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Polyjacking vs. Mudjacking in Utah: Which Is Better for Utah County Soil?

utahconcreteliftin
23 hours ago
6 min read

By Drew Hubbard, owner of Utah Concrete Lifting & Repair in Mapleton, UT. Drew is a licensed General Contractor with more than 20 years of experience building homes and working with concrete. Updated September 2026.


Quick answer: For most sunken driveways, sidewalks, and patios in Utah County, polyjacking (polyurethane foam lifting) is a better choice than mudjacking. The foam weighs about 2 to 4 pounds per cubic foot, compared with over 100 pounds per cubic foot for mudjacking slurry, so it doesn't overload the clay and bench soils that caused the sinking in the first place. It's also 100% hydrophobic, so spring snowmelt and sprinkler water won't wash it out.


That said, there are times when mudjacking, or tearing out and replacing the concrete, is the smarter call. I'll cover those honestly below.


What's the difference between polyjacking and mudjacking?


Both methods lift a sunken concrete slab by pumping material underneath it through holes drilled in the slab. The difference is the material.


  • Mudjacking (also called slabjacking or pressure grouting) pumps a cement-based slurry under the slab. The American Concrete Institute describes these as mortar-type mixtures that often include fly ash so they can be pumped (ACI RAP-11).

  • Polyjacking (also called polyurethane lifting, foam jacking, or poly leveling) injects a two-part polyurethane foam. The foam expands under the slab, fills the empty spaces, compresses loose soil, and raises the concrete back into place.


Polyjacking vs. mudjacking: side-by-side



Polyjacking (polyurethane foam)

Mudjacking (cement slurry)

Weight of material

About 2 to 4 lb per cubic foot

Over 100 lb per cubic foot

Hole size

About 3/8 inch (roughly a dime) at Utah Concrete Lifting & Repair

1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches is typical for cement grouts, per the American Concrete Institute

Cure time

15 to 30 minutes, then ready for cars and RVs

Cement-based grout has to set first; ask your contractor how long to stay off it

Water resistance

100% hydrophobic: repels water and won't wash out

Cement-based mix that isn't designed to repel water

In Utah clay and bench soils

Adds very little weight to soil that's already struggling

Adds a lot of weight; ACI notes the extra weight of the grout can cause more settlement

Mess and disruption

Small holes, fast reaction, little cleanup

Larger holes; ACI notes cement grouts make more mess than foam


A few of these points deserve a closer look.


Weight: the biggest difference for Utah County


Concrete usually sinks because the soil under it couldn't hold it up. Pumping heavy slurry under that same slab adds a lot of new weight to that same weak soil. The American Concrete Institute lists this as a possible problem with slabjacking: "The additional weight of slabjacking grout plus the original slab may cause additional soil settlement" (ACI RAP-11).


Polyurethane foam weighs about 2 to 4 pounds per cubic foot. Mudjacking slurry weighs over 100. When the problem is soft or shifting soil, adding less weight just makes sense.


Hole size and appearance


We drill holes about 3/8 inch across. ACI lists 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches as typical for cement grouts. Either way the holes get patched, but smaller holes mean less damage to your slab and patches that are much harder to spot. (ACI also notes that slabjacking holes stay visible after patching, so if your concrete is stamped or colored, talk to your contractor about appearance before work starts.)


Cure time


Our foam cures in 15 to 30 minutes. You can walk on the slab right away and park on it shortly after. The American Concrete Institute notes that polymer foams can speed up the work because they react so quickly, and that they make less mess than cement grouts.


Water resistance


This matters a lot here. Between snowmelt, spring runoff, and sprinkler season, the soil under Utah concrete gets wet over and over. Our foam is 100% hydrophobic, so water doesn't wash it out from under the slab.


Why Utah County soil is so hard on concrete


Most sunken concrete I see in Utah County comes down to four things:


  1. Freeze-thaw cycles. Water gets under the slab, freezes, and expands. When it thaws it leaves gaps, and the concrete settles into them.

