Foam lifting and polyjacking in Wichita
Foam lifting, also called polyjacking, foam jacking or poly leveling, raises sunken concrete with an expanding polyurethane injected through holes smaller than a dime. It weighs a fraction of what mudjacking slurry does, it sets in minutes, and you can usually drive on the slab the same day.
Call (316) 688-2584How foam lifting works
The crew drills small holes, typically around five eighths of an inch, through the sunken section. A two-part polyurethane is mixed at the tip of the injection gun and pumped under the slab as a liquid.
Once it is under the slab, the liquid expands into foam. It fills the void first, spreads into the loose soil around it, and then pushes the slab up as it keeps expanding. The operator works hole to hole, adding small shots and watching the slab rise to line up with the concrete around it. The holes are then patched.
- Time on site: often under two hours for a residential job.
- Ready for traffic: usually the same day, often within an hour. Confirm the timing with your crew.
- Holes: small, so the patches are hard to notice from standing height.
- Weight: a small fraction of the weight of a cement slurry, so it adds very little load to the soil underneath.
Where foam is worth the higher price
Foam costs more per square foot than mudjacking. On some jobs the difference pays for itself.
- Soft or wet soil. A lighter fill puts less new weight on ground that already failed once.
- Garage floors and interior slabs. Smaller holes, no slurry mess, and the garage is usable again the same day.
- Pool decks. Less weight near the pool wall and smaller holes in a surface everyone sees.
- Driveways you need back today. No waiting a day to park.
- Slabs over deep voids. Foam fills a large void without piling tons of slurry into it.
Foam or mudjacking: the short version
| Foam lifting | Mudjacking | |
|---|---|---|
| Hole size | Around 5/8 inch | Around 1.5 to 2 inches |
| Driving on it | Usually same day | Usually after about a day |
| Typical cost per sq ft | $8 to $25 | $4 to $9 |
Both methods raise the slab the same way, by filling the gap and pressing up from underneath. Mudjacking costs less and suits a lot of outdoor flatwork. For the full side by side, including where the companies selling each method disagree, see mudjacking vs foam lifting.
Cost ranges: HomeGuide, Concrete Leveling Cost. National figures; your estimate depends on the slab.
What foam lifting costs
HomeGuide's national cost data puts polyurethane lifting at roughly $8 to $25 per square foot. For a partial driveway around 200 square feet, that works out to roughly $1,600 to $5,000. See the cost page for what moves the number.
Questions people ask
Is polyjacking the same as foam leveling?
Yes. Polyjacking, poly leveling, foam jacking, foam leveling and polyurethane concrete lifting are all names for the same process.
Does the foam break down in wet soil?
The foams used for concrete lifting are made to sit in the ground and are not affected by ordinary soil moisture. That said, water running under a slab can still wash out the soil around the foam, so fixing downspouts and drainage matters with either method.
Can foam lift a slab that has already been mudjacked?
Often, yes. Old mudjacking material under a slab that settled again can be drilled through and lifted with foam. The contractor will check the condition of the slab first.
Why does foam cost more if the job is faster?
The material is the main cost. Polyurethane is far more expensive per pound than a cement slurry, and the injection equipment costs more to run. The shorter job and same-day use are what you get for it.
Can foam lifting be done in winter?
Yes, in most conditions. The foam has no water in it to freeze, and crews keep the material warm in cold weather. Snow and ice on the slab can still delay a job. See the best time of year to level concrete for how the seasons compare.
Where we work
We take calls from across Wichita and the surrounding towns in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties.
What gets leveled
Driveway Leveling
Panels that dropped at the garage, the street or the sidewalk, raised back into line.
Read moreSidewalk Leveling
Trip hazards on front walks and city sidewalks, raised flush instead of torn out.
Read morePatio Leveling
Patios that tipped toward the house or pulled away from it, lifted back to a proper slope.
Read moreGarage Floor Leveling
Sunken garage slabs and the lip at the door, raised with small holes and little mess.
Read morePorch & Step Leveling
Front steps and stoops that settled away from the door, lifted back up to meet it.
Read morePool Deck Leveling
Settled pool decks and the gap at the coping, lifted with light foam and small holes.
Read moreGet a free estimate
Tell us what is sinking and roughly how big the area is. The contractor will call you back to set up an estimate, and may ask you to text a photo first.
Prefer to talk? Call (316) 688-2584.
Foam concrete lifting in Wichita
Call for a free estimate. Most foam jobs are ready to drive on the same day.