New Orleans Concrete Leveling puts this checklist out because water, not age, is what makes most New Orleans slabs sink fast. The city averages more than 60 inches of rain a year — 63.35 inches at the airport, per the National Weather Service’s 1991–2020 normals. Fifteen minutes with a flashlight and a straightedge covers it.
1. Where do your downspouts empty?
Walk the house. Any downspout that dumps onto or right beside a driveway, walk or patio edge is washing soil out from under it every storm. Extend it or add a splash block that carries water several feet away. This is the single most useful fix on the list.
2. Are the joints open?
Look at the joints between panels and where slabs meet the house, garage or steps. Open joints let rain run straight into the base. A flexible joint sealant closes them.
3. Does anything sound hollow?
Tap along slab edges with a broom handle or your heel. A hollow sound, or a gap you can see under an edge, means a void has started. Filling it early is cheaper than lifting a cracked slab later — see void filling.
4. Which way does water run?
After the next rain, look for puddles on the slab and water running toward the house. A patio or walk that has tipped back toward the wall needs attention before it sends more water under the slab. See patio leveling.
5. Any trip edges?
Lay a straightedge across each joint. More than 1/4 inch is a trip hazard by the 2010 ADA Standards’ measure; more than 1/2 inch is a clear one. In New Orleans the owner is responsible for the public sidewalk out front, too — see is a sunken slab dangerous?
6. Has anything changed since last year?
Photograph problem joints with a ruler in frame. A drop that’s growing points to active washout, and fixing the water plus lifting now costs less than waiting.
When to call
If you found a void, a trip edge over 1/2 inch, or a slab tipping water toward the house, get it measured. The severity assessment helps decide how soon. For a free estimate, call (504) 517-8336.