A concrete walk in central Indiana lasts when it sits on a compacted base that drains, is air-entrained, sloped to shed water and jointed regularly. Frost heave, settling stoops and tree roots are the usual problems. Public sidewalks are in the right-of-way, and Indianapolis and the suburbs require permits for work there.
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Walkways are narrow slabs, which makes them the first place frost heave, tree roots and salt damage show up. Around Indianapolis that usually looks like a front walk with one panel tipped up, a stoop that has pulled away from the house, or a public sidewalk that has flaked down to the stone after years of shoveled salt.
Common walkway projects
- New front walks from the driveway or street to the door
- Side-yard and garden paths
- Replacing heaved, sunken or scaled panels
- Concrete steps, stoops and landings
- Widening a walk for strollers, wheelchairs or walkers
- Public sidewalk replacement along the street
Keeping a walk flat through Indiana winters
A walk stays level when the soil under it stays stable. That means compacting the subgrade, placing a granular base so water can drain out instead of freezing in place, and pitching the walk slightly so water sheds off. Control joints are tooled at regular intervals, often about as far apart as the walk is wide, so cracks form along the joints. Isolation joints at the house, steps and driveway let each piece move independently.
Stoops and steps
Front stoops on older Indianapolis homes often settle or tip toward the house because they sit on backfill next to the foundation. Steps need consistent riser heights and tread depths, and steps attached to the house or serving as a required exit can fall under building code rules, including handrails above a certain number of risers. Ask whether a permit is needed where you live.
Trees and roots
Older neighborhoods like Irvington, Broad Ripple and Meridian-Kessler have mature street trees, and their roots lift walks and sidewalks. Cutting large roots can harm or destabilize a tree, and street trees in the public right-of-way are generally not yours to cut on your own. Rerouting a path, ramping over roots or talking with an arborist first are all options.
Public sidewalks
The sidewalk along the street is in the public right-of-way, and the rules change at each city line. Carmel's engineering department, for example, states that sidewalk maintenance is the property owner's responsibility, that repairs must replace full panels, and that a right-of-way permit is required first. Fishers requires contractors doing sidewalk work in the right-of-way to register, carry insurance, post a performance bond and get a final inspection. Indianapolis requires a permit for any use or excavation of the right-of-way, including sidewalk areas. Check with your city or town before replacing a public sidewalk, and see our permit guide.
Salt and walkways
Walks get salted heavily, and the salt is concentrated right where people walk. Using sand or a product your contractor recommends on new concrete, and shoveling before salting, helps a lot.
Repair or replace?
- Hairline cracks are usually cosmetic.
- Sunken but intact panels can often be lifted. See concrete repair and leveling.
- Heaved, broken or badly scaled panels are usually replaced joint to joint.
Questions to ask
- What base depth and thickness will you use, and is the mix air-entrained?
- How will you handle tree roots near the walk?
- Is a right-of-way permit needed, and who gets it?
- How close will the new section match the old one?
Have a trip hazard or a new walk in mind? Request a walkway contractor in the Indianapolis area.
See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Who fixes the sidewalk in front of my house?
It depends on the city. Carmel, for example, says sidewalk maintenance is the property owner's responsibility and requires full-panel replacement with a right-of-way permit. Other cities and Indianapolis have their own rules and programs, so check before you repair a public sidewalk.
Why does my front stoop tip toward the house?
Stoops usually sit on backfill next to the foundation that settles over time, and frost can move them too. A tipping stoop can sometimes be lifted; if it's cracked or pulling away badly, replacement with proper footings may be better.
Can a heaved panel go back down on its own?
Sometimes a panel lifted by frost settles partway in spring, but it often doesn't return to level. Panels lifted by roots won't. Wait until the ground has thawed, then have a contractor look at lifting, grinding or replacing.
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- City of Indianapolis: Driveway Permits
- City of Indianapolis: Right-of-Way Permits
- City of Indianapolis: Infrastructure and Right-of-Way
- City of Indianapolis: Contractor Licenses
- City of Carmel Engineering: Right-of-Way Information
- City of Carmel Engineering FAQs
- City of Fishers: Right-of-Way Contractor Registration Instructions
- City of Noblesville: Encroachment Permit Applications
- City of Noblesville: Residential New Construction Standards
- City of Westfield: Apply for a Permit
- Town of Zionsville: Right-of-Way Management and Permits
- City of Greenwood: Right-of-Way/Street Cut Permit Application
- Purdue Extension: Indiana Soils, Evaluation for Agriculture and Home Sites (ID-72)
- Encyclopedia of Indianapolis: Geology
- Purdue Joint Transportation Research Program: Concrete Pavement and Deicing Salts
- Indiana Attorney General: Storm Chaser and Home Improvement Contract Tips
- Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor: 811 Call Before You Dig
- Indiana 811
- Citizens Energy Group: Permits and Forms