Concrete Leveling in Kansas City
That dip where your driveway meets the garage did not happen overnight. Neither did the sidewalk panel your guests keep tripping over or the patio that pools water every time it rains. When the soil under a slab washes out or dries up, the concrete drops right along with it. The good news is that you rarely have to tear it out and start over. Concrete leveling lifts the slab you already have back into place in a few hours, usually for a fraction of what a replacement would run. Foundation 1 has been doing this across the Kansas City metro since 2001, on both sides of the state line.
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Why Concrete Sinks Around Kansas City
Kansas City sits on heavy clay soil, and clay is moody. It swells when it gets wet and shrinks when it dries out, and that constant push and pull opens gaps under your concrete. Add our freeze-and-thaw winters, a couple of hard summer storms, and a downspout draining in the wrong spot, and a slab has plenty of reasons to settle.
The usual culprits we see around here:
- Soil that was never packed down tightly when the slab was first poured
- Rainwater washing loose dirt out from under the concrete
- Gutters and downspouts dumping water right next to the slab instead of away from it
- Long dry stretches that shrink the clay and leave voids behind
- Tree roots and burrowing animals shifting the soil around
Notice how much of that comes back to water. If your gutters are shot or your yard slopes toward the house, sorting out the drainage and gutters matters just as much as lifting the slab. Skip that part, and you will likely be looking at the same dip again in a couple of years.
What Is Polyjacking, Our Go-To for Concrete Leveling
Polyjacking is concrete leveling done with expanding foam instead of heavy mud. We drill a few holes about the size of a penny through the slab, then inject a two-part polyurethane foam underneath. The foam expands, fills the empty space the soil left behind, and eases the concrete back up to where it belongs. We patch the holes, and you are usually walking on it within the hour.
Because the foam is waterproof and does not break down, it will not wash out the next time it rains. It is also light, so it does not pile extra weight onto soil that is already struggling to hold things up.
Polyjacking vs. Mudjacking
You might hear concrete leveling called mudjacking, slabjacking, or concrete raising. Mudjacking is the older method. It pumps a cement-based slurry under the slab through holes closer to the size of a golf ball. It works, and it usually costs a little less up front, but the slurry is heavy and can soak up water and erode over time, which is why mudjacking jobs sometimes need redoing before long.
Here is how the two stack up side by side:
| What Matters | Polyjacking | Mudjacking |
|---|---|---|
| Cure Time | Cures in minutes, so you walk on it right away and drive on it within the hour | 24 to 72 hours, and driving on it too soon can make it sink and crack again |
| How It Holds | The foam reacts and hardens to the soil, stabilizing both the soil and the slab | Leans on the existing soil, so freeze-thaw and water can still shift and crack it |
| Water | Polyurethane is hydrophobic and shrugs off water | No water resistance, so the slurry can erode where water drains |
| Weight on Soil | About 2 to 4 lbs per cubic foot, easy on already-weak soil | About 100 lbs per cubic foot, adding load to soil that is already struggling |
| Job Length | A few hours | A full day to several, depending on how much material gets pushed |
| Holes Drilled | Small 5/8 inch holes, and fewer of them | Larger holes, 2 to 2.5 inches across |
| Lifespan | Lasts around 10 years, with a 2-year warranty standard on exterior injections | No guarantee it stays level, so repeat applications are common |
| Best For | Large, heavy, or sensitive slabs | Slabs in decent shape that just need leveling, not heavy loads, poor soil, or wet spots |
| Bottom Line | Longer lasting, quicker, reaches more areas, and our pick for almost every job | Cheaper and faster than full replacement, but slower to cure with a shorter lifespan |
When someone calls us for concrete lifting, polyjacking is almost always the method we reach for.
Polyjacking vs. Replacing the Slab
Tearing out a slab and pouring a new one takes days: removal, framing, pouring, cutting, and then waiting for it to cure before anyone can touch it. It can also cost several times more than leveling the concrete you already have. If your slab is cracked into a dozen pieces or crumbling at the edges, replacement may be the smarter move, and our concrete contractor crew can handle that too. But if the concrete is solid and just sitting too low, leveling is faster, cheaper, and a lot less disruptive.
What We Can Lift
Polyjacking works on just about any flat concrete that has settled. Around Kansas City homes and businesses, we most often lift:
- Driveways, especially where they drop off at the garage
- Sidewalks and front walkways
- Patios and pool decks
- Garage and basement floors
- Porch slabs and steps
- Shop, warehouse, and other free-floating slabs
If you run a business, uneven concrete out front is a trip claim waiting to happen, so we handle commercial properties too. And if it turns out the house itself is settling rather than a loose slab, that is a job for foundation repair or house leveling, both of which we also do.
