New Orleans Concrete Leveling marks the Atlantic hurricane season — June 1 through November 30 — because storms are when slabs lose the most support in the least time. Surge, standing water and days of heavy rain soften and wash out the soil under flatwork. Here’s a short check for either side of a storm.
Before a storm
- Clear and extend downspouts so the heaviest rain lands in the yard, not at a slab edge.
- Seal open joints between driveway panels and where slabs meet the house.
- Photograph your slabs with a ruler across any joint that already has a lip. After a storm, you’ll know what changed.
- Clear yard drains and swales so water can leave the lot.
After a storm
Once it’s safe to be outside:
- Look for new gaps under slab edges and along the house.
- Tap for hollow spots, especially where water stood or ran.
- Re-measure the joints you photographed. A new or bigger lip means support washed out.
- Watch for new cracks across panels — a sign a slab bridged a void and broke.
- Keep cars off hollow areas until they’re checked; an unsupported edge can drop under load.
What washout damage means for insurance
Standard homeowners policies generally exclude settling and earth movement, and flood damage falls under separate flood coverage with its own limits on driveways and walks. Photograph everything and talk to your agent. See does homeowners insurance cover concrete leveling?
Leveling after a storm
If the concrete is intact and the soil beneath washed out, filling the void and lifting the slab is usually much cheaper than replacing it. Storm-damaged slabs broken into small pieces are a replacement job. See can you level a cracked slab? and void filling.
For a free estimate after a storm, call (504) 517-8336.