Low end
$1,000
Typical range
$1,000 - $3,000
High end
$3,000+
What Polyjacking Is and How It Works
Polyjacking, also called polyurethane foam injection or foam jacking, lifts a sunken concrete slab back to grade using expanding structural foam instead of the heavy slurry used in older lifting methods.
The crew drills small penetration holes, roughly 5/8 inch across, through the sunken slab. These are much smaller than the 1-2 inch holes mudjacking requires. A two-part expanding polyurethane foam is then injected beneath the slab. The two components react on contact and expand, spreading several feet from each injection point, filling voids and raising the slab as the foam hardens.
The foam cures in minutes and the surface is usable within about 15-30 minutes to a few hours. Because the cured foam is lightweight, it does not add the settlement-inducing load that a cement slurry can. It is also water-resistant, so it will not wash out from under the slab. The holes are patched when the lift is complete.
By contrast, mudjacking pumps a heavy sand, soil, and cement slurry through larger holes and needs a day or two to cure.
Polyjacking Cost by Project Type
Polyurethane concrete lifting is priced two ways: per square foot and by the whole project. Per square foot runs $5-$25, averaging around $15. Most complete projects land between $1,000 and $3,000. Small jobs carry a minimum fee of $300-$700 or more, which is why little repairs cost more per square foot than large ones.
| Project | Typical Size | Polyjacking Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single sunken sidewalk panel | 16-25 sq ft | $300 - $700 |
| Driveway (one section) | 100-200 sq ft | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Full driveway (multiple sections) | 400-800 sq ft | $2,500 - $6,000 |
| Garage floor (partial settling) | 100-300 sq ft | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Patio | 150-400 sq ft | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Pool deck (sections) | 200-500 sq ft | $1,500 - $4,000 |
Note: minor lift of 1-2 inches uses less foam than major lift of 4-6 inches, so deeper settling raises the cost.
What Drives Polyurethane Concrete Leveling Cost
1. Slab Area
More square footage means more injection points and more foam. This is the primary cost driver, and it is why per-square-foot pricing drops as the job gets bigger.
2. Depth and Amount of Lift
A slab that has dropped 1-2 inches needs far less foam than one that has sunk 4-6 inches. Deeper settling means a larger void to fill before the slab moves.
3. Soil Void Size
A large or irregular void beneath the slab takes more foam to fill, even at the same lift height. Contractors estimate foam volume during assessment.
4. Access
Slabs against walls, under decks, or hemmed in by landscaping are harder to reach. Tight access adds labor time. Labor is 70-80% of the total cost of a polyjacking job, so anything that slows the crew raises the price.
Polyjacking vs. Mudjacking Comparison
| Factor | Polyjacking (Foam) | Mudjacking |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $5 - $25 | $3 - $8 |
| Slab weight added | Negligible | Heavy (adds load) |
| Hole size | 5/8 inch | 1 - 2 inch |
| Cure time | 15-30 minutes | 24-48 hours |
| Water resistance | High (will not wash out) | Low (can wash out) |
| Longevity | 10+ years on stable soil | 10+ years on stable soil |
When polyjacking is worth the premium:
- The slab is load-bearing or sits on weak, eroded, or poorly compacted soil, where the foam’s low weight is a real advantage
- You need the surface back in service fast
- Smaller, less visible holes matter, as on patios or decorative concrete
- Precision lifting is required
When mudjacking is the better value:
- You have a large void and cement slurry fills it economically
- You can wait 24-48 hours for cure
- Budget is the primary constraint
When Polyjacking Is a Good Fit
Polyurethane foam injection is well suited to:
- Driveways, patios, sidewalks, and pool decks that have settled over weak or eroded soil
- Garage floors with partial settling, where fast return to service and low added weight both matter
- Load-bearing slabs over poorly compacted fill, where adding heavy slurry would be counterproductive
- Jobs needing precision or a fast return to service, since the foam cures in minutes
When Polyjacking Is NOT the Right Solution
Foam injection lifts and re-supports a slab, but it does not address every problem:
Active cause of settling: If the settling is driven by active erosion, a leaking pipe, or expansive-soil movement, the foam fills today’s void but the slab can resettle. Fix the cause first.
Badly cracked or crumbled concrete: Polyjacking will not repair deteriorated concrete. A slab that is severely cracked or crumbling usually needs replacement, not lifting.
Structural underpinning needs: Foam is not a whole-house structural fix. Sinking that requires underpinning of the foundation needs piers or piling, not slab lifting.
Severe undermining: When the void is extreme, the volume of foam required can exceed what makes economic sense, and another approach may be cheaper.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
- Get the price both ways. Ask for the per-square-foot rate and the total project number so you can sanity-check the bid.
- Have the contractor assess in person. Void size and lift depth cannot be judged accurately over the phone.
- Ask about the cause of settling. A contractor who asks about drainage, soil, and the history of the sinking is doing the job right.
- Confirm hole patching is included. Verify patching labor is in the quote and not billed separately.
- Ask what happens if the slab does not lift cleanly. A reputable contractor explains the process and its limits before starting.