Comparisons
Mudjacking vs polyjacking: slurry or foam for a sunken slab
Mudjacking vs polyjacking is a choice between a heavy cement slurry and a light expanding polyurethane foam pumped under a sunken slab to lift it.
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Written by HyreFoundation Research Desk Primary-source research and fact checking
The short answer
Mudjacking vs polyjacking is a choice between a heavy cement slurry and a light expanding polyurethane foam pumped under a sunken slab to lift it.
Foam adds far less weight, needs smaller holes and cures faster. Slurry is the older method and fills large voids well. Neither one reaches firm soil or fixes why the slab sank.
Key takeaways
Slurry adds load to the soil that already failed; foam adds very little.
, which matters on a visible finished surface.
can erode slurry over time; cured closed-cell foam does not wash out.
Neither carries a footing or stops future settlement.
Mudjacking vs polyjacking, side by side
| Question | Mudjacking | Polyjacking |
|---|---|
| What goes under the slab | Mudjacking: a sand-cement or limestone slurry. Polyjacking: a two-part polyurethane that expands and cures as closed-cell foam. |
| Added weight | Mudjacking: heavy. Polyjacking: very light. |
| Holes drilled | Mudjacking: larger. Polyjacking: much smaller. |
| Back in use | Mudjacking: slower, the slurry has to set. Polyjacking: faster, the foam cures quickly. |
| Under running water | Mudjacking: slurry can erode if water keeps moving. Polyjacking: cured foam stays put. |
| What neither does | Reach bearing soil, carry structural load through a footing, or fix drainage. |
When mudjacking can be the better fit
and the soil below is stable, so extra weight is not a concern.
, so bigger patch holes do not matter.
and no water will run under the slab again.
with slurry that has held on similar soil.
When polyjacking can be the better fit
, so adding weight would work against you.
, like a garage floor or decorative patio, and small holes matter.
and wash slurry away.
What moves the price
We publish no prices. These drive the gap between a slurry quote and a foam quote.
| Factor | Why it changes the number |
|---|---|
| Material | Foam and slurry are priced very differently. Ask which one, and how much, the quote assumes. |
| Size of the void | The big unknown. Erosion can leave far more empty space than the visible drop suggests. |
| Area and lift height | Square footage, number of holes, and how far the slab must rise without cracking. |
| Access | Whether the rig and hoses can reach, and what sits on the slab. |
| Fixing the cause | Drainage, a leaking pipe or loose backfill. Usually a separate line. |
HyreFoundation publishes no prices for this work: we hold no sourced, dated quotes. The factors above explain why two quotes differ. See how foundation pricing works.
The short version.
If the soil under the slab is weak or wet, or the surface is on show, foam is usually the better match. If the void is large, the soil is sound and looks do not matter, slurry can do the job. Either way, fix the water that caused it first, or both will settle again.
What to ask before you sign
The full checklist is on choosing a foundation contractor.
Where this goes wrong
Slab lifting is for flatwork. A slab or footing that carries the house needs an engineer, not a foam pump.
If a downspout or leak washed the soil out, it will do it again under either material.
Over-lifting cracks slabs. Ask how the lift will be monitored.
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Questions
Is polyjacking better than mudjacking?
How long does mudjacking last compared with foam?
Can mudjacking or polyjacking fix a house foundation?
Does foam lifting add weight to the soil?
Should I fix drainage before slab lifting?
Written and audited by
HyreFoundation Research Desk
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We read the model building code, the federal soil and moisture guidance and the insurer position ourselves, and we publish each figure with the document it came from and the date we retrieved it.
Where a number cannot be traced to a primary source, we say so instead of printing it. HyreFoundation does not inspect, engineer or repair foundations. Authorship is organizational: this desk, not a named persona.
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