Piering vs. Mudjacking vs. Polyjacking:
What's the Difference?
Three methods. Three different problems. Here is how to tell which one your home actually needs.
These Three Methods Are Not Interchangeable
Homeowners hear "piering," "mudjacking," and "polyjacking" and assume they are three flavors of the same thing. They are not. These methods solve fundamentally different problems, and using the wrong one wastes money at best and leaves structural damage unaddressed at worst.
Here is the single most important distinction: steel piering is a structural repair. It stabilizes and lifts your home's foundation — the footings and walls that hold the entire structure up. Mudjacking and polyjacking are flatwork repairs. They lift sunken concrete slabs — driveways, patios, sidewalks, garage floors, and pool decks — back to grade.
A settling foundation requires piering. A settled driveway requires mudjacking or polyjacking. Mixing these up leads to proposals that either wildly overspend (piering a driveway) or dangerously underspend (foam-jacking a settling foundation). This guide breaks down exactly what each method does, what it costs, and how to know which one your property needs.
How Each Method Works
Side-by-side view of the three approaches to lifting and stabilizing concrete.
Steel Piering (Push Piers)
Steel piering is the gold standard for structural foundation repair. When your home's foundation has settled, shifted, or cracked due to soil movement, push piers are the engineered solution that reaches past the unstable surface soil to anchor your home on something that will not move.
How It Works
The crew excavates soil at the base of your foundation footing at predetermined intervals (typically every 6-8 feet along the affected wall). A heavy-duty steel bracket is fitted against the footing. Then, sections of galvanized steel pipe are hydraulically driven through the bracket, one section at a time, down through the unstable soil until they reach load-bearing bedrock or competent strata — often 15 to 30 feet below grade. Once every pier has been driven to refusal, the hydraulic system transfers the weight of the structure from the unstable soil onto the piers. In most cases, the foundation can be lifted back to its original level position.
When You Need It
- Foundation settling or sinking (one side of the house is lower than the other)
- Stair-step or horizontal cracks in foundation walls
- Doors and windows that no longer close properly
- Visible gaps between walls and ceilings or floors
- Bowing or leaning basement walls (often combined with wall anchors)
Cost
Most push piers cost $1,000 to $3,000 per pier installed. A typical residential project requires 6 to 12 piers, putting total project costs in the $8,000 to $25,000 range depending on the number of piers, depth to bedrock, and accessibility. This is the most expensive of the three methods — but it is also the only one that addresses structural movement.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Permanent — anchored to bedrock or load-bearing strata
- Can actively lift the foundation back to level
- Engineered to support the full weight of the structure
- Transferable lifetime warranty (adds home value)
Cons
- Highest cost of the three methods
- Requires excavation around the foundation
- Project typically takes 1-3 days
- Landscaping near the foundation may need to be replaced
Mudjacking (Slabjacking)
Mudjacking is the older, lower-cost method for lifting sunken concrete flatwork — driveways, patios, sidewalks, pool decks, and garage floors. It has been used since the 1930s and remains widely available, though it is increasingly being replaced by polyjacking in many markets.
How It Works
The crew drills 1- to 2-inch holes through the sunken slab at strategic points. A thick slurry — typically a mixture of Portland cement, sand, water, and sometimes topsoil or limestone dust — is pumped under the slab through these holes using a hydraulic pump. As the slurry fills the void beneath the concrete, it pushes the slab upward until it reaches the desired grade. The holes are then patched with cement.
When You Need It
- Driveway slabs that have settled and created trip hazards
- Patio or pool deck sections that have dropped below grade
- Sidewalk panels that have tilted or sunk
- Garage floors with settlement (not structural settling of the foundation itself)
Cost
Most mudjacking projects cost $500 to $1,500 — roughly 50-75% less than full slab replacement and about 25-40% less than polyjacking. It is the cheapest lifting option available for settled flatwork.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cheapest concrete lifting method available
- Slab is usable the same day (24 hours for full cure)
- Widely available — most concrete contractors offer it
- Uses natural materials (cement, sand, water)
Cons
- Heavy slurry (~100 lbs/cu ft) can cause re-settling on weak soil
- Larger 1-2" drill holes are more visible after patching
- Slurry is porous — water can wash it out over time
- Not waterproof — does not prevent future water intrusion
- Shorter lifespan in high-moisture areas (may re-settle in 3-8 years)
Polyjacking (Foam Injection)
Polyjacking is the modern evolution of mudjacking. It solves the same problem — lifting sunken concrete flatwork — but uses expanding polyurethane foam instead of cement slurry. The result is a lighter, more durable, and waterproof lift with dramatically smaller injection holes.
How It Works
The crew drills penny-sized holes (typically 5/8 inch) through the sunken slab. A two-part polyurethane resin is injected through these holes using a specialized gun. Within seconds, the resin begins expanding — growing up to 15 times its liquid volume — filling voids and raising the slab. The foam reaches 90% of its final strength within 15 minutes, meaning the slab can bear traffic almost immediately. The tiny injection holes are patched and are nearly invisible after curing.
