Concrete leveling in Waterloo, Iowa
Slab lifting for homes on the east and west sides of the Cedar River in Black Hawk County's seat.
Waterloo is the seat of Black Hawk County and had 67,314 residents at the 2020 census. The Cedar River runs through the middle of the city, splitting it into east and west sides. The town began as Prairie Rapids Crossing, was incorporated in 1868, and built its reputation as the "Factory City" around tractor making that began with a gasoline tractor built here in 1893, later sold as the Waterloo Boy.
What do Waterloo jobs usually look like?
A city that's been building for more than 150 years has every age of concrete. Older blocks near downtown have sidewalks and steps that have shifted over generations. Newer subdivisions see more sinking garage aprons and patios as backfill settles. Lots near the river and its low ground are more likely to sit on sandy alluvium or poorly drained soils.
- Raising public sidewalk panels after a zone inspection
- Leveling garage aprons that dropped away from the door
- Lifting stoops and front steps back to the threshold
- Sealing joints each spring after the thaw
Got a sidewalk letter from the city?
Waterloo inspects one of its twelve sidewalk zones each year, so every block comes up about once every twelve years. If your notice says the sidewalk is defective, you can repair it yourself with a permit or hire a contractor. See sidewalk leveling for details.
Common questions
Do contractors cover both sides of the river?
Yes. Call with your address, east side or west side, and we'll connect you with a contractor that works there.
Who answers questions about a Waterloo sidewalk notice?
The City of Waterloo Engineering Department, 715 Mulberry St., (319) 291-0141.
Services in Waterloo
- Polyurethane foam concrete levelingLift sunken slabs with expanding foam through small holes. Light, fast to set, and ready to use soon after.
- Mudjacking (slabjacking)Raise heavy, simple slabs with a pumped cement slurry. The long-standing method, and often the lower-cost one.
- Sidewalk leveling and city noticesLift or replace public sidewalk panels the City of Waterloo flagged during its zone inspection.
- Driveways, garage floors, steps and patiosLevel driveway slabs, garage floors and aprons, front steps, stoops and patios that tipped or dropped.
- Joint sealing and crack repairSeal joints and cracks so snowmelt and rain can't wash out the base and start the sinking again.
Nearby areas
Sidewalk flagged in the city's zone inspection, or a garage slab that keeps dropping?
Call the number above and an independent Waterloo-area concrete lifter can come measure it and quote the fix.