What Mudjacking Costs
Mudjacking (also called slab jacking or concrete leveling) costs between $3 and $6 per square foot in Wisconsin. Most residential jobs — a driveway section, sidewalk panel, or patio slab — fall in the $300 to $1,500 range total.
The process is straightforward: a crew drills small holes (1" to 2" diameter) in the sunken slab and pumps a cement-based slurry underneath to raise it back to level. The holes get patched, and the slab is usable within 24 to 48 hours.
Mudjacking vs. Polyjacking: What Is the Difference?
Polyjacking (also called polyurethane foam leveling) uses expanding foam instead of cement slurry. It costs more but has some advantages:
| Factor | Mudjacking | Polyjacking |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $3 - $6 | $5 - $10 |
| Typical job cost | $300 - $1,500 | $500 - $2,500 |
| Hole size | 1" - 2" diameter | 5/8" diameter |
| Weight added | Heavy (cement slurry) | Very light (foam) |
| Cure time | 24 - 48 hours | 15 - 30 minutes |
| Lifespan | 5 - 10 years | 10 - 15+ years |
| Best for | Budget-conscious, most residential | Water-sensitive areas, precise leveling |
Polyjacking's lighter weight makes it a better choice where soil conditions are poor or where additional weight could cause further settling. The smaller holes also leave less visible patching.[1]
When Mudjacking Makes Financial Sense
Mudjacking is the right call when:
- The slab has settled less than 4 inches and is relatively intact
- The concrete surface is in good condition (no major cracks, spalling, or scaling)
- The slab is less than 15 to 20 years old with plenty of life left
- The settlement is caused by soil consolidation rather than active erosion
The ROI is compelling. If your driveway slab is 10 years old and has settled 2 inches, mudjacking at $800 buys you another 10 to 15 years of use. Replacement would cost $4,000 to $8,000 for the same result.
When Replacement Is the Better Investment
Sometimes lifting a slab is throwing money at a temporary fix. Replacement makes more sense when:
- The concrete is severely cracked — large structural cracks, multiple breaks, or pieces that have separated
- Surface damage is extensive — heavy scaling, spalling, or delamination from salt damage
- Settlement exceeds 4 inches — extreme settling suggests serious soil problems that lifting alone will not solve
- The slab is 25+ years old — approaching end of life anyway, and mudjacking just delays the inevitable
- Water drainage is the root cause — if downspouts, grading, or subsurface water are actively eroding the base, lifting without fixing drainage just restarts the clock
Full Replacement Costs in Wisconsin
Replacing a concrete slab involves removal, disposal, base re-preparation, and a new pour. Here is what each step costs:
- Removal and disposal: $2 - $4 per square foot
- Base preparation: $1 - $3 per square foot
- New concrete pour: $5 - $10 per square foot (varies by thickness and finish)
- Total replacement: $8 - $17 per square foot
For a 400 sq ft driveway section, that works out to $3,200 to $6,800 — roughly 3 to 8 times the cost of mudjacking.[2]
Wisconsin-Specific Settling Causes
Understanding why your concrete settled helps predict whether a repair will last.
Frost Heave and Thaw Settlement
Wisconsin's freeze-thaw cycles are the most common cause of slab movement. Water in the soil freezes and expands, lifting the slab. When it thaws, the soil does not always return to its original position. Over years, this cycle creates uneven settlement.
Clay Soil Shrink-Swell
Much of Wisconsin sits on clay-rich soils that expand when wet and shrink when dry. This seasonal movement creates voids beneath slabs that lead to settling.[3]
Washout From Poor Drainage
Downspouts dumping water next to concrete, or grading that directs surface water under slabs, will wash out the base material over time. This is the one cause where mudjacking without fixing the drainage is genuinely a waste of money — the slab will just settle again.
The Cost Comparison: 10-Year View
For a 400 sq ft section of settled driveway in good surface condition:
- Mudjacking now: $800 - $1,200. May need another lift in 8-10 years ($800 - $1,200). Total 10-year cost: $800 - $2,400.
- Polyjacking now: $1,200 - $2,000. Should last 10-15 years without re-lift. Total 10-year cost: $1,200 - $2,000.
- Full replacement now: $3,200 - $6,800. Should last 25-40 years. Total 10-year cost: $3,200 - $6,800.
If your concrete surface is in decent shape and you are not planning a major renovation, mudjacking gives you the best return on investment by far.
Frequently Asked Questions
- American Society of Concrete Contractors. "Concrete Slab Lifting and Leveling — Methods and Applications." ascconline.org. Accessed February 8, 2026.
- Portland Cement Association. "Removing and Replacing Concrete — Best Practices." cement.org. Accessed February 8, 2026.
- University of Wisconsin Extension. "Understanding Your Soil — Clay and Drainage." fyi.extension.wisc.edu. Accessed February 8, 2026.