Sunken driveway? Tripping-hazard sidewalk? Real pricing, honest method comparisons, and connections to local Salt Lake Valley leveling specialists — so you fix it for hundreds instead of replacing it for thousands.
The classic method. ~$3–$8/sq ft. Cement slurry pumped under the slab — affordable, proven, great for larger areas.
The modern upgrade. ~$5–$25/sq ft. Lightweight expanding foam — cures in minutes, waterproof, winter-capable.
Honest side-by-side comparison of cost, longevity, cure time, and what actually matters for Utah soil.
Most residential jobs fall in these ranges, professionally done:
| Project | Mudjacking | Polyurethane foam |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk section (~120 sq ft) | $350–$700 | $900–$1,900 |
| Patio / porch (~200 sq ft) | $500–$1,000 | $1,200–$2,400 |
| Driveway section (~220 sq ft) | $650–$1,300 | $1,500–$3,200 |
| Full driveway (~500 sq ft) | $1,500–$2,900 | $3,200–$7,200 |
Replacement typically costs 2–3x these numbers — and takes days, not hours. Read the full cost guide →
Water under the slab freezes, expands, and shifts the soil — then spring melt washes support away. Repeat yearly and the slab drops.
Parts of the valley sit on clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, heaving and dropping slabs with the seasons.
Backfill around foundations and new construction that wasn't compacted properly settles over the first several years, taking the concrete with it.
Snowmelt, sprinklers, and downspouts dumping next to the slab wash soil out from underneath — the #1 preventable cause.
Mid-century homes with decades of settling — sidewalks and driveways that have earned a lift.
90s–2000s subdivisions where backfill settlement is the usual culprit.
Established neighborhoods, older slabs, and east-bench drainage quirks.
Newer builds on graded hillsides — settlement shows up fast when compaction was rushed.
Mudjacking typically runs $3–$8 per square foot, while polyurethane foam leveling runs $5–$25 per square foot. Most residential jobs land between $500 and $3,000 total — far less than tearing out and replacing the concrete. See the full cost guide.
Lifting wins whenever the slab itself is in decent shape — it costs roughly a third to half of replacement, takes hours instead of days, and keeps your existing concrete so everything matches. Replacement makes sense only when the slab is badly cracked, crumbling, or structurally failed.
Mudjacking typically holds 5–10 years; polyurethane foam leveling often lasts longer because the foam is lightweight, waterproof, and won't wash out. Either way, fixing the underlying cause — usually water pooling or poor drainage — is what makes the repair stick.
Polyurethane foam can be installed in cold weather, so winter work is possible. Mudjacking is more temperature-sensitive. Either way, fall is the ideal season — fix the slab before freeze–thaw makes the settling worse. Read why Utah concrete settles.
Uneven slabs, trip hazards on sidewalks, water pooling where it used to drain, cracks that keep widening, and gaps where the driveway meets the garage floor. If you see one of these, a free assessment is worth it — catching settlement early keeps the fix cheap.
We connect homeowners across the Salt Lake Valley — including Salt Lake City, Murray, West Jordan, Sandy, and Draper.
Tell us what's sinking and we'll respond with a written, itemized estimate — usually within one business day.