Mudjacking and foam leveling both raise sunken concrete by filling the space underneath it, but they use different materials. Mudjacking pumps a cement-based slurry under the slab, while foam leveling injects an expanding polyurethane material.
Both are methods within concrete leveling, and both depend on the slab being a reasonable candidate in the first place. Here’s how they compare in plain terms.
How Each Method Works
With mudjacking, sometimes called slabjacking, holes are drilled into the slab and a slurry made from cement, soil or sand and water is pumped underneath. As the space fills, pressure lifts the concrete back toward level. The holes are then patched.
Foam leveling follows a similar idea but uses smaller holes. A liquid foam is injected under the slab, where it expands, fills voids and lifts the concrete. The foam cures into a lightweight, rigid material.
In both cases, the goal is the same: fill the space where soil has settled or washed away, then lift the slab back toward its intended position without removing it.
Key Differences to Understand
Weight
Slurry is heavy, while foam is light. On soft or weak soils, the added weight of slurry can sometimes contribute to future settling. Foam adds far less weight to the ground below.
Hole Size and Appearance
Foam leveling generally uses smaller holes, which can make patches less noticeable. Mudjacking holes are typically larger.
Water Exposure
Cement-based slurry can be affected by water over time, especially where drainage is poor. Foam materials are designed to resist water, though drainage still matters for the soil around them.
Return to Use
Cure times vary by material and conditions. Your contractor should explain when the slab can be used again for your specific project.
Which One Is Right for Your Slab?
The answer depends on the soil, the size of the voids, the condition of the concrete, drainage and the area being lifted. A driveway, a pool area and a front walkway can each call for different considerations. Cost also varies with the material, the amount of lifting needed and access to the slab.
Neither method fixes concrete that is badly broken, and neither stops water from washing out soil if drainage problems remain. If a walkway section has sunk, our article on fixing a sunken concrete walkway explains how cause and condition shape the repair.
It also helps to know what each method cannot do. Neither method can fully hide cracks that were already in the concrete, and lifting a slab that has been low for a long time may reveal gaps at joints or edges that need sealing afterward.
What to Ask Before Choosing
Ask what material is being used and why, how drainage will be handled, and what results you can realistically expect. A good recommendation should be based on your site, not a single method used everywhere.
Our concrete leveling page explains how we decide whether a settled slab is a good candidate for lifting. If you have uneven concrete at your Burlington property, we’re glad to look at it and talk through which approach fits.
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