How Crazy Weather Causes Uneven Sidewalks, Driveways, and Pool Decks

If you live in Memphis or anywhere across the Mid-South, you already know our weather can change by the hour. Heavy rain, flash flooding, extreme heat, freezing temperatures, and high humidity are all part of life here. While this unpredictable climate keeps things interesting, it is also one of the biggest reasons homeowners struggle with sinking and uneven concrete.

Concrete lifting has become one of the most in-demand home services in Memphis because so many sidewalks, driveways, pool decks, patios, and walkways settle over time due to weather-related soil movement. What many homeowners do not realize is that the concrete itself rarely fails. Instead, the real problem starts beneath the surface. Understanding how Mid-South weather affects the soil under your concrete helps explain why concrete lifting is often the smartest solution for restoring safety, appearance, and value to your home.

The Mid-South Climate Is Tough on Concrete

Memphis sits in a unique climate zone that combines heavy rainfall, long periods of humidity, extreme summer heat, sudden temperature drops, and winter freeze events. These conditions constantly stress the soil beneath concrete slabs. Here is how different seasons affect your sidewalks, driveways, and pool decks.

Heavy Rain and Soil Saturation

The Mid-South receives a high amount of rain throughout the year. When the ground becomes oversaturated, the soil beneath concrete swells and softens. As water drains away, soil can wash out from under slabs. This erosion creates empty spaces, known as voids, beneath the concrete. Once support is lost, concrete starts to sink unevenly. This is one of the most common reasons homeowners in Memphis notice sunken sidewalks and driveway slabs dropping several inches over time.

Extreme Summer Heat and Drought

After heavy rain, Memphis often swings into long stretches of hot, dry weather. When soil dries out, it shrinks. As it pulls away from the underside of concrete, gaps form. When rain returns, water fills these gaps unevenly, creating further instability. This constant expansion and contraction weakens soil structure year after year.

Freeze and Thaw Cycles

Although winters in Memphis are milder than in many parts of the country, freeze events still occur. When water seeps into soil or small cracks in concrete and freezes, it expands. When it thaws, it contracts. Even a few freeze-thaw cycles per year can accelerate cracking, slab movement, and soil displacement.

Soil in the Mid-South

One of the biggest hidden contributors to concrete problems in Memphis soil. When the soil absorbs water easily and expands dramatically. When it dries, it shrinks just as aggressively. This constant swelling and shrinking acts like slow-motion movement beneath concrete slabs, pushing them up, down, and sideways over time.

How Damage Shows Up in Your Concrete

Because of these weather patterns, homeowners across the Mid-South commonly experience:

• Uneven sidewalks creating serious trip hazards
• Driveways that sink near the garage or street
• Pool decks that tilt or separate from coping
• Cracked or split concrete slabs
• Standing water where slabs have settled
• Patios that slope toward the home

These changes usually happen gradually. A small dip becomes a noticeable slope. A hairline crack widens year after year. Before long, the damage becomes severe enough to affect safety, drainage, and curb appeal.

Why Pool Decks Are Especially Vulnerable

Pool decks in Memphis face an even greater risk of settling because they are exposed to constant water. Splashing, rainfall, backwashing, and humidity repeatedly saturate the soil around the pool. Over time, this water washes soil out from beneath the deck, leaving sections unsupported.

Once that support is gone, the concrete begins to drop. Gaps form between the deck and the pool coping. Trip edges develop along slab seams. Water begins to collect in low spots instead of draining away properly. Uneven pool decks are not just unattractive. They create a major safety hazard, especially for barefoot traffic and children.

Why Ignoring Uneven Concrete Is Risky

Many homeowners delay repairs because they assume sinking concrete is just a cosmetic issue. In reality, uneven concrete can cause serious problems over time. Left unaddressed, small settlement issues often turn into widespread cracking and permanent slab failure.

Steps to Reduce Future Weather Damage to Concrete

While Memphis temperature changes cannot be controlled, homeowners can take steps to minimize future soil movement and concrete settlement.

• Make sure gutters and downspouts direct water away from concrete
• Avoid overwatering landscaping near slabs
• Repair surface cracks early to prevent water penetration
• Ensure proper grading around sidewalks and driveways
• Address soil erosion as soon as it appears
• Schedule inspections at the first signs of settlement

From East Memphis and Cordova to Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Southaven, and West Memphis, uneven concrete is one of the most widespread exterior issues homeowners face. The combination of various soil types, heavy rainfall, summer heat, drought conditions, and seasonal freezing creates the perfect environment for concrete settlement.

Concrete lifting offers a proven, affordable, and efficient solution for correcting these problems without the high cost of replacement. Restoring level concrete improves safety, drainage, appearance, and property value while protecting your home from long-term damage. If you see signs of sinking concrete around your Memphis-area home, taking action early can save thousands in future repair costs. Call us today for a free estimate.