Polyjacking: Polyurethane Foam Concrete Lifting Cost and How It Works
Polyjacking, also called foam jacking or polyurethane concrete lifting, raises a sunken slab by injecting a two-part polyurethane that expands under it. It costs $8–25 per square foot, with a $300–700 minimum at most companies, which is roughly two to three times mudjacking at list prices. In return the foam weighs about 2–4 lb per cubic foot, does not wash out, goes in through holes about 5/8 inch wide, and is ready for traffic in about 15 minutes.
Polyjacking lifts sunken concrete with expanding polyurethane foam and costs $8–25 per square foot, with a $300–700 job minimum. The foam goes in through holes about 5/8 inch wide, fills the void, expands to raise the slab, and cures in about 15 minutes. It costs more than mudjacking but adds almost no weight to the soil and does not wash out. Compare it with mudjacking and with replacing the slab in the concrete lifting cost calculator.
Polyjacking Cost by Project
| Project | Typical size | Polyjacking cost | Mudjacking, for comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steps or stoop | 40 sq ft | $320–1,000 | $300–500 |
| Sidewalk | 100 sq ft | $800–2,500 | $400–900 |
| Patio or porch | 150 sq ft | $1,200–3,800 | $600–1,400 |
| Driveway section | 200 sq ft | $1,600–5,000 | $800–1,800 |
| Garage floor | 360 sq ft | $2,880–9,000 | $1,400–3,200 |
| Pool deck | 400 sq ft | $3,200–10,000 | $1,600–3,600 |
Source: HomeGuide 2026 polyjacking and mudjacking price tables. The range is wide because foam is sold by the pound: a slab that sank half an inch over firm soil takes little foam, while one sitting over a washed-out cavity can take many times more. Lifting companies such as A-1 Concrete Leveling describe foam as costing 20–50% more than mudjacking, so ask for both prices.
How Foam Lifting Works
- The crew drills holes about 5/8 inch wide through the slab.
- A two-part liquid polyurethane is injected under the slab through a port.
- The liquid reacts and expands to many times its volume, filling the void.
- As it expands it lifts the slab; the operator watches a laser level and stops at grade.
- The foam cures in about 15 minutes and the holes are patched.
Why Foam Costs More, and When It Is Worth It
| Factor | Polyjacking | Mudjacking |
|---|---|---|
| Material weight | about 2–4 lb per cu ft | about 100 lb per cu ft |
| Hole size | about 5/8 inch | 1.5–2 inch |
| Ready for traffic | about 15 minutes | about 24 hours |
| Water resistance | Closed-cell, does not wash out | Can erode if water runs under the slab |
| Cost per sq ft | $8–25 | $4–9 |
Foam is worth the premium when:
- The soil is weak, wet, or expansive. About 100 lb per cubic foot of slurry adds load to soil that already failed. Slabs over expansive clay, common in the Dallas and San Antonio areas (scores of 76 and 77 out of 100 in the SlabCalc Soil Risk Index), benefit most.
- Water keeps reaching the void. Foam does not erode the way slurry can.
- You need the slab back the same day, such as the only driveway to the house.
- The concrete is decorative. Small patched holes are far less visible on stamped or colored concrete.
- The slab supports precise loads, such as a garage floor under a car lift; see garage floor thickness.
On stable ground with a one-time compaction problem, mudjacking does the same job for about half the price. The side-by-side decision guide is mudjacking vs polyjacking.
When Foam Is the Wrong Fix
- The slab is broken into loose pieces or crumbling.
- It sank more than about 4 inches, which usually signals a large void or active washout.
- Lifting would cost more than about 60% of a new slab. At the top of the foam range this happens often: a 200 sq ft driveway section at $1,600–5,000 can exceed the $1,500–3,400 it costs to replace it at US median prices. In that case get a replacement quote from the concrete driveway cost calculator.
Key Takeaways
- Polyjacking costs $8–25 per sq ft, with a $300–700 minimum
- Foam weighs about 2–4 lb per cu ft, cures in about 15 minutes, and does not wash out
- Choose it for weak, wet, or expansive soil and same-day use
- On stable soil, mudjacking does the job for about half the price
- Get a replacement quote too when foam passes about 60% of a new slab