Signs You Need Concrete Leveling Near You
Not sure if it is time to call yet? These are the things we hear about most from folks searching for concrete leveling near you:
- A lip or gap where the driveway meets the garage that catches your tires
- Sidewalk sections tilted enough to stub a toe or roll an ankle
- A patio that slopes the wrong way and puddles after every storm
- Water sitting against your foundation instead of draining off
- Gaps you can actually see under the edge of a slab
- A gate or storm door near the slab that suddenly sticks or scrapes
Uneven concrete does not sort itself out, and the void underneath only gets wider. Catching it early usually means fewer injection points and a smaller bill.
Why Homeowners Pick Foundation 1 for Concrete Lifting
We are not a franchise that rolled into town last spring. Foundation 1 has been locally owned and operated in Kansas City since 2001, working in both Missouri and Kansas. A few reasons people call us for concrete lifting:
- We look at the whole picture, not just the slab. Sinking concrete is usually a symptom of a water or soil problem. Because we also do foundation repair, waterproofing, and drainage, we can spot what caused the settling and keep it from coming back.
- Free inspections and straight answers. We come out, measure the settlement, and tell you honestly whether leveling makes sense or whether you would be better off replacing the slab. No pressure, no upsell.
- Same-day use on most jobs. The foam cures fast, so you are not roping off your driveway for a week.
- Financing when you need it. Concrete problems have a habit of showing up at a bad time, so we offer financing to spread the cost out.
Our Concrete Leveling Process
No mystery to it. Most jobs follow the same four steps and wrap up in a single afternoon:
1. Free inspection.
We look at the slab, find where the voids are, and hand you a written quote. If we spot a drainage or foundation issue behind the settling, we will point it out.
2. Small holes, placed with care.
We drill penny-sized holes at the right spots to lift the slab evenly. They patch up easily and are barely noticeable once we are done.
3. Foam injection and lift.
We inject the polyurethane foam, and it expands to fill the voids and raise the concrete back to level, a little at a time, so we never overshoot.
4. Patch and go.
We fill the holes, clean up, and the foam is cured in about 15 minutes. Walk on it right away, drive on it within the hour.
What Concrete Leveling Costs in Kansas City
We price polyjacking by the pound of foam at $10 per pound because the amount of material required to fill the void is what really drives the cost. A small repair might take just 8 to 12 pounds, while a big driveway with deep voids takes more. Either way, it beats replacing: a full tear-out and repour runs about $18 to $22 a square foot for a driveway and $20 to $24 for a patio, plus days of downtime.
The only way to get a real number is a free inspection, and those are on us. See the full pricing breakdown for every service we offer, and ask about financing if you would rather spread it out.
Concrete Leveling & Polyjacking FAQs
How much does concrete leveling cost in Kansas City?
We price polyjacking at $10 per pound of foam, since the amount of material the void takes is what really sets the cost. A small sidewalk repair might use only 8 to 12 pounds, while a full driveway uses more. Either way, it lands well below the $18 to $24 a square foot that a full tear-out and replacement would run.
How long does polyjacking last?
Is polyjacking better than mudjacking?
For most jobs, yes. Polyjacking uses smaller holes, cures in minutes instead of a day, and the foam is waterproof, so it will not erode the way a mud slurry can. Mudjacking can be cheaper up front, but polyjacking usually lasts longer and looks cleaner.
Can you level concrete in the winter?
Yes. The foam sets through a chemical reaction rather than by drying out, so cold Kansas City weather does not stop it from curing. We level concrete year-round and just take extra care with the slab itself when temperatures really drop.
How soon can I use my driveway after concrete leveling?
Quickly. The foam reaches most of its strength within about 15 minutes, so you can usually walk on the slab right away and drive on it within the hour. Compare that to a week or more of waiting on freshly poured concrete.
Does concrete leveling fix cracked concrete?
Leveling raises the slab and can close up hairline cracks as the foam fills in beneath it, but it will not knit a badly broken slab back together. For cracks in a foundation wall or floor, our crack repair team is the better fit, and a shattered slab is usually a case for replacement.
Where We Handle Concrete Leveling Around Kansas City
We cover the whole metro, both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the line. If a slab has settled at your place in any of these areas, we can get out and take a look:
Blue Springs · Harrisonville · Independence · Leawood · Lee’s Summit · Lenexa · Liberty · Mission Hills · Olathe · Overland Park · Prairie Village · Shawnee
Not seeing your town on the list? We reach plenty of spots beyond these, so take a look at our full service area or just give us a call.
Get Your Free Concrete Leveling Quote in Kansas City
If you are stepping over the same sunken slab every single day, it is worth 20 minutes to find out what it would take to fix it. We will come out, measure the settlement, and give you an honest quote with no obligation attached. Call Foundation 1 at 816-682-8440 in Missouri or 913-782-8440 in Kansas, or reach out online, and let us handle your concrete leveling before that little dip turns into a big one.