Walkways last when poured on a compacted base, sloped to shed water, reinforced where soil moves and jointed at regular intervals. Around Austin, tree roots and clay movement are common causes of lifted or sunken panels. Public sidewalks are in the right-of-way, where city permits apply, and the City of Austin requires a licensed right-of-way contractor.
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Walkways are narrow slabs, and narrow slabs show soil movement first. Around Austin, front walks and side paths are often where you'll see a panel tipped up by a live oak root, a section that dropped after a wet spring, or an edge that cracked away during a long drought. They are also the concrete guests walk on, so trip hazards matter.
Common walkway projects
- New front walks from the driveway or street to the door
- Side-yard paths to gates, trash bins and equipment
- Replacing cracked, heaved or sunken sections
- Steps and landings on sloped Hill Country lots
- Widening a walk to make it easier to use with a wheelchair, walker or stroller
Building a walk that stays flat
A walkway needs the same basics as any slab: compacted subgrade, a base, a slight cross-slope so water runs off, and control joints at regular intervals so cracks form in planned lines. On expansive clay, reinforcement and a consistent base help adjacent panels move together instead of offsetting. Where a walk meets the house, steps or driveway, an isolation joint lets each piece move on its own.
Trees and the Austin tree ordinance
Mature live oaks, cedar elms and pecans are a big part of why older Austin neighborhoods are pleasant, and a big reason walks lift. Cutting large roots can injure a tree. Inside the City of Austin, trees 19 inches and larger in diameter are regulated on residential property, and the city's guidance limits cut and fill inside a tree's critical root zone. If a regulated tree is near your walk, a tree review may be part of the project. Options include rerouting the walk, bridging over roots or using a different material close to the trunk. An ISA-certified arborist can help before the crew starts cutting.
Steps on sloped lots
West of I-35, many lots step up or down limestone hillsides. Steps need consistent riser heights and tread depths, and longer runs may need handrails under the building code your city has adopted. Rock under the steps can be an advantage for support, but footings and the base still need to be level and drained.
Public sidewalks
The sidewalk along the street usually sits in the public right-of-way. In the City of Austin, driveway and sidewalk work in the right-of-way must be permitted through Austin Transportation and Public Works and performed by a contractor with the city's Right-of-Way Contractor license, and the city publishes a list of license holders. Other cities have their own right-of-way permits and standards for width, slope and curb ramps. Who is responsible for repairing a public sidewalk also varies, so check with your city before replacing one.
Repair or replace?
- Hairline cracks are usually cosmetic.
- Sunken panels that are intact can often be lifted. See concrete repair and leveling.
- Broken or root-heaved panels are usually replaced joint to joint.
Questions to ask
- What base and thickness will you use, and will the walk be reinforced?
- How will you handle roots near a large tree, and is a tree review needed?
- For work at the street, do you hold the right-of-way license or permit my city requires?
- Will the new section match the old? (Exact matches are hard.)
Have a trip hazard or a new path in mind? Request a walkway contractor.
See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace the sidewalk in front of my house myself?
Inside the City of Austin, sidewalk work in the right-of-way needs a permit and a contractor with the city's Right-of-Way Contractor license, so it isn't a typical DIY job. Other cities have their own rules. Check with your city before starting.
Will Austin's tree rules affect my walkway project?
They can. The city regulates trees 19 inches and larger in diameter on residential property, and work in a regulated tree's critical root zone may need review. Rerouting the walk or bridging roots can help.
Can a lifted panel be fixed without replacing it?
Sometimes. A sunken panel can often be lifted, and a small raised edge can be ground down. Panels broken or heaved by roots are usually replaced joint to joint.
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Austin: Mount Bonnell and the Balcones Fault Zone
- City of Austin Transportation and Public Works: Right-of-Way Contractors
- City of Austin Development Services: Trees on Residential Property
- TCEQ: Edwards Aquifer rules for private residences
- City of Georgetown permits
- City of Leander: Driveway permit submittal packet
- City of Lakeway: Building applications and fees
- TxDOT Access Management Manual: Driveway permits
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
- Texas811: Call before you dig