  2. Clay soils. Many neighborhoods in Lehi, American Fork, and Saratoga Springs sit on clay-heavy soil. The Utah Geological Survey describes expansive soils as soils with high clay content that swell when wet and shrink when dry (UGS: Problem Soil and Rock Hazards). That constant movement is hard on slabs.

  3. Bench soils. Homes on the Provo and Spanish Fork benches often sit on silty soils that can wash out or collapse when soaked. UGS explains that collapsible soils are strong when dry but settle significantly when they get wet, and are usually found on young alluvial fans near mountain fronts (UGS; UGS Survey Notes).

  4. Drainage problems. Downspouts that dump next to the slab, leaky or overspraying sprinklers, and ground that slopes toward the concrete all send water underneath, where it carries soil away.


The common thread is water and soil that can't carry much load. That's exactly why a light, water-repelling material works so well here.


When mudjacking or replacement may be the better call


I'd rather give you a straight answer than sell you a lift that won't hold up. Here's when polyjacking may not be your best option:


  • The concrete is crumbling or badly broken. Lifting works best on slabs that are still in one piece, or a few solid pieces, and have simply sunk or tilted. If the slab is flaking apart or broken into lots of small pieces, lifting won't give you a solid surface. Replacement is usually the better choice.

  • The water problem hasn't been fixed. ACI is clear that slabjacking "will level the slab, but it won't correct any underlying poor soil conditions," and that if settlement is still happening, the slab may need to be lifted again. That's true of any lifting method, foam included. If a downspout or sprinkler is soaking the soil, fix that first.

  • The slab is badly cracked or you want a different layout. ACI recommends weighing removal and replacement as an alternative, depending on how cracked and distressed the slab is. If you're changing the size, shape, or slope of a patio or driveway anyway, new concrete may be the way to go.

  • You're comparing quotes. If a mudjacking quote comes in lower and the soil under your slab is firm, it's a fair option to weigh. Just ask each contractor about hole size, the weight of the material, how long you'll need to stay off the slab, and what their warranty covers.


During a free estimate, I'll tell you which of these applies to your concrete, even if the answer is "don't lift this one."


How we do it at Utah Concrete Lifting & Repair


  1. Free estimate. We look at the slab, check for drainage problems, and give you a price. There's no minimum job charge.

  2. Drill. We drill small 3/8-inch holes.

  3. Inject and lift. The foam fills voids under the slab and raises it back into place.

  4. Patch. We patch the holes with a concrete mix that blends with your slab.

  5. Use it. The foam cures in 15 to 30 minutes.


For reference, lifting a typical sidewalk costs $300 to $1,200, depending on its length and other factors, and a driveway panel typically costs $300 to $800, depending on its size and how much it needs to be lifted. Foam lifting typically costs 50% to 80% less than replacement. See our Utah concrete lifting cost guide for the details. Our lifting work comes with a three-year warranty: if a slab we raised settles more than 1/4 inch within three years, we'll lift it again (a fuel fee may apply).


Polyjacking vs. mudjacking FAQ


Is polyjacking the same as foam jacking or poly lifting?


Yes. Polyjacking, polyurethane concrete lifting, foam jacking, and poly leveling all describe the same thing: injecting expanding polyurethane foam under a sunken slab to lift it.


Does polyurethane foam fix the soil?


Not by itself. The foam fills voids and compresses loose soil right under the slab, but it doesn't change the soil across your yard. Keeping water away from your concrete is the best way to help a lifted slab stay put.


How soon can I drive on a polyjacked driveway?


The foam cures in 15 to 30 minutes. After that, your driveway is ready for cars, trucks, and RVs.


Can you polyjack concrete in the winter?


Yes. We lift concrete year-round. The foam creates its own heat as it reacts, so it can be installed even when the ground is cold.


More answers are on our concrete lifting FAQ page.


Get an honest answer about your concrete


If you've got a sunken driveway, sidewalk, patio, or steps anywhere in Utah County, call or text (801) 361-2826 or fill out our estimate request form. Estimates are free, there's no minimum job charge, and I'll tell you straight whether lifting is the right fix.


Drew Hubbard, Utah Concrete Lifting & Repair

1565 West Park Meadows Drive, Mapleton, UT 84664 · (801) 361-2826



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