If you’ve ever tripped over a sidewalk or noticed your driveway sinking like a tired old mattress, you’re not alone. Millions of homeowners across the country face the same issue every year: uneven concrete.
At Ogburn, we’ve spent decades working with the tough stuff: sunken slabs, cracked patios, crooked walkways. And let us tell you, when it comes to fixing concrete, not all solutions are created equal. Some are quick patches that don’t last. Others are rock-solid and worth every penny. So if you’re trying to figure out what to do with your uneven concrete, this guide is for you.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and walk through the most common concrete leveling solutions used today. We’ll break down the pros and cons and help you decide what’s right for your property, whether you’re tackling a safety hazard or just want to restore curb appeal.
What Is Concrete Leveling?
Concrete leveling is the process of lifting and stabilizing sunken concrete slabs like sidewalks, driveways, patios, and garage floors. Over time, the soil beneath those slabs can shift, settle, or wash away. That leaves gaps. And once there’s nothing supporting the slab, gravity pulls it down. That’s when the cracks start, the puddles form, and tripping hazards pop up.
Concrete leveling aims to fix that by filling the voids beneath the slab and raising it back to where it should be.
1. Mudjacking (Slab Jacking)
This is the old-school method. Crews drill several holes into the concrete and pump in a heavy slurry of sand, soil, and cement beneath it. The pressure lifts the slab back into place.
Pros:
- Trusted for decades
- Effective for larger slabs
Cons:
- Messy and disruptive
- Heavy material can cause future settling
- Not waterproof
- Leaves behind some pretty large drill holes
Best For: Budget-friendly fixes where long-term durability isn’t the priority.
Bottom Line: Mudjacking works, but it’s heavy, invasive, and not built to last. We don’t recommend it when more advanced options are available.
2. Polyurethane Foam Jacking (PolyLevel)
This is where modern technology shines. Instead of a heavy slurry, we inject a two-part polyurethane foam through small, dime-sized holes. The foam expands and lifts the slab from beneath, filling any voids and stabilizing the soil.
Pros:
- Lightweight and ultra-strong (supports up to 4,800 lbs per square foot)
- Sets in just 15 minutes
- Waterproof and long-lasting
- Minimal drilling and cleanup
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires professional installation
Best For: Residential or commercial driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, and patios that need lasting results with minimal disruption.
Bottom Line: PolyLevel is our go-to solution. It’s fast, clean, and engineered to stand the test of time – a smart investment for long-term concrete repair.
3. Concrete Grinding
This method doesn’t lift the concrete. It grinds down raised edges to smooth out transitions, usually where one slab has risen above another.
Pros:
- Quick and inexpensive
- Useful for very minor trip hazards
Cons:
- Cosmetic results are poor
- Doesn’t fix the root cause (settling soil)
- Can’t be used if slabs are sunken
Best For: Quick fixes on sidewalks where one slab edge is slightly raised.
Bottom Line: Concrete grinding might remove a trip hazard, but it won’t fix the underlying issue. And it definitely won’t win any awards for aesthetics.
4. Concrete Replacement
Sometimes the slab is just too far gone. In those cases, demolition and repouring might be the only option.
Pros:
- Brand-new concrete surface
- Can address severe damage
Cons:
- Expensive and time-consuming
- Doesn’t prevent future settling
- Longer downtime
Best For: Slabs that are shattered, heaving, or have major structural failures.
Bottom Line: We treat full replacement as the last resort. It’s disruptive, costly, and without soil stabilization, even new slabs can settle again.
5. Self-Leveling Compounds (Interior Slabs)
Self-leveling concrete is a pourable mix used indoors to smooth out uneven slabs, usually before installing flooring.
Pros:
- Easy to apply for small interior jobs
- Fast-setting
Cons:
- Only suitable for indoor use
- Doesn’t solve underlying soil problems
Best For: Interior slab leveling under tile, hardwood, or vinyl floors.
Bottom Line: Great for smoothing things out inside the home, but it’s a surface solution, not a structural one.
6. Composite Fillers (Lightweight Cement Alternatives)
These pumpable materials are lighter than traditional mudjacking slurry but not as advanced as polyurethane foam.
Pros:
- Lighter than standard fill
- Somewhat more durable
Cons:
- Less effective than PolyLevel
- Not as widely tested
Best For: Custom commercial applications where weight is a concern.
Bottom Line: A better option than mudjacking, but still not as reliable or precise as polyurethane lifting.
What’s the Best Concrete Leveling Method?
That depends on your budget, your goals, and how long you want the fix to last. But here’s what we’ve learned after decades of hands-on experience:
If you’re looking for the fastest, strongest, and cleanest solution available — polyurethane foam lifting is it. It checks every box: strength, speed, waterproofing, low impact, and long-term performance.
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison to help you weigh your options:
| Method | Speed | Durability | Aesthetics | Cost | Use Case |
| Mudjacking | Medium | Low | Poor | $ | Large, non-visible areas |
| PolyLevel Foam | Fast | High | Excellent | $$$ | Residential, commercial |
| Grinding | Fast | Low | Poor | $ | Minor trip hazards |
| Full Replacement | Slow | High | Excellent | $$$$ | Major damage |
| Self-Leveling | Fast | Medium | Good | $$ | Interior slab prep |
| Composite Fillers | Medium | Medium | Fair | $$ | Niche commercial uses |
Let’s Wrap It Up
Concrete leveling isn’t the kind of project most homeowners think about until there’s a problem. But when that trip hazard shows up, or water starts pooling near your foundation, you need to act fast, and smart.
We’ve seen all the options out there, and we’ve worked with just about every material. Time and again, PolyLevel foam outperforms the rest. It’s fast, clean, incredibly strong, and actually solves the problem below the surface.
If you’re dealing with sunken concrete, trip hazards, or need sidewalk lifting, don’t wait until someone gets hurt or the problem gets worse. Let’s fix it the right way.
Schedule your inspection today, and we’ll walk you through a custom solution that fits your property, your goals, and your timeline.
