Mudjacking and foam concrete leveling
Fill the hollow under a settled slab and bring it back to grade, usually without a single piece of concrete leaving your yard.
Concrete only sinks when something under it moves. On Sioux City's hillsides that's often loess silt washed or collapsed by water; on the river flats it's soft, wet ground or fill that keeps settling. Leveling fills the empty space from above and uses the fill to push the slab back up.
What can be leveled?
- Driveway slabs and garage aprons
- Front walks and public sidewalk panels
- Patios and back stoops
- Front steps that have dropped or leaned
- Some garage and basement floors, depending on conditions
How does a leveling job go?
- Inspection. The contractor measures the drop, looks for cracks that go through the slab, and checks where water from the roof and yard is going.
- Drilling. Holes go in a pattern planned for that slab.
- Lifting. Slurry or foam fills the void, then raises the slab a little at a time to avoid new cracks.
- Finishing. Holes are patched and joints are sealed.
Side by side
| Mudjacking | Foam leveling | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cement-based slurry | Expanding polyurethane |
| Hole size | About 1 to 2 inches | About 3/8 to 5/8 inch |
| Added weight | Heavy | Very light |
| Ready to use | Usually within a day | Often within an hour |
| Typical cost | Lower | Higher |
What about slabs on a slope?
Driveways and walks on a hill often lose soil along the downhill edge first. Leveling refills that void, but unless runoff is redirected, the next big storm can start eroding it again. Ask the contractor what they'd change about drainage on a sloped lot.
When is leveling the wrong fix?
When the slab is shattered, badly scaled on top, or has dropped several inches because water keeps running under it, replacing it may be better value. A good contractor will say so.
What affects the price?
- How many slabs and their size
- How far they need to rise and how big the void is
- Slurry or foam
- Access, including steep or narrow driveways
- Sealing and crack repair afterward
Pricing comes from the contractor after a site visit, once they've measured the drop and found what's under the slab. We don't quote prices, and the city's own sidewalk rates aren't a guide to what a private leveling job will cost.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How long will a leveled slab last?
Mostly that depends on whether the cause is dealt with. If runoff and downspouts are directed away from the slab, a lift can last many years.
Can concrete be leveled in winter?
Frozen ground limits what can be done, though foam tolerates colder weather than slurry. Most leveling here happens from spring through fall.
Related services
- Sidewalk repair and city notices
- Driveway and garage apron repair
- Steps, stoops and patios
- Joint sealing and crack repair
More background: Sioux City concrete repair guide.
White paint on your sidewalk, or a slab that keeps dropping?
Call and a local concrete leveling contractor will look at it and quote the repair.