Sidewalk, walkway and patio leveling
Private walks and patios are yours to fix. The public sidewalk out front works differently in Rochester, and it's worth knowing how before you call anyone.
Walkways and patios sit on thinner bases than driveways and often pick up runoff from roofs, decks and lawns. When a panel drops, the edge of the next one becomes a trip hazard, and a patio that tilts toward the house can steer every rainstorm and spring melt into the basement wall.
How are public sidewalks handled in Rochester?
The Rochester City Council adopted a Sidewalk Improvement District program on November 14, 2022. According to the city, responsibility for repairing public sidewalks shifts from the adjacent owner to the city's annual program, which works through one district per year on a rotating schedule. The cost is spread over every parcel in the district and collected on property tax statements in five equal yearly payments after the project is done. Owners can't opt out.
Until the program reaches your district, the city asks owners next to a flagged sidewalk to keep refreshing the pink paint marks from the city's inspection. If you'd rather fix a flagged panel sooner, the city says you can, but district rate reductions won't necessarily apply. Questions about your parcel go to the city's sidewalk program staff or Rochester 311.
What about private walks and patios?
The walk from the sidewalk to your door, side paths, back patios and pool decks are private, and you can have them lifted whenever you like. These are some of the most common leveling jobs in Rochester.
Signs a walk or patio needs lifting
- One panel sitting noticeably lower than the next
- Puddles or ice sheets that sit on the patio after rain or melt
- Water running toward the foundation instead of the yard
- A patio cracked into tilted sections
Lift or replace?
Panels that have dropped or tipped but are still in one piece are usually good lifting candidates. Panels heaved by tree roots, broken into small pieces or crumbling on top usually need to be removed and poured again.
We don't publish prices. The contractor sets the price after measuring the slab, sounding out the void underneath and finding out why it dropped, so treat any figure you hear before that visit as a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
The city painted pink marks on my sidewalk. Do I have to hire someone?
Under Rochester's Sidewalk Improvement District program, public sidewalk repair is handled by the city's annual program and spread across all parcels in the district. Until your district's turn, the city asks owners to keep the pink marks visible. Confirm details for your parcel with the city.
Can a patio be lifted if it has a few cracks?
Usually, if the cracked sections are still large and solid. The contractor lifts them together, then seals the cracks so water doesn't get underneath.
Related services
- Foam lifting and mudjacking
- Driveway and garage floor leveling
- Steps and stoops
- Joint sealing and crack filling
More background: Rochester concrete leveling guide.
Is a slab tipping, dropping or holding water?
Call and a Rochester-area concrete lifting contractor will come look and tell you whether it can be raised.