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How Deep Freeze Affects Concrete

Person shoveling snow

Buffalo winters are known for extended stretches of negative degree temperatures. While most homeowners focus on snow and ice, the real damage often happens below the surface.
 

Deep freeze conditions and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause concrete to lift, shift, crack, and sink. And it is not just old concrete that is affected. Even brand new slabs can move when the ground underneath changes.
 

Understanding the science behind this helps explain why uneven concrete is so common in Western New York.

What is Deep Freeze?

A deep freeze occurs when the ground remains frozen for an extended period of time. During especially cold winters, frost penetrates deeper into the soil than normal.
 

This means:

  • The ground beneath driveways and sidewalks freezes solid

  • Moisture in the soil turns to ice

  • Soil structure changes below the slab
     

When frost reaches deeper levels, it affects more than just the surface. It changes the stability of the soil supporting your concrete.

Why Water in the Soil Matters

Soil naturally holds moisture. After rain, snowmelt, or normal groundwater movement, water fills the spaces between soil particles.

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When temperatures drop below freezing, that water turns to ice.

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Here is the key fact:

Water expands by approximately 9 percent when it freezes.

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That expansion creates pressure within the soil. Ice takes up more space than liquid water, so it pushes outward against surrounding soil and upward against concrete slabs.

Close-Up of Soil

How Freezing Pushes Concrete Up

When water beneath your concrete freezes:

  • It expands

  • It increases pressure in the soil

  • It can lift concrete upward
     

At the same time, freezing can compress and displace surrounding soil. This changes the density and structure of the ground below the slab.
 

This upward movement is often referred to as frost heave.
 

You might notice:

  • Raised sections of sidewalk

  • Driveway slabs that no longer sit flush

  • Trip hazards that were not there before winter

What Happens During Thawing

When the ground thaws:

  • Ice melts back into water

  • Soil loses the expanded volume created by freezing

  • Previously compressed soil can compact further

  • Voids can form beneath the concrete
     

As the supporting soil shifts or settles unevenly, the concrete above may no longer be fully supported. This often leads to:

  • Sinking slabs

  • Uneven surfaces

  • Cracks

  • Water pooling
     

Repeated freeze-thaw cycles throughout the winter make this process worse.

Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Long-Term Damage

Buffalo frequently experiences cycles where temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing.
 

Each cycle causes the soil to:

  1. Expand during freezing

  2. Contract and settle during thawing
     

Over time, these repeated movements loosen soil particles and reduce the ground’s ability to properly support concrete.
 

This is why both new and old concrete can sink. It is not always about the age of the slab. It is about the condition of the soil underneath.

Why Concrete Sinks After Winter

Spring Willow Branch

If your driveway, sidewalk, patio, or garage floor looks uneven in the spring, the likely cause is soil movement from winter freeze-thaw conditions.
 

Common signs include:

  • Sunken driveway sections

  • Uneven sidewalks

  • Gaps between slabs

  • Water collecting near your foundation

  • New trip hazards
     

In most cases, the concrete itself is still structurally sound. The issue is the unstable soil below it.

How Concrete Leveling Solves the Problem

Instead of replacing concrete, leveling addresses the root issue: the voids and unstable soil beneath the slab.
 

Concrete leveling works by:

  • Filling empty spaces under the concrete

  • Stabilizing the soil

  • Lifting the slab back to its proper position
     

This restores safety, improves drainage, and extends the life of your existing concrete.

For homeowners and business owners, this is often a faster and more cost-effective solution than full replacement.

Protect Your Concrete After a Deep Freeze

Buffalo weather is tough on concrete. Deep freezes and repeated freeze-thaw cycles are unavoidable, but uneven slabs do not have to be permanent.
 

If you are noticing sinking, shifting, or uneven concrete after winter, our experts can evaluate the problem and recommend the right solution.
 

Locally owned and serving Buffalo and Western New York, we understand how our climate affects the ground beneath your home.
 

Schedule an evaluation today and restore your concrete to safe, level condition.

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