# Will My Concrete Sink Again After Leveling? | New Orleans Concrete Leveling

> Will concrete sink again after leveling? In New Orleans the ground keeps settling, so it can. The five causes of repeat settling and how to prevent each one.

URL: https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/will-my-slab-sink-again/

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# Will my concrete sink again after leveling?

Leveling fixes the support under a slab, not the ground under that. Here's what brings settling back, and what stops it.

By New Orleans Concrete Leveling · Updated September 24, 2026

It can, if the cause isn't fixed. Leveling restores support under the slab, but in New Orleans the ground keeps settling — about **0.2 inches a year on average**, per the City. Repeat settling usually comes from **water at the slab edge, open joints, leaks, or soft soil** below the lift. Fix those and a lift typically lasts years.

[New Orleans Concrete Leveling](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/) would rather tell you this before a lift than after: leveling fixes the **symptom** — a slab without support — and most repeat settling comes from a **cause** nobody addressed.

## Five causes of repeat settling, and the fix for each

| Cause | What you’ll see | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Downspout or runoff at the edge** | Same corner drops again | Extend or redirect downspouts several feet; regrade |
| **Open joints and cracks** | Water disappearing into joints after rain | Seal joints and cracks after the lift; reseal as it ages |
| **Leaking pipe under the slab** | One spot sinking fast; damp soil; high water bill | Plumber pressure-tests and repairs first |
| **Soft soil below the lift** | Whole slab slowly dropping again | Lighter foam and/or [soil stabilization](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/soil-stabilization/) |
| **Regional subsidence** | Very slow, even decline over years | Can’t be stopped; control water so it stays slow |

## The New Orleans baseline

The [City of New Orleans](https://ready.nola.gov/hazard-mitigation/hazards/subsidence/) measures average subsidence of about **0.2 inches a year**, more than 0.8 inches in some areas. That’s the ground moving under everything. On its own it’s slow — about 2 inches over a decade in the average spot — and a leveled slab moves with it rather than dropping suddenly. What makes a slab fall fast is **water carrying soil away**, and that part you can control.

Make this the last time you level it

A good estimate finds the cause. Get one free.

[Call (504) 517-8336](tel:+15045178336) [Use the cost estimator](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/tools/concrete-leveling-cost-estimator/)

## Signs your slab was leveled without fixing the cause

-   The same downspout still empties at the same corner.
-   Joints were never sealed.
-   It dropped again in the same spot within a year or two.
-   Nobody asked about leaks when one area kept sinking.

## Bottom line

A slab **can** sink again — in New Orleans, the ground never fully stops. Control the water, seal the joints, fix leaks and consider foam or soil stabilization on soft ground, and a lift typically lasts years. HomeGuide gives mudjacking five to ten years or longer ([HomeGuide](https://homeguide.com/costs/mudjacking-cost)). Call **[(504) 517-8336](tel:+15045178336)** for a free estimate — free estimate within 24 hours.

## Quick answers

### How soon would a slab sink again if the cause isn't fixed?

It varies. A downspout emptying at a slab edge can wash out support within a few rainy seasons; slow regional subsidence takes much longer to show. Repeat settling in one spot within a year or two usually points to water or a leak.

### Can a slab be leveled twice?

Usually, yes. It can typically be re-lifted, but find the reason first — otherwise it will drop a third time.

### Does foam prevent repeat settling?

Foam doesn't wash out and adds little weight, which helps. It can't stop soft soil beneath it from compacting. Soil stabilization injects deeper to firm that layer.

[Related service Soil Stabilization Inject polyurethane into soft or washed-out soil under a slab to firm up the base before — or instead of — a lift. See how it works](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/soil-stabilization/)

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[(504) 517-8336](tel:+15045178336)

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## More guides

-   [Learn How long does concrete leveling last?](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/how-long-does-concrete-leveling-last/)
-   [Local Guide Why does concrete sink in New Orleans?](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/why-new-orleans-concrete-sinks/)
-   [Decision Guide Polyurethane foam vs mudjacking: which is better?](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/foam-vs-mudjacking/)
-   [Decision Guide Sinking slab vs foundation problem: how to tell the difference](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/sinking-slab-or-foundation-problem/)
-   [Learn Does homeowners insurance cover concrete leveling?](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/guide/does-insurance-cover-concrete-leveling/)

Stop guessing. Get your slab measured.

Call now for a free, no-hassle quote. Estimates within 24 hours.

[Call (504) 517-8336](tel:+15045178336) [Request a free estimate](https://concretelevelingneworleans.com/contact/)