Who calls us about curb and gutter
Most curb and gutter calls come from people who are responsible for a lot of concrete and get the complaints when it fails:
- Public works and street departments dealing with ponding, ice and resident calls
- HOAs and townhome associations that own their private roads and curbs
- Property managers of shopping centers, office parks and apartment communities
- School and park districts with drop-off lanes and parking lot curbs
- Facility managers with curbed islands and loading areas
If your curb is part of a parking lot, see our parking lot concrete lifting page as well. For larger public projects, see our municipal concrete lifting work.
What a settled curb and gutter looks like
Settlement along a curb line is easy to miss until it causes a problem. These are the signs we see most often in the suburbs:
A gutter section that sits lower than the ones on either side
Water that stays in the gutter a day or two after rain
Ice that forms in the same spot every winter
A curb that tips back toward the parkway or forward into the street
Joints that have opened up between sections
A lip where the curb meets a driveway apron, sidewalk or curb ramp
Why curb and gutter sinks in northern Illinois
Curb and gutter sits right where all of a street’s water goes, so the soil under it gets tested more than almost any other concrete. A few things wear it down:
- Clay soil: Much of the Chicago area sits on clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, so the support under the curb keeps moving.
- Freeze and thaw: Water that gets under the curb freezes, expands and loosens the soil, then leaves gaps behind when it melts.
- Open joints and cracks: Once water finds a gap, it carries fine soil away a little at a time and leaves voids under the concrete.
- Utility and road work: Trench backfill that was not compacted well settles over the following years.
- Leaking storm inlets: A cracked inlet or pipe joint can wash soil out from under the curb next to it.
Ponding water is a drainage problem, not just a puddle
A gutter is built to carry water to the storm inlet. When one section drops even a small amount, that flow stops and water sits. Standing water soaks into the street’s base, softens the pavement edge, breeds mosquitoes in summer and turns into a sheet of ice in winter.
When we lift a gutter line, we check the slope with a level and string line before and after, so water runs toward the inlet again. Where water is the cause, we can also seal joints with concrete caulking and look at water control and erosion fixes so the problem does not come back.
Trip hazards at the curb line
The spots where people step on and off the curb are where uneven concrete hurts the most: crosswalk ramps, storefront curbs, bus stops and the joint where a sidewalk meets the curb. Under the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (section 303), a change in level over 1/4 inch needs a bevel and anything over 1/2 inch needs to be treated as a ramp. Lifting the low side brings the surfaces back together without grinding away the concrete.
Lifting vs. replacing curb and gutter
Replacing a run of curb means saw cutting, breaking out and hauling the old concrete, setting forms, pouring, waiting for it to cure, and then patching the asphalt and parkway that got torn up along the way. The street or lot lane is closed the whole time.
Lifting keeps the concrete you already have. We drill 5/8 inch holes, inject foam that weighs about 2 pounds per cubic foot, and raise the section back to grade. The foam fills the voids underneath and supports the curb without adding weight to soft soil.
Lifting is the right fix when the curb is still in one piece and has simply dropped. If a section is crumbling, broken into several pieces or the wrong shape for the street, we will tell you it needs to be replaced.
How a curb and gutter job runs
Walk the line: We walk the curb with you and mark each section that needs to come up.
Set the target: We measure how far each section has dropped and set the grade it needs to return to.
Drill: We drill 5/8 inch injection holes in the settled sections.
Lift: We inject foam in small stages and watch the level so the curb comes up evenly and stops at grade.
Finish: We patch the holes and seal open joints so water cannot get back underneath.
Reopen: Most jobs are done in one visit, and the area can be used again within hours.
Curb and gutter jobs, municipal or private, come with a 5-year commercial warranty.
Curb and gutter work across the Chicago suburbs
Raise-Rite has been lifting concrete around Chicago since 1974, from residential driveway and curb lifts in Lyons to freeway work on I-294. See the towns we cover on our service area page.
Why Illinois Trusts Raise-Rite
- 50+ Years of Experience (Est. 1974)
- 100,000+ Projects Completed
- 5-Year Warranty
- Family-Owned & Operated (3 Generations)
- Fast, Same-Day Results
- Renewable Foam (40% recycled content)
- Virtual Estimates Available – Just snap, upload, and get a quote
We’re not a franchise. We’re your neighbors. And we care about doing the job right.
Curb and gutter FAQ
Most curb and gutter jobs are finished in a single visit, and the area can usually be used again within hours. The foam sets quickly, so there is no week of cones and caution tape like there is with a new pour.
Yes, as long as the concrete is still in one piece. We lift the settled section back to the flow line so water runs to the storm inlet again instead of sitting in the low spot.
In most Chicago suburbs the curb and gutter along the street belongs to the village, city or road district, not the homeowner. Check with your public works department first. We work with municipalities directly, and we can lift curb on private property such as HOA roads and parking lots.
The holes are 5/8 inch, about the size of a dime. After the lift we fill and patch them so they blend into the curb.
In most cases it is, because there is no saw cutting, hauling, forming or curing time, and the asphalt and turf next to the curb are left alone. If a section is crumbling or broken into pieces, we will tell you replacement is the better call.
Yes. Curb and gutter jobs, municipal or private, come with a 5-year commercial warranty.
Still have questions? Check out our full FAQ page for more answers.
Get a Free Curb and Gutter Estimate
Send us the location and a few photos of the low sections, or have us walk the line with you.
Use our instant concrete lifting estimate or contact us.
Raise-Rite, 195 Kehoe Blvd #5 Carol Stream, IL 60188. (877) 407-2473
What Our Customers Have to Say
Why Choose Raise-Rite
Serving Illinois since 1974
Over 50 years of experience lifting and leveling concrete across Chicagoland and beyond.
100,000+ Jobs Completed
We’ve helped more families and businesses fix their concrete than anyone else in the state.
$20M+ Saved vs. Replacement
Our concrete lifting service has saved customers millions by avoiding tear-outs and full replacements.
5-Year Warranty
We stand behind every concrete leveling job with a real warranty — no fine print, just peace of mind.
Family-Owned & Operated
Three generations working together to deliver honest work and long-lasting results.
We Train the Industry
Contractors across the country come to us to learn — when you hire Raise-Rite, you get the team that sets the standard.
We Manufacture the Tools
We build the same polyurethane foam and equipment used by top pros across the industry.
Residential, Commercial & Municipal Work
From homes to highways, we handle projects of all sizes — safely and professionally.
Proudly Based in Carol Stream, IL
We’re a local team using American-made tools and doing the job right, every time.
