Concrete leveling in Pittsburgh, PA
If a slab has sunk but is still in one piece, it may not need replacing. Concrete leveling fills the empty space under the slab and raises it back up, often in a few hours and for about a third to half of what a new pour would cost. It is also called concrete jacking, mudjacking or slab jacking.
Job ticket: Concrete Leveling
- Holes
- Small, patched after
- Use again
- Hours to 1 day
- Saves
- About half vs replacing
- Best for
- Sunken, sound slabs
Rough guide$4 to $12 per sq ft
Mudjacking or foam lifting?
There are two main ways to lift concrete. Both start by drilling small holes through the slab, and both fill the empty space below.
| Mudjacking (slab jacking) | Polyurethane foam (polyjacking) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Cement and soil slurry | Expanding foam |
| Hole size | About 1 to 2 in | About 5/8 in |
| Weight | Heavy | Very light |
| Ready to use | About a day | Within minutes to hours |
| Typical price | $4 to $7 per sq ft | $7 to $12 per sq ft |
What can be lifted
- Sidewalks and walkways with trip edges
- Driveway panels that tilt toward the garage
- Porches and steps pulling away from the house
- Garage floors with sunken sections
- Patios that hold water
- Pool decks and pads
When lifting will not work
Lifting needs a sound slab. If the concrete is badly broken, flaking or crumbling, the pieces won't lift cleanly, and the surface will still look tired. If the ground under the slab is still moving, because of a washed-out drain or a steep fill slope, the slab may sink again unless the water problem is fixed. In those cases we will price replacement or resurfacing and explain why.
Foundation walls and house settlement are a different thing, and a structural engineer should look at those. Concrete leveling is for flatwork, not for lifting a house.
Why concrete sinks around Pittsburgh
Most sinking comes from water washing fines out from under the slab or from poor compaction when the house was built. Backfill around a foundation keeps settling for years, and that is why porches and walks next to a house so often drop. Downspouts that dump next to a slab speed things up. So part of the job is checking where the water goes, or the same slab will drop again.
Trip hazards
For landlords and homeowners, a raised edge on a walk is a liability as well as an eyesore. Leveling is often the quickest fix. City sidewalks can have their own rules, so if the walk is in the public right-of-way, check with your municipality first.
How the work goes
- Check the slab
We check whether it is sound, and why it sank.
- Drill the holes
Small holes are drilled at planned points.
- Lift it
Slurry or foam is pumped in while we watch the slab rise.
- Patch and seal
Holes and joints are sealed, and we point out any drainage fixes.
Common questions
How much does concrete leveling cost?
Usually $4 to $12 per square foot around Pittsburgh. Many small jobs land between $500 and $2,000.
How much does concrete leveling cost per square foot?
About $4 to $7 for mudjacking and $7 to $12 for polyurethane foam.
Is mudjacking worth it?
Often, yes. If the slab is sound, it costs far less than replacing it, and it can be done quickly.
Does mudjacking last?
It can last many years if the cause of the sinking is fixed. Without drainage work, a slab may settle again.
Is mudjacking permanent?
Not guaranteed permanent, but it is a long-term fix on stable ground. Foam tends to resist washout a little better.
Is mudjacking effective?
Yes, for sound slabs that have sunk evenly. It isn't suited to crumbling concrete or moving foundations.
How much does concrete lifting cost?
Foam lifting usually costs $7 to $12 per square foot, with a minimum charge for small jobs.
More concrete services
- concrete slabs in Pittsburgh
- concrete garage floors
- concrete basement floors
- concrete flatwork
- exposed aggregate concrete
- concrete footers
- shed slabs and hot tub pads
- concrete resurfacing in Pittsburgh
- concrete sealing
- epoxy garage floors
- concrete removal