The best time of year to level concrete in Kansas
Around Wichita, concrete can be leveled most of the year, and the method sets the calendar. Mudjacking slurry is a cement mix that has to stay above freezing while it hardens, so it fits best from late April to mid October. Foam lifting works in much colder weather. Here is how the months break down, using Wichita's freeze and rain records.
Call (316) 688-2584Month by month in Wichita
| Month | Nights 40°F or below | Nights 32°F or below | Rain (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30 | 28 | 0.85 |
| Feb | 26 | 21 | 1.20 |
| Mar | 22 | 11 | 2.30 |
| Apr | 10 | 3 | 3.10 |
| May | 1 | 0 | 5.17 |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | 4.93 |
| Jul | 0 | 0 | 3.98 |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | 4.30 |
| Sep | 0 | 0 | 3.05 |
| Oct | 8 | 2 | 2.85 |
| Nov | 22 | 13 | 1.36 |
| Dec | 30 | 25 | 1.22 |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport. Night counts are rounded averages.
Mudjacking needs nights above freezing
Mudjacking slurry is a cement-based mix, and cement mixes are vulnerable while they harden. Industry guidance for concrete, ACI 306, treats any stretch when the air is expected to fall to 40°F or below as cold weather. It calls for protecting fresh concrete from freezing until it reaches 500 psi, which takes about two days at 50°F. Concrete that freezes young can lose up to half of its eventual strength.
In Wichita, the median last spring freeze is April 11 and the median first fall freeze is October 29. In about one year in ten, a freeze comes after April 26, and in about one year in ten the first freeze arrives before October 15. That makes late April through mid October the dependable window for mudjacking, with March, early April, late October and November workable during mild spells when the forecast allows.
Sources: NIH Office of Research Facilities, "Cold Weather Concreting," April 2021, summarizing ACI 306R-16; NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.
Foam lifting works in the cold
Lifting foam is a two-part polyurethane that reacts and hardens in minutes, and it has no water to freeze. The data sheet for one widely used lifting foam says to avoid injecting below -4°F and to warm the material to 60 to 80°F in extreme cold. At 77°F it reaches 90 percent of full strength in about 15 minutes.
Cold slows the reaction, so winter foam jobs depend on the crew keeping its material warm. Snow cover and ice on the slab can still push a job back a few days. If something has to be fixed in January, foam is usually the option.
Source: Alchemy-Spetec AP Lift 430 technical data sheet, rev. 013019.
Why fall is a good time
A void left open under a slab going into winter is where a lot of new damage starts. Once it gets cold, water that runs into that gap freezes and thaws dozens of times: Wichita averages about 100 nights at freezing or colder, and on about 87 of those days the afternoon warms back above freezing. That cycle is covered in more detail in why concrete sinks in Wichita.
Leveling in September or October fills the void and lets the joints be sealed before that starts. Nights are still mild then, with no freezing nights on average in September and about two in October, so either method works.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport.
Spring is when people notice
A lot of sunken concrete gets noticed in spring, after a winter of freezing and thawing has opened a new lip at a joint. Early spring can still be cold for mudjacking: March averages about 11 nights at freezing. By May, freezing nights are over, but May is also Wichita's wettest month at about 5.2 inches, and a crew may wait a day after a heavy rain.
Interest in leveling follows the same pattern. Nationally, Google searches for concrete leveling are lowest from November through January, climb through February and March, and peak in July, while searches for mudjacking stay high into October. Kansas search volume is too small for Google to report month by month.
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, Wichita Eisenhower National Airport; Google Trends, United States, September 2021 to September 2026.
If it cannot wait
- A trip hazard on a busy walk. Mark the edge with bright paint or tape until it is fixed, and ask about foam if the weather is cold.
- A notice from the city. If the City of Wichita has flagged your sidewalk, read the sidewalk repair notice guide for the options and the deadline, and mention the deadline when you call.
- Water running toward the house. A driveway panel that tips water back toward the garage is worth fixing before winter, when that water can freeze against the slab.
Questions people ask
Can concrete be leveled in winter?
Yes, with foam in most conditions. Mudjacking usually waits for a stretch of nights above freezing, because the cement slurry can be damaged if it freezes before it hardens.
Is it better to level before or after winter?
Before, if you can. Filling the void and sealing the joints in fall keeps water from freezing and thawing under the slab all winter, which is when much of the damage happens.
How soon can I use the concrete after leveling?
With foam, usually the same day. With mudjacking, most crews ask you to keep vehicles off for about a day. Cool weather can stretch that.
Can it be done right after heavy rain?
Often, yes, but the contractor may wait a day if the ground is saturated or water is standing along the slab. They will judge that on site.
Where we work
We take calls from across Wichita and the surrounding towns in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties.
Common jobs
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.
Want it done before winter?
Call for a free estimate. Most residential jobs take a few hours.