The Process
How Polyurethane Concrete Lifting Works
Four steps, a few hours, and a slab that is level again. Here is exactly what happens when we pull into your driveway.
That is the whole idea. Concrete that has dropped out of plane, brought back to level without tearing anything out.
Step By Step
What a lift actually looks like.
Measure
We map the slab with a laser level to find exactly where it dropped and by how much, then mark the injection points. You see the measurements, not just a price.
Drill
Holes about 5/8 of an inch, roughly the size of a dime, placed on the grid we marked. Mudjacking needs holes four times that size.
Inject
Two-part polyurethane goes in as a liquid and expands into a closed-cell structural foam, filling voids and compacting loose soil before it starts to lift.
Level and patch
The slab rises in controlled stages while we watch the level, commonly landing within an eighth of an inch of target. Holes are patched, the site is cleaned, and the concrete is ready for foot traffic or vehicles as soon as we finish. A typical job is about an hour start to finish.
The Material
Measured, not mixed by eye.
Polyurethane is two liquids, resin and iso, that have to meet at an exact 1:1 ratio. The rig meters that on every job. A slurry mix has no such requirement.
| Factor | Polyurethane foam | Mudjacking slurry |
|---|---|---|
| Mixture | Exact 1:1 resin to iso, metered by the rig | Dirt and concrete at whatever ratio the crew mixes |
| Hole size | About 5/8 inch | Two inches or more |
| Time on site | About an hour for a typical job | Longer, plus 24 to 72 hours before use |
| Behavior in water | Closed cell, inert, will not wash out | Water permeable, can wash out |
| House slabs | Yes | No |
Your Three Options
What each route actually costs.
Priced as a share of full tear-out and replacement of the same concrete.
Least expensive
Mudjacking
~40%
of the cost to replace the concrete
- Cheapest option up front
- Mixture is dealer's choice: dirt and concrete at whatever ratio that crew uses
- Two inch holes or larger, permanently visible
- 24 to 72 hours before you can use it
- Water permeable, so it can wash out and settle again
- Cannot lift a house slab
The cheapest number on this page, and the one most likely to be spent twice.
Best value
ReLevel Poly Lifting
70-85%
of the cost to replace the concrete
- Exact 1:1 ratio of resin and iso, measured by the rig on every single job
- Holes about 5/8 of an inch, roughly the size of a dime
- Most jobs take about an hour, and the concrete is usable as soon as we finish
- Closed cell and waterproof, so it will not wash out
- Fills the voids and compacts the soil that caused the settling
- Can lift a house slab, which neither other option can do
Honest downside: your concrete is level again, not new. Existing stains and cracks are still yours.
Most expensive
Tear Out & Repour
100%
the baseline every other price is measured against
- Genuinely looks brand new, which is the one thing lifting cannot do
- Demolition, hauling, forms, and new concrete
- Days of work and roughly a week of curing before full use
- Does nothing to the soil that caused the problem
- New slab on the same unstable ground can sink and crack again
- Not a realistic option for a settled house slab
Worth it when the concrete itself has failed. Rarely worth it when the concrete is fine and the dirt moved.
Why This Matters
You cannot rent your way into this trade.
Anyone can buy bags of concrete and call themselves a repour contractor. Mudjacking equipment can be rented by the day. A polyurethane rig cannot.
Roughly $100,000 to start
The truck, the pump, the heated hose, the reactor, and the initial material. That is the price of admission before a single job gets quoted.
No rental counter carries it
Poly rigs are not rental equipment. Whoever shows up with one has committed real capital to doing this specific work.
The material is unforgiving
Resin and iso have to run at an exact 1:1 ratio and at temperature. The rig meters it. Guesswork produces foam that does not hold.
We are not saying that to knock anyone. We are saying it because when you get three quotes and one is dramatically cheaper, it is worth knowing what is behind each number.
Questions
What people ask about the process.
How long does polyurethane concrete lifting last?
The foam itself does not break down, wash out, or lose volume. It is a closed-cell structural polyurethane that stays inert in the ground indefinitely. What matters is that we fill the voids and compact the loose soil that caused the settlement in the first place, which is why properly injected slabs generally stay put for decades. Ask about the written warranty when we quote your job.
Is polyjacking better than mudjacking?
For nearly every residential job, yes, and the mixture is the reason. Polyurethane is two liquids, resin and iso, that have to meet at an exact 1:1 ratio, and the rig meters that automatically on every injection. Mudjacking slurry is dirt and concrete mixed at whatever ratio that crew happens to use, so two mudjacking contractors can pump genuinely different materials under two identical driveways. Foam also uses 5/8 inch holes instead of two-inch holes, is ready to use immediately instead of in days, and is closed-cell and waterproof so it will not wash out. Mudjacking also cannot lift a house slab.
How long does the job take and when can I use it?
A typical residential job is about an hour on site, and the concrete is ready to use as soon as we pack up. The foam reaches most of its final strength within roughly fifteen minutes of injection, which is why you can park on a driveway the same visit. Mudjacking usually needs 24 to 72 hours before it will carry weight, and a full replacement needs about a week of curing.
Why not just tear it out and pour new concrete?
Replacement has one genuine advantage: the concrete looks brand new, which lifting cannot do. What it does not do is fix the ground. A slab sinks because the soil under it consolidated, washed out, or was never compacted properly, and pouring fresh concrete onto that same soil gives you a new slab sitting on the identical problem. Lifting fills the voids and compacts the subgrade, so it treats the cause. Replacement also costs the most and takes about a week of curing, where lifting is usually about an hour and usable immediately. If your concrete is badly broken or stained rather than simply settled, replacement may genuinely be the right call and we will tell you so.
Why is polyurethane lifting more expensive than mudjacking?
Two reasons. The material is a manufactured polyurethane held to an exact ratio rather than dirt and concrete mixed on site, and the equipment is a specialized rig that costs roughly $100,000 to put on the road. Poly rigs are not available at rental counters, so anyone quoting you poly has committed real capital to doing this specific work. Mudjacking runs around 40 percent of replacement cost and poly runs about 70 to 85 percent, but a slurry that washes out and has to be redone is the more expensive option in the end.
Will the foam damage my slab or harm the environment?
No. The injection holes are about the size of a dime and are patched when we finish. The foam is inert once cured, does not leach into soil or groundwater, and is the same class of material used under highways and airport runways. It adds far less weight to already-weak soil than a cement-based slurry would.
Free Estimates
Find out what it costs. Free, no pressure.
We measure the settlement, mark the lift plan, and give you the number on the spot. If your concrete does not need lifting, we will tell you that instead.