Walkway, Driveway, and Hardscape Settling Settling is caused by brick or concrete or other hardscape surfaces applied over soil that was disturbed during the construction process and not fully recompacted before the weight of the hardscape was applied. Disturbed soil can expand up to 30%, and eventually, this expansion re-compacts causing settling. Over the years, as the ground that was disturbed from construction compacts, it causes the concrete or other hardscape surfaces to settle and crack, and the brick to...