Hire the Pro. Its cheaper than the rotator cuff injury you’ll get from trying to mix that much concrete in a wheelbarrow a couple of times. Because you won’t get it right the first time, and it’ll crack, heave, and you’ll be right back where you started. Any concrete truck would have $1200 as the roll minimum charge, so there’s no savings at all there.

It’s a huge amount of strenuous physical labor to do it correctly. Starting with removing all of that concrete, legally disposing of it as the construction debris that it is at the paid dump, and then excavating the failing base to undisturbed subsoil to install new properly mechanically compacted gravel for correct drainage. See if you can manage that part first. Set up caution tape and a barrier, or you’ll be fending off lawsuits. I’m surprised that hasn’t already happened. It’s a big safety hazard.

Is that part of the sidewalk? If so, I find it hard to believe that it isn't the city's responsibility. Are you sure they understood what section you were talking about? The section on either side of the sidewalk is definitely your responsibility.

If it is your responsibility, can you replace it with whatever you'd like? Because asphalt would be cheaper than concrete.

Thanks for the help. I was thinking of maybe renting a cement mixer from Home Depot or something for the mixing, but I understand what you're saying. Just getting tired of looking at it, and its not top on the priority list to shell out the money for it professionally. But I'll look into it. Thanks.

Yeah, its what the city told me. I tried to fight it, posted instagram pics tagging the mayor and all. Nothing. They said its my responsibility which I find odd because they later came through and grinded down areas of the sidewalk on our street, saying it was a tripping hazard for the school kids.

I may look into asphalt, I don't want the one that looks hand pressed. I would either want it matched to the driveway or the sidewalk. But I'll look into it. Thanks.

Sidewalk areas are easements. You own and maintain, but they have the right to control what goes there and the look. Asphalt won’t be approved. Concrete only. I’m surprised they haven’t issued you a ticket for not maintaining it. It IS a safety hazard and personal liability to you as the property owner. There have been cases where if it was unsafe enough, the city hires it out and bills you for it. Just like weeds or tall grass at the derelict house.

It failed because the last guy didn't want to do the job properly. With all due respect, if you think this is something that be accomplished by renting a mixer, you are woefully unqualified for the work.

Save you pennies and hire a pro.

We just had our cracked, sinking driveway raised with a product that was pumped under and it leveled everything up. BUT, this driveway has gone without maintenance for a long time so afraid it has to be replaced. Our bud lid for replacement of area about twice the size of yours was $8,000. The lifting was just under $3,000. It should last 5-10 years. It looks good is so much better to walk on. Too bad yours has deteriorated so badly. Definitely not a DIY job.

Auto correct. “Our bid for replacement...”

"... its not top on the priority list to shell out the money for it..."

You need to change your priorities. Were I your next door neighbor, they would.

My kid can't chip her teeth from falling from the paint peeling off your house. This is more than cosmetics, it's a health and safety issue. Man up please.

Around here, it must be permitted and inspected by the Department of Public Works. Also, it should be flared where it meets the street.

Weird, I thought city owned the sidewalks.

Some years ago, I had to have 2 sections of the sidewalk in front of one of my rentals broken out and re-poured. The city decreed that pedestrians could trip over the approximately 1/4" difference in height between them and the sections next to them.

I had the choice of letting the city do it (for a fee, of course) or hiring a private contractor. I chose the second.

PS: I drive by my houses periodically. As is true with most residential areas these days, people hardly ever walk anywhere in that neighborhood. The kids seldom go outdoors. They're all inside in the air conditioning, playing with their phones. The sidewalk is usually empty, the street a regular traffic stream.

Still, if it's your legal responsibility to maintain the sidewalk, like me, you don't have a choice.

This depends from one jurisdiction to the next. But from what I can tell, the most common way this works in the US is that the homeowner is fully responsible for maintaining the side walk and liable for any accidents that happen as a result of poor upkeep. But the city can 100% determine what the sidewalk needs to look like and will have to be reimbursed for this service (i.e. in the form of building permits/inspections).

If might sound annoying, but that's just one of the many things that come with home ownership. The alternative is to roll maintenance into the HOA fees or into property tax. Some jurisdictions do that, instead.

I guess it's a regional thing. In my area, the city owns the sidewalk and you can't do anything to it. The liability is on the city to maintain it.

The years of lack of attention and repair that the picture represents wouldn’t fly in most places. Not only would one local suburb have been handing out citations several years ago, they’d be sending you the bill for the repair if it didn’t happen in a hurry. And then adding it to the property tax bill, along with interest, if it wasn’t paid.

Some less affluent residents had to take out HELOC with the bank in order to afford the required by ordinance upkeep to the homes. That anti neglect ordinance went beyond ordinary sidewalk maintenance. Be glad the peeling paint and missing shingle police haven’t visited you too! Because their secret weapon was to call the insurance companies to do an inspection. And if the insurance companies cancel your policy, the bank calls your note.