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 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 |
| 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 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.
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). Call (504) 517-8336 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.
Get a written price for your slab
Free estimate within 24 hours. Two quick steps — or call (504) 517-8336.