ADA Concrete Trip Hazard Repair in Illinois
Uneven sidewalks, walkways, entrances, and other concrete surfaces can create accessibility concerns and potential trip hazards. Scritchlow evaluates settled concrete throughout Central and Northern Illinois and provides concrete lifting and leveling solutions where the existing slab is suitable for repair.
A site evaluation can help determine whether settled concrete may be lifted to improve surface transitions or whether replacement or another repair approach is more appropriate.
Concrete Level Changes & Accessibility
Accessible walking surfaces require careful attention to changes in elevation between adjoining concrete slabs.
Under the ADA Standards, permitted changes in level depend on the height and configuration of the transition. Small vertical changes may be permitted, while larger changes may require beveling, ramping, or another compliant transition.
Settled sidewalks and concrete slabs can create uneven transitions as soil moves, erodes, or loses support beneath the concrete. When the existing slab remains suitable for repair, concrete lifting may be able to improve the elevation without complete removal and replacement.
Common areas we evaluate include:
- Public and commercial sidewalks
- Building entrances
- Walkways and pedestrian routes
- Concrete around parking areas
- Municipal concrete surfaces
- Uneven transitions between adjoining slabs
ADA Changes in Level for Accessible Routes
Uneven concrete can create changes in level along sidewalks, entrances, walkways, and other pedestrian routes. When these surfaces are part of an accessible route, the applicable ADA requirements should be considered when evaluating the transition.
Under the 2010 ADA Standards, changes in level up to 1/4 inch may be vertical. Changes between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch must be beveled with a slope no steeper than 1:2. Changes greater than 1/2 inch generally must comply with applicable ramp or curb-ramp requirements.
Concrete settlement can create these elevation differences over time. When the existing slab is suitable for repair, concrete lifting may help improve the transition without removing and replacing the entire slab.
- Sidewalk slab transitions
- Building entrances
- Pedestrian walkways
- Commercial properties
- Municipal concrete
- Parking-area pedestrian routes
When Can Concrete Lifting Help?
Concrete lifting may be an option when one portion of a sidewalk, walkway, or other slab has settled but the existing concrete remains structurally suitable for repair.
Material is placed beneath the settled slab to restore support and carefully raise the concrete toward the desired elevation. The condition of the concrete, amount of settlement, surrounding grades, drainage, and accessibility all affect whether lifting is appropriate.
Concrete lifting does not automatically make every property or route ADA compliant. Final accessibility requirements can depend on the complete route and other site conditions.
Addressing Uneven Concrete Before It Gets Worse
Uneven concrete can affect pedestrian safety, accessibility, drainage, and the usability of sidewalks and other walking surfaces. Settlement may continue when the underlying causes—such as soil movement, erosion, washout, or poor drainage—remain unresolved.
Evaluating the concrete early can help determine whether lifting, drainage correction, joint repair, or replacement is the appropriate approach.
Scritchlow evaluates the condition and elevation of settled concrete and can recommend a repair approach based on the slab and surrounding site conditions. Property owners and managers who need to determine specific ADA compliance obligations should also consult the applicable accessibility requirements for their facility.
ADA Concrete & Trip Hazard FAQs
Get answers to common questions about uneven concrete, accessibility, changes in level, trip hazards, concrete lifting, and ADA-related walking surfaces.