Concrete Tripping Hazards

Tripping Hazards Around Your Home

Uneven concrete might seem like a cosmetic issue at first, but it poses a serious risk to your safety and your property value. Whether it’s a sunken section of sidewalk, a tilted patio slab, or a settled driveway apron, these hazards can lead to painful falls, costly liability issues, and ongoing structural problems. At Anchored Walls, we help homeowners in Iowa and Missouri stay safe and steady with professional concrete lifting solutions designed to restore both function and appearance.

Common Places Tripping Hazards Show Up

Tripping hazards can form anywhere concrete starts to settle, shift, or crack. For many Iowa and Missouri homeowners, the problem gradually becomes apparent until someone stumbles over a misaligned slab or catches their toe on a raised edge.

Here are the most common places we see dangerous, uneven concrete:

• Sidewalks: Slabs that have lifted or sunk at the seams can create sharp edges that are easy to trip over.
  
• Driveways: Settling near the garage apron or at slab joints creates height differences that aren’t always visible until it’s too late.
  
• Patios and Walkways: Cracks and sunken corners can cause instability and tripping, especially in high-traffic outdoor areas.
  
• Pool Decks: Uneven or cracked poolside concrete poses a major safety risk in a space that’s already slippery.
  
• Outdoor Steps: Even a single inch of difference between steps can cause missteps and falls.
  

Left unaddressed, these hazards often get worse over time, especially with the freeze-thaw cycles common in our region.

What Causes Tripping Hazards Around Your Home?

When concrete slabs near your home start to sink or shift, the problem often comes down to what’s happening just beneath the surface or right beside it. Many of the most common causes of uneven concrete are the result of normal daily use, poor water control, or overlooked site conditions around the house.

Here’s what we see most often:

• Water Runoff from Gutters and Downspouts: When water isn’t properly directed away from your foundation, it can wash out the soil beneath nearby concrete. Settling often occurs along driveways, sidewalks, and patios that border the home.
  
• Improper Grading: Slabs that tilt toward your house can collect water after rain or snowmelt, softening the soil below and leading to long-term sinking or cracking.
  
• Vehicle Weight and Traffic: Driveways bear more than just parked cars. They absorb weight shifts from turning tires, daily use, and heavy loads. Over time, this stress can cause settling near the apron or garage.
  
• Foot Traffic and Porch Settling: Repeated stress on walkways or slabs near entryways can lead to slight shifts that become dangerous over time, especially if the underlying soil was never properly compacted.
  
• Soil Shrinkage Near the Home: In dry seasons, soil can pull away from foundation walls, creating voids that allow adjacent slabs to sink unevenly.
  

Even well-built concrete can shift under these conditions. The good news is, there’s a fast and lasting fix.

Why Fixing Tripping Hazards Matters

Tripping hazards are a real risk to your family, your visitors, and yourself. A sunken slab near your front steps or an uneven section of sidewalk may not look serious, but one misstep can lead to injuries, medical bills, and even liability issues if someone else falls on your property.

Here’s why it’s worth addressing sooner than later:

• Protect Your Family and Visitors: Raised edges and sudden changes in height are especially dangerous for children, older adults, and anyone with mobility challenges.
  
• Avoid Insurance Claims and Liability: If a guest, delivery driver, or passerby trips and gets hurt, you could be held responsible. Leveling the concrete now is far cheaper than dealing with a claim later.
  
• Prevent Further Concrete Damage: Uneven slabs tend to shift further over time. What starts as a small trip hazard can become a major repair or require full replacement if ignored.
  
• Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal and Value: Clean, level walkways and driveways show pride in ownership and make a strong impression on neighbors, guests, and potential buyers.
  

With over 40 years of experience serving Iowa and Missouri, Anchored Walls can help you fix the problem quickly and cleanly before it turns into something bigger.

Anchored Walls Fixes Tripping Hazards Fast

If you’re dealing with sunken or uneven concrete around your home, you don’t need to replace the entire slab. Anchored Walls offers a clean, effective solution that lifts and restores your existing concrete without the mess of a full tear-out. Using targeted injection techniques, we raise settled slabs back to their proper position and support them from below. Once we the concrete is back in position, we have both eliminated the tripping hazards and prevented future movement.

The process is fast, precise, and designed to minimize disruption. There’s no heavy equipment, no long drying times, and no guesswork. Just real results, delivered by a team that’s been trusted across Iowa and Missouri for more than 40 years. Whether it’s a sunken sidewalk, a cracked patio, or a tilted driveway apron, we’ll fix it the right way, so you and your family can move safely again.

Let’s Eliminate Those Tripping Hazards For Good

If you’ve noticed uneven concrete around your home, don’t wait for someone to get hurt. Call Anchored Walls for a free inspection and honest recommendations. We’ll assess the problem, explain your options, and provide a lasting fix that makes your property safer and stronger.

We proudly serve communities across Iowa and Missouri. Whether you're in Des Moines, St. Louis, or somewhere in between, our team is ready to help.

Call now to schedule your free estimate.