On national figures, fixing cracks costs $100 to $400 and major repairs or resurfacing $600 to $3,000. The right repair depends on the cause. Around San Bernardino the causes we look for first are loose or washed-out sandy soil under an edge, tree roots, heat-rushed finishing on the original pour and heavy vehicles on a thin slab.
The dollar ranges here are national figures that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Inland Empire labor rates, ready-mix prices and what we find on your lot push a real price higher or lower. Last checked October 2026.
Can cracked concrete be repaired or does it have to be replaced?
It can be repaired if both sides of the crack sit at the same height and the slab feels solid. Replacement is the answer once pieces have shifted, rock underfoot or keep splitting. A flat hairline is about appearance. A step across a crack tells you the support below has changed.
Why is my concrete driveway cracking?
Usually because of what is under or on it. These are the causes we find most on local driveways.
- Sandy fill that was never moistened and compacted, so it settled.
- Irrigation, a downspout or street runoff carrying soil out from under an edge.
- Roots from a parkway or yard tree.
- Pickups, RVs and delivery trucks on a slab poured for cars.
- Joints spaced too far apart or cut too shallow.
- An original pour finished and cured badly in summer heat or Santa Ana wind.
- Ground shaking, which opens cracks that were already there.
How much does concrete repair cost?
National figures put crack repair at $100 to $400 a job or $0.50 to $3 per linear foot, driveway patching at $3 to $8 per square foot, and major repair or resurfacing at $600 to $3,000.
| Repair | National range |
|---|---|
| Crack repair | $0.50 to $3 per linear foot |
| Patching a driveway | $3 to $8 per sq ft |
| Resurfacing | $3 to $7 per sq ft |
| Stamped or decorative overlay | $6 to $20 per sq ft |
| Leveling | $3 to $12 per sq ft |
Why is my concrete sinking, and can it be leveled?
It is sinking because the ground below lost volume. Loose sand packs down, water carries fines away, or a trench under the slab settles. If the slab is still one sound piece it can usually be leveled by drilling small holes and pumping material beneath it. A slab in fragments cannot. And the lift only holds if the water that caused the void is redirected first, so check sprinklers and downspouts.
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Leveling runs $3 to $12 per square foot nationally, with a typical job at $700 to $5,000 and a minimum charge of $300 to $700. Mudjacking is $4 to $9 per square foot. Foam lifting is $8 to $25.
Mudjacking or foam: which should I pick?
It depends on the slab and the soil. Mudjacking pumps a heavy cement slurry through holes about the size of a golf ball; it is the cheaper method. Foam goes in through smaller holes, cures in minutes and weighs almost nothing, at a higher price. Where the ground is loose sand or a high water table is a worry, less added weight is an advantage. Both are done by lifting specialists. If we think lifting beats replacement for your slab, we tell you.
Is foam lifting a permanent fix or will the slab drop again?
It is a permanent fix only if the cause is fixed too. The foam itself does not rot or wash out. The soil under the foam is the same soil that settled before, and if water still runs through it, the slab can go down again. Get the lifting company's warranty in writing and read what it excludes.
Can concrete be resurfaced instead of replaced?
Yes, if the slab is structurally fine and the wear is at the top. A resurfacer is a thin bonded coat. National cost is $3 to $7 per square foot, or $1,200 to $2,900 on a 2-car driveway. Sunken panels, lifted panels and working cracks are not cured by it; they print through.
My old patio is cracked and flaking. Can it be resurfaced, and how long will that last?
Resurfacing works on an old patio when the cracks are flat and inactive and the flaking is shallow. How long it will last comes down to the slab underneath and how well the surface was prepared, so we give no number of years. Our sun is hard on any coating. On a slab that is still moving, expect the old crack lines back within a season or two.
Why is my concrete spalling or flaking?
Spalling or flaking means the top skin was weaker than the concrete beneath it. Cold regions blame frost and road salt. The San Bernardino valley seldom freezes hard, so here the usual story is the pour day: extra water troweled into the surface, finishing over bleed water, or a slab left to dry out in heat and wind without curing. Higher towns such as Yucaipa do see frost, and there freezing can add to it.
Can a flaking surface be repaired without replacing the slab?
In most cases, yes. When flaking is shallow, the weak layer is ground or shot-blasted away and a bonded topping is applied to the hard concrete below. If we keep grinding and keep finding soft material, the slab is not worth coating and should be replaced.
Why is my driveway lifting or heaving?
Here, a driveway that is lifting or heaving has almost always been pushed by a tree root. Frost heave is a cold-climate problem that the valley floor does not really have. Swelling clay is less common than in other parts of California because much of the local ground is sand and gravel, though pockets of finer soil exist. Find the nearest large tree first.
Will a patch in a wide crack hold, or pop out?
A patch stays in a wide crack only when that crack is no longer moving. Hard patch material in a live crack breaks loose. For a live crack, backer rod and a flexible sealant are the right repair: water stays out and the joint can flex. It will look like a sealed line, not like new concrete.
How do I fix a sunken walkway that has become a trip hazard?
There are three fixes for a trip hazard: raise the low panel, shave the high one, or pour a new panel. Can the raised edge simply be ground down? For a small lip, yes; grinding leaves a pale rough band and leaves the cause alone. Bigger offsets and cracked panels should be replaced. When the walk is the public sidewalk, read our permit guide before starting, because the City of San Bernardino sets the standard and issues the permit.
For a real number, have the job measured. Estimates are free, done on site, and followed by a written quote. Call (909) 306-5897 or text a photo of the area.