Concrete · Service

Mudjacking — lifting slabs with cementitious slurry

Mudjacking pumps a sand-cement slurry under a sunken slab through drilled ports until the panel rises. It is the older, heavier method of concrete leveling — still the right call on some thick outdoor slabs, and the wrong one when weight or small holes matter more.

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In short

What is mudjacking?

Mudjacking (slab jacking with slurry) lifts sunken concrete by drilling ports through the slab and pumping a cement-based mix into the void beneath until the panel rises back toward grade. The material is heavier and the holes are larger than foam injection. It has decades of field use on sidewalks, driveways and pads where mass is acceptable and access for slurry equipment is good.

Triggers

Signs you need mudjacking

A driveway, sidewalk, patio or garage apron panel sits low at a joint or corner
You can see a void or hear a hollow area under a still-intact slab
Water ponds on a panel that used to drain, or drains toward a building
A trip lip has formed between two otherwise solid sections
You prefer a cementitious fill under a thick outdoor slab rather than polymer foam
A previous thin patch on the surface keeps failing because the slab is still low

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The job

How mudjacking actually works

Confirm the slab is worth lifting

Mudjacking needs concrete that still acts as a panel. Wide structural cracks into many pieces, severe spalling, or reinforcement exposed and rotting are replacement candidates. Lifting rubble creates level rubble.

Watch for: A mudjacking quote on a slab that should be demoed. If the surface is failing, height is not the main problem.
Find why it settled

Washout from downspouts, poorly compacted trenches, organic soil rot-out and plumbing leaks under slabs all create voids. The slurry fills the void; it does not stop active erosion. Water management has to be part of the plan.

Watch for: Lift-only proposals next to a downspout that still dumps at the edge. Expect a return visit in a few seasons.
Drill ports and mix slurry

Holes are typically larger than foam ports — often in the range used for traditional mudjacking equipment — arranged so the panel can be raised evenly. The slurry is a pumpable cementitious mix; exact recipes vary by contractor and soil conditions.

Watch for: Random holes with no lift sequence. One-corner pumping cracks slabs that would have survived staged lifting.
Pump, watch, and stop at grade

Material is injected while the crew watches joints and elevations against a reference. The slab should rise gradually. Overlift creates a new trip hazard the other way.

Watch for: No laser, string line or fixed reference. "Looks about right" is how overlift happens.
Patch ports and control traffic

Holes are filled and finished flush. Because the fill is cementitious and heavy, cure and traffic rules depend on the mix and weather. Ask when vehicles or heavy point loads may return.

Watch for: Same-afternoon truck traffic promised without a cure basis. Early loads punch into soft subbase even if the surface looks hard.
Address the water path

Regrade edges, extend downspouts, seal open joints that feed water under the slab. Mudjacking without drainage work is often a temporary cosmetic.

Watch for: Joint sealing sold as optional when open joints are clearly feeding the void you just filled.
Compare quotes on scope, not slurry brand names

Two mudjacking bids can look similar until you compare whether drainage corrections, joint sealing, traffic protection and re-visit terms are included. The cheap number is often a lift-only line that leaves the failure mode untouched.

Watch for: Material volume estimates that seem wildly different for the same panel without explanation of void size assumptions.

Money

What does mudjacking cost?

Mudjacking is usually priced by square footage lifted or by hole count and material volume. It is often less than full replacement of the same panel and can undercut foam on some large, simple outdoor slabs — though access, thickness and void size move the number. Compare written scopes, not method brand names alone.

See the full mudjacking cost guide — by material, size and region →

Straight answer

When mudjacking is the wrong call

Everyone else ranking for this is paid when you say yes. Here's when you shouldn't.

The slab is broken into many fragments or the surface is disintegrating. Replacement is cleaner than lifting failed concrete.
You need the smallest cosmetic ports under a highly visible interior or polished slab. Foam systems typically use smaller holes; mudjacking ports are more conspicuous before patching.
Added weight on weak soil is a concern. Cementitious slurry is heavy. On some soils that extra mass works against long-term stability — ask for an honest soil read.
Active plumbing leaks or washout are still running under the slab. Fix the water first.
The problem is a foundation or structural settlement issue, not a flatwork void. That belongs with foundation specialists, not sidewalk mudjacking crews.
You were sold mudjacking without any mention of cause. Method choice without diagnosis is a coin flip.

Your options

Types of mudjacking

Concrete leveling overview

Neutral comparison of lift methods.

Polyjacking

Lightweight foam injection method.

Concrete repair

When cracks and surface damage dominate.

Concrete installation

Replace panels that are past lifting.

Compare concrete options side by side →

Before you sign

What to check when hiring for mudjacking

Why is slurry the better method for this slab than foam?

