
Concrete slab repair is the work of restoring flatwork that has cracked, settled, or lost its support, without tearing it out and starting over. Flatwork means the horizontal concrete surfaces around a property: driveways, garage floors, walkways, a concrete patio, and parking areas. It is some of the most heavily used concrete work on any property, and because it sits directly on the ground, it is only ever as stable as the soil beneath it.
Most slabs in Western Washington fail for the same handful of reasons. Poorly consolidated soils compress under the weight of the slab. Water finds a path underneath and carries fine material away, leaving a void the concrete then bridges until it cannot. Drainage sends runoff toward the slab instead of away from it. Heavy loads on a slab never built to carry them, like a delivery truck on a residential driveway, speed all of it up. Freeze-thaw cycles play a part too, though a smaller one here than east of the mountains, where soil conditions and water movement do most of the damage.
Signs of a failing concrete slab:
Cracks that are widening, or where one side sits higher than the other
Garage floor sinking at a corner, along a joint, or across an expansion crack
A concrete driveway that has settled, tilted, or developed a trip lip at the seams
Water pooling on the slab or running back toward the foundation
Spalling, flaking, or exposed rebar on concrete surfaces
Steps, porches, or walkways that have pulled away from the house
Caught early, most of these are straightforward repairs. Left alone, a settled slab keeps directing water where you do not want it, and a drainage problem on the surface turns into a foundation problem below. A concrete slab service should start with the cause, not the crack.
When Concrete Slab Repair Is the Right Solution
Not every crack means a tear-out.
We look at the slab, the grade around it, and where water goes during heavy rain before recommending anything, because the right fix depends on what is actually failing. Two driveways with identical cracking can need completely different work depending on the local conditions under each one.
Concrete slab repair is commonly recommended when:
The concrete is still sound but has settled as a unit and can be lifted
Driveway sinking repair is needed at one or two panels rather than the whole slab
Garage floor cracks are letting water into a space that should stay dry
Cracked concrete repair will hold once the void underneath is filled
Porch sinking repair or a settled walkway has created a trip hazard
A home inspection has flagged sinking or cracked concrete before a sale
If lifting and sealing will do it, that is what we recommend.
If the slab is too far gone to save, we say so instead of selling you a repair that buys two years.
Moisture is usually part of the story, so where proper drainage is feeding the problem, we address that as well.
ALREADY HAVE A QUOTE FROM ANOTHER COMPANY?
We are happy to review it with you and provide a straightforward second opinion.
STRAIGHT ANSWERS.
SOLID SOLUTIONS.
No pressure. No upselling. Just steady, professional guidance and installation. If you have noticed a crack in your foundation, a sloping floor, moisture in the basement, or a musty crawlspace, it can be hard to know where to start. We help you understand what you are looking at and work with you to find a solution that fits both your goals and the home.
Every person we asked referred Foundation Restoration. The guys were thorough in their initial evaluation, respectful of our home while working, and they had great communications at every step of the process. We’d be happy to work with FR again in the future.”
- Nicole, homeowner, Bellingham
How We Repair and Lift Concrete Slabs
Every slab is different, so we match the repair to the concrete and the soil conditions underneath it. Here is a service overview of the options.
Slab Lifting and Void Filling
When a slab has settled but the concrete itself is still sound, we lift it. Injection grouting fills the void underneath and raises the slab back to a level surface.
There is no demolition and no curing time to wait out, and in most cases the surface is usable again the same day.
Structural Concrete Repair
Some slabs have lost enough material or reinforcement that filling a crack will not hold. Carbon fiber reinforcement, FRCM, and epoxy injection restore the structural integrity of concrete that is carrying real weight.
Crack Repair and Joint Sealing
Not every crack is structural. Hairline shrinkage cracks in a garage slab are normal and often need nothing more than sealing to keep water out.
Wider cracks, or cracks that keep growing, are telling you something is moving below, and we repair those rather than seal them.
Drainage Correction
Restoring the slope of a slab moves water away from the structure instead of toward it. On a lot of jobs this is the part that keeps the repair from repeating itself.
Full Replacement
When concrete has broken into multiple pieces or sits on soil that will keep moving, full replacement is the honest answer. The ground has to be dealt with first, or the new slab goes the same way as the old one.
Most of this work is done from the surface, which keeps disruption and cost well below what a tear-out would run.
Concrete problems rarely show up alone. While our crew is on site for a driveway or garage floor, they often spot settled exterior concrete or a drainage issue running toward the foundation, and we handle those repairs too, so you are not lining up a separate contractor for every piece of the same concrete project.
Residential and Commercial Concrete Slab Repair
We work with property owners across the full range of projects.
Residential
Slab repair for single-family homes and other residential properties, from a single sunken driveway panel to garage floors, walkways, a cracked concrete patio, and aprons.
