Concrete leveling in Goddard, KS
Of the 13 towns we mapped around Wichita, Goddard has the smallest share of soil rated high for shrink-swell, about 2 percent. That changes the usual explanation for a sunken slab here, though Goddard's ground still moves some with the seasons. Calls from Goddard go to the same independent contractor who serves the rest of the area.
Call (316) 688-2584What the soil survey shows in Goddard
Clipped to Goddard's city limits, about 97 percent of the soil area is rated moderate for shrink-swell, and only about 2 percent is rated high or very high. Across Sedgwick County, about a third is high or very high.
That figure needs one caveat. About 67 percent of Goddard's soil area is Blanket, a silt loam over a clayey subsoil whose rating sits exactly on the line between moderate and high. We count it as moderate everywhere on this site, so most of Goddard is best read as the top end of moderate. Nalim, a loam rated moderate, covers about 14 percent, and Farnum, also moderate, about 6 percent.
See how Goddard compares with 12 other nearby towns on the soil by town page.
| Shrink-swell rating | Share of soil area in Goddard | Sedgwick County overall |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Under 1% | 24% |
| Moderate | 97% | 42% |
| High | 2% | 23% |
| Very high | 0% | 10% |
Source: USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey, Soil Survey Geographic Database, Sedgwick County, Kansas, survey version August 2025, clipped to the city limits from Census TIGERweb. Shares are our calculation by area and component percentage, using the highest-rated layer within 60 inches. Shares may not add to 100 because of rounding.
Why slabs sink in Goddard
With little high shrink-swell clay, a sunken slab in Goddard more often comes down to the other causes on our list: loose fill settling, and water carrying soil out from under an edge. A downspout that empties at the corner of a driveway, or a sprinkler that soaks the same sidewalk joint every morning, can open a void one storm at a time.
Soil at the top end of moderate still shrinks in a dry summer and swells in a wet spring, just less than the clay in Andover or Bel Aire. So the water source is the first thing to fix, and a slab that keeps dropping after the water is handled is worth a closer look. See why concrete sinks in Wichita for how each cause works.
Goddard's sidewalk rules
Goddard's code makes the owner of the property next to a sidewalk responsible for keeping it in repair. The city can make any needed repair after giving the owner five days' notice, or without notice if the lot is unoccupied, and assess the cost against the property. For a sidewalk the governing body orders rebuilt by resolution, the owner gets between 30 and 60 days after publication to do the work before the city has it done by contract.
Goddard's permit rule is broader than most nearby towns. Building, rebuilding or repairing a sidewalk requires plans approved by the governing body and a permit from the city clerk, and sidewalks must follow the standard plans on file with the clerk. Repair is on that list, so check with the city clerk before any work on a public sidewalk in Goddard, leveling included.
Sources: Code of the City of Goddard, Chapter XIII, Article 1, sections 13-101, 13-103, 13-106 and 13-108 (current through Ordinance No. 1055, September 21, 2026); K.S.A. 12-1808.
Questions people ask
Does Goddard's soil cause concrete to sink?
Less than in most of the Wichita area. Almost all of the soil inside city limits is rated moderate for shrink-swell, so sinking in Goddard usually traces back to water washing soil out or fill settling, though the most common soil sits at the top of the moderate range.
Do I need a permit to repair a sidewalk in Goddard?
Goddard's code requires plans approved by the governing body and a permit from the city clerk to build, rebuild or repair a sidewalk. Ask the city clerk how that applies to leveling before work starts.
How long do I have after a Goddard sidewalk notice?
The code lets the city make a repair after five days' notice and assess the cost to the property. A sidewalk ordered rebuilt by resolution gets 30 to 60 days after publication. Check the notice itself for the exact deadline.
Nearby areas
What gets leveled
Driveway Leveling
Panels that dropped at the garage, the street or the sidewalk, raised back into line.
Read moreSidewalk Leveling
Trip hazards on front walks and city sidewalks, raised flush instead of torn out.
Read morePatio Leveling
Patios that tipped toward the house or pulled away from it, lifted back to a proper slope.
Read moreGarage Floor Leveling
Sunken garage slabs and the lip at the door, raised with small holes and little mess.
Read morePorch & Step Leveling
Front steps and stoops that settled away from the door, lifted back up to meet it.
Read morePool Deck Leveling
Settled pool decks and the gap at the coping, lifted with light foam and small holes.
Read moreGet a free estimate
Tell us what is sinking and roughly how big the area is. The contractor will call you back to set up an estimate, and may ask you to text a photo first.
Prefer to talk? Call (316) 688-2584.
Concrete leveling in Goddard
Call for a free estimate. Most residential leveling jobs take a few hours.