What Is Mudjacking and Is It Worth It?
Level your uneven, sunken, or settled concrete with this cost-effective fix
Highlights
Mudjacking is a method of leveling uneven concrete driveways, patios, steps, and more.
This process is best performed by professionals with specialized equipment.
Mudjacking costs an average of $3 to $6 per square foot.
Severely damaged slabs may require replacement instead.
If you’ve noticed that your driveway is sinking, your concrete steps are pulling away from the house, or one of your walkway slabs is lower than the rest, you might think you need to replace the concrete. Mudjacking is a budget-friendly and quick way to avoid a full replacement and return your concrete back to its original level. Learn how mudjacking works, its pros and cons, and what signs to look for to tell if it’s time to hire a pro to mudjack your concrete.
What Is Mudjacking?
Mudjacking is one of the most effective concrete repair methods because it can be completed in just a few hours. Experienced homeowners with access to hydraulic pumping equipment can also DIY mudjacking with the right tools and supplies, to save some money.
Mudjacking is a concrete leveling method to lift asphalt slabs in sidewalks, patios, and driveways. The mudjacking process involves pumping cement slurry—often a mix of sand, water, and cement—under the slab through a hole to lift it back up to its original height. This specialized process should be completed by a mudjacking and concrete leveling professional.
How Does Mudjacking Work?
Mudjacking is a straightforward process to level concrete that a mudjacking pro can complete in only a few hours. First, they’ll drill the slab with holes that are approximately 1 5/8 inch in diameter and four to six feet apart. Next, they’ll use a hydraulic pump to inject a premixed cement slurry into the holes. The slurry will fill the voids and holes below the surface and lift the concrete until it’s level.
Once the concrete has lifted to the correct level, the pro will fill the holes and caulk any cracks in the slab to prevent water intrusion. You’ll need to wait about 24 hours for the material to cure before the slab is ready for regular use.
Signs Your Concrete Needs Mudjacking
Not sure if your concrete needs to be mudjacked? A few key signs can indicate it’s time to bring in the pros and level your concrete.
Cracks in concrete surfaces that are more than 1/4 of an inch wide
Concrete that rocks or shifts when weight is applied
Porches, decks, or steps that are pulling away from your home
Gaps or height differences between slabs
Water pooling on concrete surfaces
Soil erosion around concrete slabs
What Are the Pros and Cons of Mudjacking?
Although mudjacking can be a great solution for your concrete and asphalt problems, it also has some drawbacks. If you’re considering mudjacking, it’s essential to learn its pros and cons in order to make an educated decision.
Pros of Mudjacking
Cost-effective: Mudjacking is relatively inexpensive when compared to other ways of replacing concrete slabs, which require heavy and expensive equipment and plenty of labor hours.
Durable: Mudjacking is a permanent fix. The injected slurry won’t absorb water or expand, which means you shouldn’t have to worry about sinking slabs in the future.
Versatile: Mudjacking can fix a variety of cracked and uneven surfaces, plus it can also be done at any time of the year, regardless of the weather conditions.
A quick repair: This technique is fast compared to other options—where contractors often have to break up the concrete before replacing it. Generally, you can use the surface the day after the repair instead of waiting weeks for the freshly poured surface to dry.
Sustainable materials: The slurry injected under the concrete uses a sustainable mix of water, sand, and cement.
Cons of Mudjacking
Possible cracking: If the job isn’t completed properly, then cracking could occur. An experienced contractor will use the proper thickness of slurry, which will reduce the chance of breaking the slab.
Not suitable for shifting soils: If the ground is shifting to the point that it can’t support a slab, adding heavy cement won’t solve the problem. In this case, we recommend polyurethane foam injection instead of cement to raise sunken slabs.
Doesn’t fix a damaged slab: Mudjacking won’t help for a severely damaged slab. In this case, replacing the slab will be a better option.
Could compromise the structural integrity: A professional contractor will assess the situation, but in some cases, if the damage is too close to the house, mudjacking could negatively impact the house’s structure.
How Much Does Mudjacking Cost?
Mudjacking is considered one of the most affordable techniques to repair concrete or asphalt compared to other methods. Mudjacking will cost almost a third to half the price of other traditional repairs or replacements.
Expect to pay between $570 and $1,500 for the average mudjacking job. However, the extent of the damage will affect the final price. That's why we recommend repairing any concrete or asphalt damage quickly to avoid a hefty price tag.
What Should I Expect After Mudjacking?
The smooth results of mudjacking can last for many years, even decades. It should not settle or deteriorate over time.
However, if the soil underneath the slab is not 100% compact, cracking may happen again. If it does, the slabs can be lifted back into place using the same method. Check with your contractor about whether they offer a warranty.
Is Mudjacking Worth It?
Mudjacking is a long-lasting, reliable solution to sunken or settled concrete when performed by a concrete leveling professional. It is more budget-friendly than other forms of concrete leveling like polyjacking, with the cost of mudjacking averaging $3 to $6 per square foot compared to $5 to $25 per square foot for polyjacking. Mudjacking is also an easier and more affordable fix than replacing a damaged or sunken slab.
Alternatives to Mudjacking
Other kinds of concrete leveling are available, including sandjacking, slabjacking, and polyjacking, all of which use different materials to fill voids below the surface and lift concrete. These methods vary in cost and effectiveness, and different methods may be more appropriate for different types and sizes of concrete slabs as well as for the reasons they need leveling.
In some cases, fully replacing a slab is a better alternative to mudjacking if the slab itself is too damaged to be leveled. Once the structural integrity of the slab itself has been compromised, replacement is the only way to ensure future stability and durability.
Marwa Hasan contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mudjacking can last 5 to 10 years or more, depending on the condition of the underlying soil and the surrounding environmental conditions. The mudjacking material can be susceptible to breaking down from the freeze/thaw cycle or erosion, but under good conditions, it can remain stable and strong for a decade or more.
Yes, you can mudjack cracked concrete, but the cracks will need to be repaired once the concrete has been leveled. If the concrete is severely cracked in multiple places, replacement may be a better option, but for less severe cracking, mudjacking is a good solution as long as cracks are correctly caulked and sealed.
Mudjacking can take 24 to 72 hours to cure enough to resume normal use. Because the slurry mixture contains cement, it needs to fully harden to ensure that added weight won’t shift the concrete slab before it has completely set. Your concrete contractor will be able to tell you when you’re free to use your concrete surfaces again after mudjacking.