A cracked driveway that heaves every February, a garage floor pitted by road salt, a patio that has settled toward the house. In Des Moines, flatwork takes a beating from freeze and thaw, heavy clay, and long winters. We help you reach a local concrete flatwork contractor who can look at the slab in person, explain what caused the damage, and tell you plainly what repair or replacement involves.
Central Iowa weather works on concrete from both directions. Water gets into the soil and into small cracks, winter freezes it, and the slab lifts. Spring thaw drops it again, rarely in exactly the same place. Add clay soil that holds moisture, road salt tracked in on tires, and summer heat, and even a well poured slab has a hard life here.
Des Moines winters swing above and below freezing for months. Each cycle lets meltwater into joints and cracks, freezes it, and widens the opening a little more. That is why a driveway that looked fine in October can show new heaving, scaling, and separated joints by March.
Much of the metro sits on clay rich soil that expands when wet and shrinks in a dry August. Slabs poured on soil that was not compacted evenly settle unevenly, so one corner drops, water pools instead of draining, and cracks run from the low point.
Deicing salt and the brine that comes in on vehicle tires attack the surface of garage floors and driveway aprons. The result is pitting, flaking, and a rough surface called scaling. Sealing, drainage, and the right finish matter as much as thickness in this climate.
A single hairline crack is common in concrete and often means little. Patterns, movement, and water are what matter. If several of these show up together, have the slab evaluated.
| What you see | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| One slab section higher than the next at a joint | Frost heave or settlement has moved sections at different rates, and the lip is also a trip hazard. |
| Cracks that widen, lengthen, or run across the full width | The base or soil below is still moving, not just surface shrinkage from curing. |
| Water pooling on a driveway, patio, or walk | The slab has settled out of its original slope, and standing water will speed up freeze damage. |
| Flaking, pitting, or crumbling on a garage floor | Salt, moisture, and freeze cycles are breaking down the surface layer. |
| A patio or walk pulling away from the house | Soil along the foundation has settled or washed out, leaving the slab unsupported at the edge. |
| Sidewalk panels lifted by tree roots | Roots from maples and other street trees common in older Des Moines blocks lift panels from below. |
Replacement and repair of cracked, heaved, and settled residential driveways, including aprons at the street. More on driveways
Garage slabs with salt damage, settling, and drainage problems, plus floors for new garage builds. More on garage floors
Patios, porches, and outdoor living slabs built with slope and joints planned for Iowa weather. More on patios
Front walks, side paths, and steps, including panels lifted by roots or dropped by settlement. More on sidewalks
From older walks in Beaverdale and Sherman Hill to newer driveways in Waukee, Ankeny, and Grimes, the referral area covers the full metro, including West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Altoona, and Clive. See the service area page for notes on each part of the metro.