When You Need It
- All the same applications as mudjacking — driveways, patios, sidewalks, pool decks, garage floors
- Especially recommended where drainage is poor or water table is high
- Projects where minimal disruption and fast cure time matter
- Slabs that have been mudjacked before and re-settled
Cost
Most polyjacking projects cost $800 to $2,500 — roughly 25-40% more than mudjacking for the same lift, but still 50-70% cheaper than full slab replacement. The higher material cost is offset by faster labor time and superior long-term durability.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Extremely lightweight (~2-4 lbs/cu ft) — will not overload weak soil
- Waterproof, closed-cell foam — will not wash out or erode
- Penny-sized 5/8" holes are nearly invisible after patching
- Cures in 15 minutes — slab is usable almost immediately
- Lasts the life of the slab (20-30+ years)
Cons
- 25-40% more expensive than mudjacking
- Foam is not removable once cured
- Requires specialized equipment and training
Comparison Table
| Feature | Steel Piering | Mudjacking | Polyjacking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Solved | Structural foundation settling | Sunken concrete flatwork | Sunken concrete flatwork |
| Typical Cost | $8,000 - $25,000 | $500 - $1,500 | $800 - $2,500 |
| Cost Per Unit | $1,000 - $3,000 / pier | $3 - $6 / sq ft | $5 - $10 / sq ft |
| Hole Size | Excavation at footing | 1 - 2 inches | 5/8 inch (penny-sized) |
| Material Weight | Steel (structural-grade) | ~100 lbs / cu ft | ~2-4 lbs / cu ft |
| Waterproof | N/A (structural repair) | No — porous, can wash out | Yes — closed-cell foam |
| Permanence | Lifetime (anchored to bedrock) | 3-8 years in wet conditions | 20-30+ years (life of slab) |
| Curing / Usable | Immediate after install | 24 hours full cure | 15 minutes |
| Project Duration | 1-3 days | 2-4 hours | 1-3 hours |
Which Method Do You Need?
The choice comes down to one question: is the problem structural or cosmetic?
Your foundation is settling
Cracks in walls, sticking doors, gaps at ceilings, one side of the house lower than the other.
Your flatwork has settled
Driveway, patio, sidewalk, or garage floor has dropped — but the house itself shows no signs of movement.
Your concrete is crumbling
Spalling, flaking, or disintegrating concrete that is structurally compromised beyond leveling.
We recommend polyjacking over mudjacking for most flatwork projects. The foam is waterproof, dramatically lighter, and will not re-settle — which matters in Kansas City's heavy clay soil where water is the root cause of most settling problems. Mudjacking is a viable option for budget-sensitive projects on well-drained soil, but for long-term performance, polyjacking wins on every metric except upfront cost.
Not sure which category your problem falls into? That is exactly what our free inspections are for. We will look at the damage, identify the cause, and tell you — honestly — whether you are looking at a piering job, a polyjacking lift, or something else entirely. No charge, no pressure.
Foundation Repair Methods Compared
The Cost of Waiting: Foundation Damage Over Time
Piering vs. Mudjacking: Common Questions
No. Steel piering is designed for structural foundations — footings and load-bearing walls. For sunken flatwork like driveways, sidewalks, patios, and pool decks, you need either mudjacking or polyjacking. These methods lift the slab back to grade without the cost or complexity of structural piers.
Polyjacking foam is closed-cell polyurethane — it does not absorb water, erode, or break down over time. Most polyjacking lifts last the life of the slab itself (20-30+ years). Mudjacking slurry, by contrast, is porous cement and sand that can wash out or erode if water finds its way underneath, which means re-settling is possible within 3-8 years in high-moisture areas.
Usually, yes — by about 25-40%. A typical mudjacking project runs $500-$1,500 while the same lift with polyjacking costs $800-$2,500. However, if the mudjacking slurry washes out and the slab re-settles, you pay twice. In areas with poor drainage or high water tables, polyjacking often costs less in the long run because the foam is waterproof and will not erode.
If you see cracks in your home's walls, doors that stick or won't latch, or gaps between the wall and ceiling, you likely have a structural foundation issue that requires piering. If a driveway slab, patio, sidewalk, or garage floor has dropped or become uneven — but your house itself shows no signs of movement — you have a flatwork settling issue that calls for polyjacking or mudjacking.
Absolutely — and it is more common than you might think. A home with a settling foundation often has a driveway or patio that has also dropped. We stabilize the foundation with push piers first, then lift the flatwork with polyjacking foam. Both can be completed in the same visit in many cases.
Not Sure What You Need? We Will Tell You — Free.
Our inspections take 45 minutes and come with a written estimate. No pressure, no obligation. Just honest answers about what is happening under your home.