Overview
Polyjacking lifts sunken concrete by injecting expanding polyurethane foam beneath the slab through small drilled holes. The foam expands, fills voids and raises the slab, then cures quickly.
Compared with mudjacking, foam leveling typically uses smaller holes and lighter material. Surfaces can often be used soon after work. The foam itself is generally resistant to water.
Foam leveling is used on driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, pool decks and some interior slabs. Like any lifting method, it works best when the slab is in reasonable condition and underlying causes are addressed.
How it typically works
- Inspecting the slab and identifying causes of settlement.
- Drilling small injection holes.
- Injecting foam while monitoring lift.
- Stopping at the desired level.
- Recommending joint sealing or drainage improvements.
Things worth considering
- Foam density and product choices vary. Ask what is being used.
- Over-lifting can crack slabs. Monitoring matters.
- Addressing drainage helps prevent recurring settlement.
- Ask how quickly the surface can be used.
- Foam can also fill voids under slabs without lifting.
Local notes for Colorado's Front Range
Parts of Colorado's Front Range are known for expansive clay soils and claystone bedrock that swell when wet and shrink as they dry. That movement can affect foundations, basement slabs, driveways and sidewalks, and it is one reason many local homes are built with deep foundations or floating basement slabs.
Front Range weather brings freeze-thaw cycles, spring snowmelt and summer storms. Keeping water away from the foundation with working gutters, extended downspouts, grading that slopes away from the house and careful irrigation near the foundation is a common first step before or alongside any repair.
We take inquiries from Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo.
Getting ready to reach out
- Take photos of cracks, gaps, sloping floors or sunken slabs, with a tape measure or coin in frame for scale.
- Note the age of the home and whether it has a basement, crawl space or slab.
- Say whether you are buying or selling the home, since timelines may matter.
- Mention any previous foundation, drainage or concrete work, and whether a warranty came with it.
- Note when you first noticed the problem and whether it seems to be getting worse.
Signs to slow down
- Pressure to sign the same day, or claims that a discount disappears if you wait.
- No written proposal describing the scope, materials and number of piers or supports.
- No mention of permits for structural work where your jurisdiction requires them.
- Vague warranty terms, or no answer about whether the warranty transfers to a new owner.
- No plan for restoring landscaping, walkways or finishes disturbed by the work.
Questions worth asking
- How soon can I use the surface?
- What warranty applies?
- How will you control the lift?
- What foam product do you use?
- Is my slab a good candidate for foam leveling?
People also ask
- Is polyjacking better than mudjacking?
- Each has trade-offs. Foam is lighter and uses smaller holes; mudjacking is an established cement-based method.
- How soon can I drive on a foam-leveled driveway?
- Foam cures quickly, and many surfaces can be used soon after. Ask your contractor.
- Can foam fill voids without lifting?
- Yes, it can be used to fill voids under slabs.
Related topics
- Patio and Pool Deck Leveling: Leveling patios, pool decks and porches, why they settle, and questions to ask.
- Garage Floor Leveling: Why garage slabs settle or crack, options for leveling, and what to ask before work starts.
- Sidewalk Trip Hazards: How uneven sidewalks are repaired, from lifting to grinding, and what property owners should know.