New Braunfels Foundation Experts puts homeowners and property managers who need concrete leveling in New Braunfels, TX in touch with an independent local company that raises sunken flatwork.
Driveways, walks, patios and pool decks settle when the soil beneath them washes out, shrinks or was not compacted well during construction. The result is trip edges, tilted panels and low spots that send water where it should not go.
Two Ways to Lift Concrete
- Slab jacking (mudjacking): a cement-based slurry is pumped under the panel through drilled holes, floating it up.
- Foam leveling (polyjacking): expanding polyurethane foam is injected through smaller holes and lifts the panel as it cures.
Both fill the void under the slab; the holes are patched afterward.
Good Candidates
- Driveway panels that dropped at the joints
- Sidewalks with trip edges
- Patios and porches sloping toward the house
- Pool decks with uneven panels
- Garage floor sections that have settled
When Replacement Is Better
Badly broken or crumbling concrete, or panels that keep sinking because runoff keeps washing out the soil, may be better replaced. Ask for a straight recommendation.
Runoff and Flatwork
After heavy rain, water running across a yard can wash soil out from under walks and driveways, especially on slopes. Lifting a panel without fixing the runoff can mean lifting it again. Pair concrete leveling with drainage correction where water is the cause.
Protecting the Foundation
A patio or walk tilted toward the house sends water against the slab. Lifting it to drain away helps protect the foundation as well as the flatwork.
Cost
For slab jacking or mudjacking, Angi's guide gives a range of roughly $500 to $1,300. Foam is often priced by the amount of material.
Slurry or Foam
Most concrete lifting uses one of two materials. Cement-based slurry is pumped under the slab through drilled holes and suits larger voids. Polyurethane foam is injected through smaller holes, weighs less and cures quickly. Each has a place; ask the contractor which they would use on your slab and why, and what the holes will look like once patched.
Seal What You Lift
After a panel is raised, rain can still run through open joints and cracks and wash out the base again. Sealing the joints between panels, and between the driveway and the garage slab, is a small step that helps a lift last.
Slabs on a Slope
On sloped Hill Country lots, runoff from uphill can flow under driveways and walks and carry soil away. If the same panel keeps sinking, look uphill first. A swale, a drain or a regraded strip above the slab may do more than lifting it again.
Is It Worth Lifting?
Lifting usually makes sense when a panel is mostly in one piece and has sunk as a unit. If it is broken into many small pieces, flaking at the surface or heaved by a tree root, replacing it is often the better use of money. Ask for both prices.
Common questions
Foam or mudjacking: which is better?
Mudjacking slurry is heavier and usually cheaper; foam weighs less and needs smaller holes.
How long does leveled concrete last?
If the cause, often runoff washing out soil, is fixed, it tends to last.
Can a cracked panel be leveled?
Often, if it is in large pieces. Many small pieces usually need replacing.
Can a pool deck be leveled?
Often, if the panels are intact. Ask about protecting the pool and coping.
How soon can I use the driveway?
Often soon after, especially with foam. Ask the contractor.
Do I need HOA approval?
Some HOAs require approval for exterior work. Check first.