Serving Novato, CA and surrounding areas. (628) 348-0057
A sunken driveway, uneven patio, or tripping hazard on your walkway does not have to mean a full replacement. We raise settled concrete slabs in Novato using mudjacking and foam injection - most residential jobs are done the same day, with city permits handled when required.
Foundation raising in Novato lifts a sunken concrete slab back to its original level by pumping material underneath it - most residential jobs finish in a few hours, and you can use the surface again the same day.
If your driveway has developed a low spot, your patio slopes toward the house, or a section of your walkway has dropped enough to catch your foot, foundation raising is usually the fastest and most cost-effective fix. In Novato, clay-heavy soils that swell and shrink with the wet-dry seasonal cycle are the most common reason slabs settle. Two main methods are used: mudjacking, which pumps a cement-soil mixture under the slab, and polyurethane foam injection, which uses a lightweight expanding foam. Both lift the slab from below without tearing it out. If the concrete itself is cracked through or broken up, a full replacement through our slab foundation building service may be the better path.
The International Concrete Repair Institute sets the professional standards that guide how concrete repair work should be assessed and performed. A reputable Novato contractor will tell you honestly if your slab is a good candidate for raising - and if it is not, that is a sign you can trust them.
When a slab shifts, door frames and window frames shift with it. If a door that once swung freely now drags on the floor, or a window that used to open easily now takes real effort, the slab beneath that part of your home may have dropped. This is one of the earliest and most reliable signs that something has moved underground.
Walk the perimeter of your home and look where concrete meets the house, porch steps, or garage wall. A gap that was not there before - even a small one - means the slab has moved. In Novato, these gaps often open up after a wet winter, when clay soils swell and then dry out, pulling the ground away from the slab.
Step slowly across your concrete surfaces and notice whether any section tips or feels uneven. A slab that rocks when you step on it has lost support underneath. This usually means the void is growing, and the longer you wait, the more material will be needed to fix it.
If water collects against your house or garage after a storm instead of draining away, the surrounding slab may have tilted inward. This is both a symptom of slab movement and a cause of further damage - water sitting against a foundation erodes soil and can work its way inside. If you see this pattern every winter, have a contractor assess whether the slab needs raising.
We offer both mudjacking and polyurethane foam injection for residential foundation raising throughout Novato. Mudjacking pumps a cement-soil mixture through small drilled holes to fill the void and push the slab up. It has a long track record and is typically the lower-cost option. Foam injection uses an expanding polyurethane foam that is lighter, cures faster, and leaves smaller holes - a better fit when the soil underneath is soft or when you need the surface back in use the same day. For most sunken driveways, patio slabs, and garage aprons in Novato, either method produces a solid result. We also handle driveways and flatwork alongside our concrete cutting service when removing damaged sections first is the right approach.
Every foundation raising job starts with a free on-site assessment. We walk the slab, check for cracks, measure the drop, and look at drainage patterns before recommending a method. If the project requires a City of Novato permit - which applies to structural work on a foundation - we handle the application and coordinate the inspection. For homeowners dealing with a slab that is too damaged to raise, we can transition the project into a full slab foundation building replacement rather than handing you off to another contractor.
Best for larger areas, driveways, and sidewalks where cost is the primary concern and same-day access is not required.
Best for smaller jobs, soft soil areas, or projects where you need the surface back in use quickly - foam cures within an hour.
Best when you are not sure whether raising is the right fix - we assess the slab condition and drainage before recommending any approach.
Much of Novato sits on clay-heavy soils that swell when they absorb rain and shrink when they dry out. Novato's Mediterranean climate - wet winters from roughly November through March, followed by a long dry summer - puts that cycle through its full range every year. Slabs poured over this soil are under constant pressure from below. A contractor who lifts the slab without identifying the underlying cause will likely be back the following winter. Addressing drainage issues, such as a sprinkler head aimed at the slab or a downspout that empties too close to the foundation, is often as important as the lifting itself. Homeowners in Novato and surrounding areas consistently see this pattern on older slabs that were poured in the 1950s through 1970s over soil that was not as carefully prepared as today's standards require.
The Rodgers Creek Fault runs through Marin County, and the gradual movement of fault-adjacent soils can accelerate slab settlement over time. This does not mean foundation raising will not work - it often does - but it does mean a contractor should assess whether any movement is ongoing before recommending a fix. The City of Novato also requires permits for structural foundation work, and failing to pull one can create problems when you sell your home or file an insurance claim. Homeowners in San Rafael and the rest of the Marin County service area face the same soil and seismic conditions. For an overview of permit requirements, the City of Novato Building Division is the right starting point.
We reply within one business day. Tell us where the problem is and roughly how large the area is - we will schedule a free on-site visit. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to book.
We walk the slab, check for cracks and drainage patterns, and measure the drop. You get a clear recommendation on whether raising is the right fix, which method we suggest, and a written estimate before any work begins.
We confirm whether the City of Novato requires a permit for your project and handle the application if needed - typically adding one to two weeks before work can start. Once permits are cleared, we schedule your work date.
The crew drills small holes, pumps material until the slab is level, then patches the holes. Most jobs finish in a few hours. We walk the site with you before leaving and tell you when it is safe to drive on.
Free on-site visit, written estimate before any work begins. Most Novato jobs finish in a single day.
(628) 348-0057We have raised slabs throughout Novato, San Rafael, and the surrounding area - all on the same clay-heavy soils that cause seasonal settling. That local experience means we spot drainage issues that will cause a raised slab to settle again, and we tell you about them before walking off the job.
The City of Novato requires permits for structural foundation work, and unpermitted repairs can surface as a problem when you sell your home. We confirm permit requirements before scheduling your job, pull the permit when needed, and coordinate the city inspection - so the paperwork is done right the first time.
A standard residential foundation raising job in Novato takes two to four hours of active work. Foam injection surfaces are walkable within an hour. We work around your schedule, give you a realistic completion time when we book, and stick to it.
A slab that settles twice has a drainage problem, not just a soil problem. We assess the drainage patterns around your slab during the estimate visit and give you plain-language recommendations on what to change - whether that is a sprinkler adjustment or a downspout extension - so your repair lasts.
Foundation raising done right in Novato is not just about lifting the concrete - it is about understanding why it dropped in the first place. When those two things happen together, a raised slab stays level through years of wet winters and dry summers.
When a damaged slab section needs to be removed cleanly before repairs or replacement, concrete cutting creates the straight, controlled edge that lifting alone cannot provide.
Learn moreIf the concrete is too far gone to raise, a new slab foundation replaces it from the ground up - properly graded, reinforced, and permitted for Novato's soil and seismic conditions.
Learn moreCall (628) 348-0057 or submit the contact form now. We serve Novato and all of Marin County, and most foundation raising jobs are complete in a single day.