Concrete on private property is generally the responsibility of the homeowner rather than the city, so a sinking driveway is yours to deal with before someone trips on it. We work around occupied homes with minimal disruption, and most of our residential projects come by referral from homeowners, inspectors, real estate professionals, and local contractors across Bellingham, Whatcom County, and nearby areas.
Commercial
Concrete repair for commercial properties, including parking lots, parking areas, floors in warehouses and industrial facilities, and loading areas carrying equipment and traffic loads residential concrete never sees.
We take commercial projects on for general contractors, manufacturers, public agencies, and property owners across the Pacific Northwest. For larger jobs, get in touch with us so we can walk you through what our complete services entail.
There are plenty of concrete contractors, and a search for the best concrete contractors in Bellingham WA will turn up a long list who can patch and pour. We’re not going to claim we’re automatically the best choice for every job. We’re a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor with years of experience on Western Washington soils specifically, and our estimators are experienced builders, not commissioned sales staff.
Clear communication and a written scope mean you know the cost and the plan before anything starts, and our crews keep a clean job site from the first day to the last. A good finished product on a slab nobody diagnosed is just a better looking version of the same problem, so if you are not sure what your concrete actually needs, contact us for a free estimate and we will give you a straight answer.
WHAT TO EXPECT
When you contact us, you’ll likely speak with Janeah or Kelsey. They’ll ask a few questions, gather basic information, and schedule a site visit. If you have a prior report or estimate, they will review it so our team arrives prepared.
During the visit, you’ll meet with Eric or David. They’re experienced builders, not commissioned sales staff. They’ll evaluate the issue and surrounding conditions and explain what they see in plain language.
Afterward, you’ll receive a written proposal with recommended solutions and costs. If there’s more than one option, we’ll walk you through it so you can decide without pressure.
We’re owner-led, and your estimator stays involved through completion so the work is carried out as discussed. Our crews keep a clean job site.
DEEP LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. PROVEN EXPERIENCE. CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY.
Behind every Foundation Restoration project is Matt Shaver, whose hands-on leadership and long commitment to quality and community help set the standard for how work gets done.
Locally owned & operated by Matt Shaver
Serving Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish counties
Licensed, bonded, and insured
Project continuity
Your estimator is the project manager from start to finish
Clear, written warranty terms
Structural Specialists
Thousands of local foundations evaluated and repaired since 2009
Extensive experience with Western Washington soil, moisture, and settlement conditions
Commercial-grade systems installed in residential homes
Involved in our communities
Supporting local organizations and community initiatives
David Burkett
Residential Estimator
& Project Manager
Kelsey Riley
Director of Admin
Eric Simonsen
Residential Estimator
& Project Manager
LOCAL EXPERIENCE YOU CAN SEE
Since 2009, we have evaluated and repaired thousands of homes throughout Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish counties. From older foundations on South Hill to hillside properties in Sudden Valley and historic homes in the Lettered Streets, we understand how Western Washington rainfall and changing soil conditions affect structures over time.
We have worked on homes built on rocky bluffs in the islands, on expansive soils in the Skagit Valley, and on mixed fill common in parts of Bellingham. Each site presents different conditions, and each requires a careful, site-specific approach.
Many of our projects are in neighborhoods you likely know. We are often referred by homeowners, real estate professionals, inspectors, and local contractors who have seen our work firsthand.
My wife and I thought they were excellent from start to finish. Knowledgeable, competent, accommodating, quick to respond, and always able to answer questions. And just genuinely nice people. Honestly, Foundation Restoration is one of the best companies I’ve worked with…highly recommend going with them.”
- Chris, homeowner, Fountain District, Bellingham
THOUSANDS OF SATISFIED CUSTOMERS
FAQs
Can a sunken concrete slab be lifted, or does it have to be replaced?
In most cases it can be lifted. If the concrete is structurally sound and has settled as a unit, injection grouting fills the void below and raises it back to level. Full replacement is the answer when the slab has broken into pieces, lost significant thickness, or sits on soil that will keep moving.
We will tell you which one you are looking at during the site visit, not after the work starts.
1
Why is my concrete driveway or garage floor sinking?
2
Almost always because of what is under it. Soil compresses, or water washes fine material out and leaves a void the slab cannot bridge. Driveways also see the heaviest loads on the property, and a delivery truck or loaded trailer will find the weak spot.
Proper drainage around the slab is usually part of the long-term fix, not an optional extra.
How much does concrete slab repair cost in Bellingham?
3
It depends on the size of the slab, what caused the failure, how accessible the area is, and whether the fix is lifting, repair, or replacement. Cost is often quoted per square foot, but that number does not tell you much until someone has looked at the conditions underneath.
Our proposals are detailed and clearly written, and we do not do high-pressure pricing or one-day-only discounts.
Do you work outside Bellingham?
4
Yes. We serve Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish counties, and we take commercial concrete work across the Pacific Northwest.
If you are not sure whether your zip code falls in our service area, call and ask. We will tell you either way.