What should your walkway photos show?
Take a wide photo from each end. Add close photos of joints and edges. Show steps, porches, ramps, drives, curbs, drains, and door sills that affect the needed height.
Photos can show the shape of the problem. They cannot prove whether roots, erosion, packed soil, or another condition caused it.
Who controls the sidewalk or walkway?
Find out who owns or cares for the surface. It may be private, shared by a community, or tied to a public sidewalk. Do not approve work on a surface you do not control.
For public or right-of-way concrete, contact the responsible agency and follow its current steps.
Is lifting the only option?
A mostly solid panel with one low edge may be worth checking for a lift. Major breaks, roots, ongoing movement, or access needs can change the plan.
Grinding an edge, lifting a panel, replacing concrete, and changing drainage are different jobs. Ask which problem the proposal covers.
Primary sources
- American Concrete Institute — Slabjacking RAP 11American Concrete Institute · Accessed July 31, 2026
Sources support general guidance. They do not determine the condition or appropriate repair for a specific property.