A one-method company should still explain fit for your thickness, soil and access.
What hole size and pattern will you use, and how are ports patched?

Appearance after the job matters on patios and entries.
What is causing the settlement, and what water or soil work is included?

Lift without cause control is a short warranty in practice.
How do you monitor elevation during the pump?

Separates careful crews from volume pumpers.
When can vehicles and furniture return?

Cure expectations should be written.
What warranty covers re-settlement, and what voids it?

Drainage neglect often voids coverage — know that up front.
Will you provide before-and-after elevation photos or measurements?

Proof of lift and a record if settlement returns.
Who repairs irrigation or landscaping damaged by equipment?

Access paths need an owner before ruts appear.

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Local pros

Mudjacking near you

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Related work

Often done at the same time

Concrete Leveling

Method-neutral comparison

Polyjacking

Foam injection alternative

Concrete Repair

Cracks and surface damage

Driveway

When replacement is smarter

All concrete services →

FAQ

Mudjacking — questions people ask

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How is mudjacking different from polyjacking?

Mudjacking injects a cementitious slurry through larger holes; polyjacking injects expanding polyurethane foam through smaller holes. Slurry is heavier and traditional; foam is lighter, usually cleaner cosmetically, and often returns to service faster. Which wins depends on slab type, soil, access and cost — see the leveling comparison page for a neutral overview.

How long does mudjacking last?

When the void cause is fixed and the slab is sound, lifts can last many years. If water keeps removing soil, any fill will settle again. Longevity is mostly a drainage and soil story, not a brand story.

Is mudjacking messy?

It involves drilling, pumping and slurry handling. Good crews contain runoff and clean ports; poor ones leave cement film on adjacent surfaces. Ask how they protect landscaping and walls.

Can mudjacking fix foundation settlement?

Flatwork mudjacking is for slabs on grade — sidewalks, drives, patios, some garage floors. Structural foundation movement uses different methods (piers, underpinning) under foundation-repair scopes. Do not treat a house settlement problem as a sidewalk slurry job.

Will the holes show?

Ports are patched and usually visible as small circles if you look for them, more so than foam's smaller holes. On broom-finished outdoor concrete they blend better than on smooth decorative slabs.

How soon can I drive on it?

Depends on mix, temperature and void depth. Some jobs allow careful traffic within a day; others need longer. Get the contractor's written guidance rather than a generic internet number.

Is mudjacking permanent?

It is permanent for the void you fill if the cause of settlement is controlled. It is temporary if water keeps removing soil from under the slab. Think of mudjacking as restoring support, not as waterproofing or soil engineering by itself. Pair the lift with drainage and joint work when those are part of the problem story.

How noisy and disruptive is a mudjacking visit?

Expect drilling, a pump, and crew traffic for a portion of a day on most residential panels. You can usually stay home. Vehicle access near the work area helps. Interior living spaces are rarely opened unless the slab being lifted is a basement or garage floor tied into living use.

Can mudjacking fix a sunken pool deck?

Often yes when panels remain intact and equipment can reach the deck safely. Chemical handling near water, joint layout around coping, and access over landscaping all need a crew that has done decks before. Ask specifically — driveway-only experience does not automatically transfer.

What should be in a mudjacking warranty?

Look for re-settlement coverage on the lifted area for a defined period, with clear exclusions for new washout, owner grading changes, and tree-root upheaval. Verbal "lifetime" claims without paper are marketing, not protection. Get the document before the drill starts.

Will mudjacking match the colour of my concrete?

Port patches rarely match perfectly at first. Outdoor concrete weathers toward a more uniform look over time, but you may always see subtle circles if you look for them. If invisible cosmetics are mandatory on a showpiece slab, discuss foam ports or replacement instead.

Can you mudjack a slab with radiant heat tubing?

Only with extreme caution and usually imaging or as-built knowledge of tubing layout. Drilling into heated slabs without a map risks destroying the system. Tell the contractor about radiant heat before anyone marks hole locations.

How do I prepare the site for mudjacking day?

Clear vehicles from the work panels, unlock gates, mark irrigation heads you know about, and keep pets inside. Tell the crew about buried lines if you have private locate knowledge. Simple preparation prevents most day-of delays.

Mudjacking — lifting slabs with cementitious slurry

What is mudjacking?

Signs you need mudjacking

How mudjacking actually works

What does mudjacking cost?

When mudjacking is the wrong call

Types of mudjacking

Concrete leveling overview

Polyjacking

Concrete repair

Concrete installation

What to check when hiring for mudjacking

Mudjacking near you

Often done at the same time

Concrete Leveling

Polyjacking

Concrete Repair

Driveway

Mudjacking — questions people ask

Get mudjacking done right.

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