Concrete Repair & Restoration

New Brunswick's relentless freeze-thaw cycles, road salt exposure, and seasonal ground movement take a heavy toll on concrete surfaces, and professional repair is almost always more cost-effective than full replacement if the underlying structure is still sound. The most common concrete problems in NB homes fall into several categories, each requiring specific repair approaches. Surface scaling and spalling — where the top layer of concrete flakes off in thin sheets, exposing the aggregate beneath — is the most widespread freeze-thaw damage in NB. It occurs when water penetrates the surface, freezes, and pops off the top layer. Causes include inadequate air entrainment in the original mix, premature finishing that sealed the surface before bleed water evaporated, or years of de-icing salt exposure. Repair options include polymer-modified concrete overlay (resurfacing the entire surface with a bonded 6-12mm layer of specialized concrete) for $4-$8 per square foot, or spot patching individual spalled areas with rapid-set repair mortar for $200-$600 per repair. Structural cracking — cracks wider than 3mm (1/8 inch) that extend through the full depth of the slab — indicates settlement, frost heave, or subgrade failure. In NB, differential frost heave is the primary culprit: one section of slab heaves more than an adjacent section because the subgrade moisture content varies, creating a hinge point that cracks the concrete. If the subgrade is stable and the crack is not actively moving, epoxy injection or polyurethane foam injection fills and bonds the crack for $15-$30 per linear foot. If the subgrade has failed, that section must be removed, the subgrade excavated and replaced with compacted gravel, and new concrete poured — essentially a partial replacement at $10-$18 per square foot. Slab settlement and sinking — where a concrete slab drops below its original level due to soil compaction, washout, or organic material decomposition beneath the slab — is common in NB driveways, garage floors, and sidewalks. Mudjacking (pumping a cement slurry beneath the slab to lift it back to level) costs $5-$10 per square foot, while polyurethane foam injection (PolyLevel) is lighter, faster-curing, and more precise at $8-$15 per square foot. Both methods are far less expensive than removing and replacing the settled slab. Surface staining from rust, oil, mould, and efflorescence (white mineral deposits) are cosmetic issues that NB homeowners often mistake for structural damage. Professional cleaning and sealing addresses these at $2-$5 per square foot. A comprehensive concrete repair project on a typical NB driveway or patio runs $1,500 to $8,000 depending on the extent and type of damage. Professional assessment is critical — an experienced NB concrete contractor can distinguish between cosmetic issues that need simple repair, structural issues that require engineering-level solutions, and concrete that has deteriorated beyond economical repair and should be replaced.

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