Overview
Mudjacking, also called slabjacking, raises sunken concrete by pumping a cement-based slurry under the slab through drilled holes. As the material fills voids and builds pressure, the slab lifts. The holes are then patched.
It is commonly used on driveways, sidewalks, patios, porches and garage floors that have settled because soil underneath washed out or compacted. It can restore drainage away from a house and reduce trip hazards.
Mudjacking is an older and well-established method. Compared with polyurethane foam leveling, it generally uses larger holes and heavier material. Each method has trade-offs depending on the slab, soil and goals.
How it typically works
- Monitoring lift to bring the slab to the desired level.
- Patching holes and cleaning up.
- Sealing joints if recommended.
- Drilling injection holes in the slab.
- Inspecting the slab and identifying causes of settlement.
Key considerations
- Slurry adds weight on soft soil. Ask whether that matters for your site.
- Addressing water runoff helps prevent re-settling.
- Badly broken slabs may be better replaced than lifted.
- Ask how soon the slab can be used after work.
- Patched holes may be visible.
Local notes for Colorado's Front Range
Parts of Colorado's Front Range are known for expansive clay soils and claystone bedrock that swell when wet and shrink as they dry. That movement can affect foundations, basement slabs, driveways and sidewalks, and it is one reason many local homes are built with deep foundations or floating basement slabs.
Front Range weather brings freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt and summer storms. Keeping water away from the foundation with working gutters, extended downspouts, grading that slopes away from the house and careful irrigation near the foundation is a common first step before or alongside any repair.
We take inquiries from Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo.
What to have ready
- Note the age of the home and whether it has a basement, crawl space or slab.
- Take photos of cracks, gaps, sloping floors or sunken slabs, with a tape measure or coin in frame for scale.
- Mention any doors or windows that stick, no longer latch or show new gaps.
- Mention any previous foundation, drainage or concrete work, and whether a warranty came with it.
- Describe whether water shows up in the basement, crawl space or against the foundation, and when.
Signs to slow down
- Refusal to let you get a second opinion or an engineer's review.
- No written proposal describing the scope, materials and number of piers or supports.
- Large up-front payments demanded before any work begins.
- No plan for restoring landscaping, walkways or finishes disturbed by the work.
- No mention of permits for structural work where your jurisdiction requires them.
Questions worth asking
- What causes the settling, and will it return?
- How large are the holes, and how will they be patched?
- How soon can I use the surface?
- Would foam leveling be a better choice here?
- What warranty applies?
Frequently asked
- How long does mudjacking last?
- It depends on soil and drainage. Addressing water runoff can help it last.
- Can cracked slabs be mudjacked?
- Slabs with cracks can sometimes be lifted, but heavily broken slabs may need replacement.
- Will the patches match my concrete?
- Patches usually blend reasonably but may still be visible.
Related topics
- Polyurethane Foam Leveling: How polyurethane foam (polyjacking) lifts concrete slabs, its trade-offs, and questions to ask.
- Sidewalk Trip Hazards: How uneven sidewalks are repaired, from lifting to grinding, and what property owners should know.
- Patio and Pool Deck Leveling: Leveling patios, pool decks and porches, why they settle, and questions to ask.
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