Concrete Leveling
Fix sunken, uneven concrete without expensive replacement using modern leveling techniques that work fast and last.
What Is Concrete Leveling
Concrete leveling lifts sunken slabs back to their original position without tearing them out and replacing them. The process works by filling voids underneath the concrete and raising it from below. This saves you thousands of dollars compared to full replacement. It also takes just hours instead of days, causes minimal disruption, and extends the life of your existing concrete by decades.
Sunken concrete happens when the soil underneath settles, washes away, or compresses. This is common in University, FL where we have sandy soil and heavy rain. The concrete itself is usually still in good condition. It just needs support underneath. Rather than breaking it up and hauling it away, we inject material under the slab to fill voids and lift it back to level. This approach makes more sense both financially and environmentally.
Common Problems We Fix
- Sunken driveway sections creating trip hazards and drainage issues
- Uneven sidewalks and walkways that pose safety risks
- Settled patio slabs causing water to pool against your home
- Garage floors that slope and make doors difficult to close
- Pool decks with uneven sections and dangerous lips
- Foundation slabs showing signs of settling or sinking
- Commercial flatwork creating liability concerns
We use two main methods for leveling. Mudjacking pumps a cement-based slurry under the slab through drilled holes. Polyurethane foam injection uses expanding foam that cures in minutes. Both methods work well. Foam is lighter, faster, and ideal for weak soil. Mudjacking costs less and works great for most applications. When we assess your concrete leveling needs, we recommend the best method for your specific situation and budget.
Benefits Over Replacement
The cost difference between leveling and replacement is dramatic. Replacing a typical driveway might cost $5,000 to $10,000. Leveling that same driveway typically runs $800 to $2,000. You save 60 to 80 percent by choosing leveling over replacement. That is thousands of dollars you can spend on other home improvements or keep in your savings. The leveled concrete performs just as well as new concrete for a fraction of the price.
Time savings matter too. Replacement takes several days from demolition through curing. You lose access to the area for a week or more. Leveling typically completes in a few hours. We drill small holes, inject the material, patch the holes, and you can use the surface immediately. For busy homeowners or businesses, this minimal downtime makes leveling the obvious choice.
Leveling is also better for the environment. Replacement sends tons of concrete to landfills and requires new materials and energy for production. Leveling reuses your existing concrete and uses minimal new material. It generates almost no waste. If you care about sustainability, leveling aligns with those values while saving you money.
The results last just as long as replacement when the underlying cause is addressed. If poor drainage caused the settling, we recommend fixing that issue. If soft soil caused compression, the injected material stabilizes it. Once lifted and supported properly, your concrete should stay level for 10 to 20 years or more. This is comparable to the lifespan of new concrete. Combined with the cost and time savings, leveling makes sense for most sunken concrete situations. For other concrete repairs, we offer comprehensive solutions that extend the life of your existing surfaces.
Our Leveling Process
We start every leveling project with a thorough assessment. We measure how much the slab has settled using lasers and levels. We look for cracks that might affect the lifting process. We also investigate why the slab settled in the first place. Understanding the cause helps us prevent future settling. Sometimes we find drainage problems that need fixing. Other times the soil just needed more compaction initially.
For mudjacking, we drill holes about 2 inches in diameter through the slab. We space these strategically based on where voids exist and how much lift is needed. Then we pump the slurry mixture under the slab under controlled pressure. The material flows into voids and gradually lifts the slab. We monitor the lift carefully with levels to achieve exactly the right height. Once level, we stop pumping and let the material set.
Polyurethane foam injection uses smaller holes, typically 5/8 inch diameter. We inject two-part foam that expands and hardens in minutes. The foam fills voids and lifts the slab just like mudjacking. The advantage is faster curing and lighter weight material that does not add stress to weak soil. We watch the lift in real-time and control it precisely. The foam cures so fast you can often use the surface within 15 minutes.
After leveling, we patch the injection holes to match the surrounding concrete. For mudjacking, we fill the holes with concrete and smooth them flush. For foam injection, the holes are so small the patches are barely visible. We clean up any excess material and inspect the final results. Most customers are amazed at how good their old concrete looks once it is back to level. Whether you need driveway leveling or patio lifting, we deliver fast, affordable results that solve your uneven concrete problems.