Concrete Leveling & Mudjacking in Boulder, Colorado
Lift sunken driveways, patios, and sidewalks back to grade in a few hours, no demolition and no new concrete needed.
Has a section of your driveway, patio, or walkway sunk enough that you notice it every time you walk over it? Boulder Concrete Repair Co. lifts and levels sunken concrete slabs for homeowners throughout Boulder, Colorado, using mudjacking or polyurethane foam injection to raise the slab back to its original grade in a matter of hours. There's no need to demolish and repour a slab just because it's dropped a couple of inches.
Concrete leveling works because sunken concrete is almost always a soil problem, not a concrete problem. The slab itself is usually still solid and structurally fine; it's just resting on ground that has settled, washed out, or developed a void underneath it. Instead of replacing perfectly good concrete, we fill that void and lift the slab back to where it belongs. It's faster, less disruptive, and considerably cheaper than a full replacement.
What Concrete Leveling Involves
We offer two lifting methods, and which one we recommend depends on the slab, the soil, and your budget. Mudjacking, the traditional method, pumps a thick slurry of soil, sand, and cement through small drilled holes to fill the void underneath the slab and lift it back to grade. It's a proven, cost-effective method that's been used for decades. Polyurethane foam injection uses a lightweight expanding foam instead, injected through much smaller holes, that cures within minutes and won't wash out or settle again the way soil-based slurry sometimes can over the years.
Both methods typically take just a few hours per slab, and you can usually walk or drive on the concrete again the same day. We'll assess the size of the void, the soil conditions, and how the slab is being used to recommend the method that will hold up longest for your specific situation.
Signs You Need Concrete Leveling in Boulder
Concrete leveling is worth calling about if you notice:
- A driveway, patio, or sidewalk section that has visibly dropped compared to the slabs around it
- A trip hazard where two slabs meet at different heights
- Water pooling in a spot that used to drain fine
- Gaps opening up between a slab and your garage floor, porch, or foundation
- A slab that rocks or wobbles slightly when you step or drive on it
If the slab itself isn't cracked or broken, leveling alone is often all it needs.
Why Concrete Sinks and Settles Here
Most sunken concrete traces back to the soil that was underneath it when it was originally poured. If that soil wasn't compacted thoroughly, it settles gradually under the weight of the slab over the following years. Heavy spring runoff and sudden snowmelt, both common along the Front Range, can also wash fine soil particles out from under a slab, leaving a void that the concrete eventually sinks into.
Poor drainage compounds the problem. Water that collects at the edge of a driveway or patio instead of running off works its way underneath the slab over time, softening the soil and accelerating settling. Tree roots can have the opposite effect, pushing up on a slab from below rather than letting it sink, which is why leveling sometimes has to address both a sunken section and a heaved one on the same job.
What Affects the Cost of Concrete Leveling
We'll give you a firm price after inspecting the slab and estimating the size of the void underneath. Cost typically depends on:
- The size of the slab and how far it needs to be lifted
- Whether mudjacking or polyurethane foam injection is the better fit
- How many separate slabs or sections need leveling in one visit
- Ground and drainage conditions specific to your property
- Access to the slab for the leveling equipment
Repair or Replace? How to Decide
Leveling makes sense whenever the slab itself is still in good structural condition and the only problem is that it has sunk or shifted. That covers the majority of sunken concrete we see. Replacement becomes the right call when the slab is also badly cracked or broken into pieces, since leveling can't fix concrete that's already fractured. It also makes sense to replace rather than level a slab that has sunk repeatedly in the same spot despite previous lifting work, since that usually points to a drainage issue that needs to be corrected before new concrete goes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between mudjacking and polyurethane foam lifting?
Mudjacking uses a heavier soil-based slurry pumped through larger holes and generally costs less upfront. Foam injection uses a lightweight, fast-curing foam through smaller holes and tends to hold up longer since it won't wash out the way soil-based mixtures can in wet conditions. We'll recommend the better fit for your specific slab and budget.
How long does concrete leveling take?
Most single-slab jobs are done in two to four hours. Foam injection cures within about fifteen minutes, so you can typically use the surface again almost immediately. Mudjacking needs a bit longer to fully set.
Will leveling fix cracks in the slab too?
Leveling addresses height and grade, not cracking. If your slab has cracks in addition to being sunken, we'll typically recommend leveling first and then sealing or injecting the cracks as a separate step in the same visit.
Is concrete leveling permanent?
Both methods are long-lasting when the underlying drainage issue is addressed. Foam injection tends to hold longer in wet or poor-draining soil since it won't break down the way mudjacking slurry can over many years of moisture exposure.
Can you level a garage floor slab too?
Yes, both mudjacking and foam injection work on interior garage floor slabs as well as exterior driveways, patios, and sidewalks, as long as there's access to drill the small injection holes.
Ready to Level Your Concrete?
Get a free, honest estimate on concrete leveling in Boulder today.