Drying Soil - In Utah we can go from very wet coming out of winter to the dryest of dry. If the ground under your concrete starts to dry and shrink, your driveway or sidewalk may not be able to maintain a level surface. You may notice cracks or other signs of trouble in your driveway or walkways

Soil Washout and Erosion - If water can access to the underside of the concrete on your property, it can wash out and erode the supporting soil, causing the concrete to settle and crack. This can be caused by downspouts, water draining from slopes and more.

Burrowing Animals - Animals like chipmunks and moles erode the soil under your concrete. They create tunnels, displace soil, and open up voids. This loosens the ground and in time, the soil needs to compress back down with the help of gravity, taking down the pavement on top of it with it.

Plumbing Leaks - If the sewer or water lines below your concrete leak, supporting soil can begin to wash out. These situations can go from bad to worse in a hurry.

Tree Roots - Especially near sidewalk bordering parking strips with maturing trees, roots can cause concrete to become unlevel. This usually involves large trees with thick roots near the surface.

Poor Soil Compaction - When soil is loosened, it can be compacted by backfilling deep, big areas with dense rock instead of purely soil, or by rolling the loose soil down to compact as the area is backfilled. When soil isn’t fully compacted, it will sink down over time, bringing the concrete with it.

Time - When new construction occurs, soil is moved around and displaced. It can take between five and ten years for soil to settle naturally.  Once concrete is poured on it, the loosened soil eventually sinks as it compacts naturally over time.