Eliminate Sidewalk Trip Hazards Fast and Affordably

The Hidden Danger of Uneven Sidewalks

An uneven sidewalk may seem like a minor annoyance, but it is one of the most common sources of personal injury on residential and commercial properties in Colorado Springs. According to the National Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the United States, and uneven walking surfaces are a primary contributor. A raised edge of just half an inch between sidewalk panels is enough to catch a toe and cause a fall, especially for elderly residents, children, and anyone with mobility limitations.

For property owners in Colorado Springs, the liability risk is real. Colorado law generally holds property owners responsible for maintaining safe conditions on their property, including sidewalks. If a guest, mail carrier, or passerby is injured by a known trip hazard, you could face a costly liability claim. Leveling your uneven sidewalk is not just about aesthetics — it is about protecting the people who walk on your property and protecting yourself from legal exposure.

Why Sidewalks Sink in the Pikes Peak Region

Colorado Springs sits on some of the most challenging soil in the state. The expansive clay soils in the Pikes Peak region absorb water and swell, then shrink as they dry out. This constant cycle of expansion and contraction creates movement beneath your concrete that gradually undermines the support beneath individual panels.

Add to that Colorado’s dramatic freeze-thaw cycles — where temperatures can swing 40 degrees in a single day — and you have a recipe for concrete settlement. Water that seeps through cracks and joints freezes overnight, expands, and displaces more soil. Over the course of several winters, these small shifts accumulate until one or more sidewalk sections have sunk noticeably below the adjacent panels.

Tree roots are another common culprit. As roots grow beneath sidewalks, they can push panels up initially. When the root dies or is removed, the void it leaves behind causes the panel to drop. This is particularly common in established neighborhoods throughout Colorado Springs where mature trees line residential streets.

How Our Sidewalk Leveling Process Works

Our sidewalk leveling process is designed for speed, precision, and minimal disruption. Unlike concrete replacement — which requires demolition, hauling away debris, preparing a new sub-base, forming, pouring, and curing over several days — limestone slurry leveling is typically completed in a few hours with the sidewalk immediately usable afterward.

The Limestone Slurry Advantage

We use a limestone slurry grout made from natural agricultural lime mixed with water and Portland cement. This material is pumped through small 1-inch holes drilled in the sunken panels at approximately 5 PSI of pressure. The low injection pressure is critical — it prevents cracking the existing concrete while providing enough force to fill all soil voids and gradually lift the slab.

The limestone material is heavier than polyurethane foam alternatives, which means it actually helps compact the loose soil beneath the slab rather than just filling the void. This creates a more stable, longer-lasting repair. And because limestone is a natural material, there are no concerns about chemical leaching into the soil — an important consideration for sidewalks adjacent to gardens and landscaping.

What Happens During the Repair

Our crew arrives with a pump truck and all necessary equipment. We begin by identifying the exact panels that need lifting and marking the drill locations. Each 1-inch hole is drilled at a strategic point to ensure the panel lifts evenly. The limestone slurry is then injected, and we monitor the lift in real time using a level to ensure precise alignment with the adjacent panels.

Once the panels are level, we patch each drill hole with color-matched non-shrink grout. The finished patches are about the size of a quarter and become increasingly difficult to spot as they weather over the following weeks. We clean the entire work area and walk you through the completed repair before we leave.

ADA Compliance and Commercial Properties

For commercial property owners and managers in Colorado Springs, ADA compliance is a legal requirement, not a suggestion. The Americans with Disabilities Act sets strict standards for walking surfaces, including maximum allowable changes in level between adjacent surfaces. Sidewalk panels that have settled beyond these thresholds can result in ADA violations, fines, and increased liability exposure.

Our sidewalk leveling service restores compliance quickly and affordably. We work with numerous property management companies across the Pikes Peak region to maintain safe, compliant walkways at apartment complexes, office parks, retail centers, and HOA common areas. For commercial clients, we can provide documentation of the completed leveling work for your compliance records.

Prevention: Keeping Your Sidewalks Level Long-Term

After leveling your sidewalk, we recommend concrete caulking to seal the joints between panels. These joints are the primary entry point for water, and sealing them prevents the soil erosion that caused the settlement in the first place. For high-traffic areas or commercial properties, adding a concrete sealer provides an additional layer of protection against moisture penetration and freeze-thaw damage.

Regular inspection is also important. We recommend checking your sidewalks at least twice a year — once in spring after the freeze-thaw season and once in fall before winter begins. Catching small settlement issues early means they can be corrected quickly before they become trip hazards or require more extensive repairs.

Get Your Free Sidewalk Assessment Today

Do not wait for someone to get hurt or for the city to issue a notice. Contact Colorado Springs Leveling today for a free sidewalk assessment. We will measure every offset, identify all trip hazards, and provide a clear, honest estimate for bringing your walkway back to a safe, even grade. With over 20,000 jobs completed since 2002, a 2-year warranty, and same-day completion for most sidewalk projects, we make it easy to protect your property and the people who walk on it.