What might be the cause for a concrete driveway to raise on it's own?

Question

The size is 15'x20' and it is raised 2" high from the rest of the driveway which has created a "step". The driveway is located 3' from the lawn.

Answer 1

Well depending on a few things, the most obvious one is if they used a different type of concrete. Portland cement has different reactions than Florida cement. The sand utilized will react to envronmental shifts and changes in completely different ways. Also, you may have clay underneath and if it is raining a lot or dry a lot it could swell or depress. Call a contractor and see if it is fixable.

Answer 2

Do you have any tall trees near the concrete? A large root could be interfering with the ground underneath. Normally, I'd expect the concrete to crack in this case, but it can still just lift up the concrete.

Another possibility is that the earth has moved from some other cause such as drying out completeley, small earth movements etc.

Not sure how to fix and or prevent occuring again.

Answer 3

This just happened to my driveway last night. I have a double driveway and one side is now 2 inches higher than the other. We had a very hard and brutal winter here in Michigan, My yard is all clay underneath and topped off with about six inches of black dirt. I the area I live in was also used to mine gypsum so naturally I am worried about sink holes. I checked the US geological site for any minor earthquakes and none have been reported. We have a "monitoring well" on one side of our house that is highly saturated from run off and we have a sub pump. I am clueless what the monitoring well is or does. Should I be concerned for possible sink holes?

Answer 4

Changes in the water table possibly, tree roots.

Answer 5

tree roots can tear up driveways and make them crack and raise and stuff. if theres no trees around then make like small earthquakes or something. it probably trees though

Answer 6

Have you seen the movie "Poltergiest?"
Perhaps thars caskets under yer concrete.

But I agree with everyone else, Water settlement, tree roots, or maybe your neighbor is tunneling towards your meatlocker.

Answer 7

Any big trees in the yard ?It could be roots from the tree if there's one close.Hope this is helpful.

Answer 8

are there any trees nearby? sometimes roots from a tree grow underneath concrete and push it up.

Answer 9

A tree root may be forcing it up.

Answer 10

water gets under it & freezes in the winter time & heaves it up or u may have had a earth quake near u .