Driveways and aprons
Sunken sections, especially where the driveway meets the garage or the street, can be raised so cars and water flow the right way again.
Mudjacking
Mudjacking Austin TX
Sunken driveway, walkway, or patio? Mudjacking lifts the concrete back into place without tearing it out and pouring new.
Driveways & walkwaysPatios & porch slabsLess disruption than replacing
Mudjacking for sunken concrete
Mudjacking, also called slab jacking, lifts sunken concrete by pumping a cement-based slurry underneath it. Small holes are drilled through the slab, the slurry fills the empty space below, and the pressure raises the concrete back toward its original level. The holes are then patched.
It is a practical fix for concrete that has dropped but is still in one piece: driveways, walkways, patios, porch slabs, steps, pool decks, and garage floors. Lifting the slab you already have usually costs less and causes less disruption than tearing it out and pouring new concrete.
Around Austin, the usual causes are soil that shrinks during long dry spells, runoff that washes soil out from under the edge of a slab, and fill soil that settles over time. We offer mudjacking alongside our foundation repair work, so we can also tell you if the problem goes beyond the flatwork.
Signs a slab may be a good candidate:
- A driveway or walkway section that has dropped and created a trip edge.
- A patio or pool deck that now slopes toward the house.
- Porch steps or a stoop that have pulled away from the foundation.
- Gaps opening between a garage floor and the driveway apron.
Concrete we can lift
Mudjacking works on flatwork that has settled as one piece. These are the jobs it is used for most:
Walkways and steps
Trip edges between sidewalk panels are a safety problem. Lifting the low panel removes the edge without replacing the walk.
Patios and pool decks
When a patio tips toward the house, rain runs straight at the foundation. Lifting it restores the slope away from the home.
Porch and garage slabs
Porch slabs and garage floors that have settled can be raised and the gap at the house sealed once the slab is back in place.
When mudjacking is not the right fix
Lifting a slab only works when the concrete and the cause allow it. We will tell you if another approach makes more sense, for example:
- The concrete is broken into many pieces or crumbling. Replacement is usually the better value.
- The house foundation itself is moving. That calls for foundation leveling or piers, not flatwork lifting.
- Water keeps washing soil out from under the slab. The drainage needs to be fixed first, or the slab can sink again.
We also offer foam leveling, which lifts the slab with expanding polyurethane instead of a cement slurry. Both work; which one fits depends on the slab, the soil, and the size of the void. See our concrete leveling page to compare them.
How a mudjacking job works
Check the slab and the cause
We look at how far the concrete has dropped, whether it is cracked through, and what washed out or compressed the soil underneath.
Drill and pump
Small holes are drilled in a planned pattern, and slurry is pumped in slowly so the slab rises evenly instead of cracking.
Patch and clean up
The holes are filled with grout and the work area is cleaned. Expect the patches to show slightly against older concrete.
Fix the water problem
If runoff caused the settling, we point out downspout, grading, or joint-sealing fixes that help keep the slab where it is.
What affects the price
Every job is priced after we see it, because the cost depends on a few things that vary a lot from slab to slab:
- The size of the area that needs lifting.
- How far the concrete has dropped and how much material it takes to fill the void.
- Access for equipment and hoses.
- Whether joints need sealing or drainage changes are part of the job.
You get the price in writing before any work starts.
Mudjacking questions
How long does mudjacking last?
It depends mostly on the soil and water under the slab. When the drainage problem that caused the settling is fixed, a lifted slab can stay in place for years. If water keeps washing soil away, it can settle again.
Can you mudjack a house foundation?
Mudjacking is mainly for driveways, walkways, patios, and other flatwork. A house slab that is settling usually needs piers or other leveling methods, which we can inspect and quote separately.
Will the patched holes show?
A little. The holes are filled with cement grout, which may not match older, weathered concrete exactly.
When can I use the driveway again?
We will tell you how long to stay off it for your specific job. It is much sooner than with new concrete, which needs days to cure.
How do I get started?
Call (737) 245-0220. Tell us what has sunk and where, and we will set up a time to look at it and give you a written price.
Where we work
We lift sunken concrete across Austin and in nearby Lakeway, West Lake Hills, and Bee Cave.
Get the low spot lifted
Tell us which concrete has settled and how much. We will look at it, explain whether mudjacking is the right fix, and give you a written price.