Sinking corner, cracked tile or a door that will not shut? Get a free slab inspection and a written price from a local crew, usually with a call back the same day.
✓The soil swells and shrinksCommon soils around Lubbock have clay in the subsoil, according to USDA soil surveys. Wet clay swells and pushes up. Dry clay shrinks and lets the slab drop. Most slabs here rest on that layer.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
✓The edges dry firstIn a long dry spell, soil at the outside edge of a slab dries out faster than soil under the middle. The edges drop while the center stays up. After heavy rain, the opposite can happen. Lubbock gets most of its roughly 18.6 inches of yearly rain in bursts from late spring through September, according to the National Weather Service, so this swing repeats year after year.weather.gov
✓Water from belowPlumbing runs through and under the slab. A Texas plumbing firm notes that homes built before 1980 often have cast iron drains under the slab, which can corrode. A slow leak keeps one spot wet, which can make clay swell or soften.chamblissplumbing.com
✓Playas and fillSoil on the floor of Lubbock's playa lakes is 50 to 60 percent clay, according to USDA, and it cracks deep when it dries. Slabs built near playas or on filled ground often move more.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
What it costs
Typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Every job starts with a free inspection and a written price, so you see the number before any work begins.
A slab is a thick layer of concrete poured right on the ground. The house sits on top of it. There is no crawl space underneath. The edges are thicker, like a beam around the outside. Most newer homes in Lubbock are built this way. In south Lubbock neighborhoods like Kelsey Park, many homes were built in just the last ten years or so.
A slab is strong, but it can only be as steady as the soil under it. When that soil moves, the slab moves with it.
Does this sound like your house?
These are the slab problems Lubbock homeowners describe most:
One corner of the house sank. You may see a crack in the brick near that corner.
Doors stick or swing open by themselves in one part of the house.
Floor tile cracks in a straight line across a room.
A crack runs across the garage floor, and one side is higher than the other.
The floor feels high in the middle of the house and low at the edges.
Gaps open under baseboards or between the wall and the ceiling.
Cracks show up in the slab edge you can see outside along the bottom of the wall.
The water bill jumped and you see new cracks at the same time.
How a local crew fixes a slab
Outside piers
Most slab repairs start with piers along the outside edge where the house sank. The crew digs a small hole next to the beam, pushes pressed concrete piers or steel piers down to firm ground, and lifts the slab. Then they set shims and fill the hole back in.
Inside piers
If the middle of the house dropped, piers may go inside. The crew either cuts a small square in the floor or tunnels under the slab from outside. Tunneling costs more but leaves the floors alone. Ask which way your crew plans to go.
Plumbing check
Lifting a slab can stress pipes underneath. Many crews suggest a plumbing pressure test. A plumber seals the drain lines, fills them with water, and watches for a drop. One published guide puts this test at about $250 to $500.
Fixing the water source
If a gutter, sprinkler or low spot in the yard is feeding water to one side of the slab, that needs fixing too, or the problem can return. See drainage correction.
Heaved slabs
A slab that rose because the soil swelled is a different problem. Sometimes the right answer is to get the moisture even again, not to lift. A good inspection tells the difference.
About these prices
These are typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes.
Inside piers cost more than outside piers. The total depends most on how many piers your house needs. Your written estimate lists each one. See the cost guide for more.
What to ask for in your estimate
A floor level map of the whole house
The number of piers, the type, and a drawing of where they go
Whether any piers go inside, and how the crew will reach them
Whether a plumbing test is included or recommended
What the warranty covers and if it transfers when you sell
Who pulls the city permit
Frequently asked questions
Can a cracked slab be fixed without tearing it out?
Yes. Almost all slab problems are fixed by placing piers under the part that sank and lifting it back up. Tearing out and pouring a new slab is rare.
Is a crack in my garage floor a foundation problem?
Thin cracks in a garage floor are common as concrete cures and are usually cosmetic. Cracks wider than about a quarter inch, cracks where one side sits higher than the other, or cracks that keep growing are worth a look.
Can a plumbing leak under the slab cause foundation problems?
Yes. A leak keeps the soil under one part of the house wet, and clay soil swells or washes out. Many crews suggest a plumbing pressure test before or after lifting a slab.
My slab went up, not down. Is that possible?
Yes. Clay soil swells when it gets wet, so a slab can heave up in the middle or on one side. The fix is different from a sinking slab, so the inspection matters.
Will lifting the slab break my pipes?
Lifting puts stress on the plumbing under the slab. A good crew talks about this up front, and many suggest a plumbing test after the lift to make sure nothing leaks.
Does insurance pay for slab repair?
Most policies do not pay for normal settling. Some Texas policies have covered foundation damage caused by a sudden plumbing leak. Read your policy and ask your agent before you file.
How long until I can use my house normally?
Most slab pier jobs take one to three days. Outside piers barely touch daily life. Inside piers mean some noise and dust for a few days, and the crew should explain the plan first.
Get your slab checked for free
A slab that is still moving gets more expensive to fix. Call (806) 855-8140 or send the short form. A local crew will call you back, usually the same day, measure your floors, and give you a written price before any work starts.