When a Utah driveway, patio, or walkway has sunk, you usually have two real choices: lift the existing slab back toward its original position, or tear it out and pour new concrete. Here's an honest look at the cost, time, and disruption of each — and how to tell which one is right for you.
For a sound slab that has simply settled, lifting is faster, cleaner, and runs roughly half the cost of full tear-out and replacement. Replacement is the right call only when the concrete itself is too damaged to save.
| Factor | Concrete Lifting (poly foam) | Full Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Most residential jobs $1,000–$2,500 — roughly half of replacement | Full tear-out and pour costs roughly double a lift |
| Time on site | Most jobs finish in 1–3 hours, same day | Demo, forms, pour, and finishing typically spread over days |
| Use it again | Walkable in about 15 minutes, driveable in about an hour | Fresh concrete usually needs days to cure before normal use |
| Disruption | ⅝-inch ports (about the width of a dime), patched to blend in | Heavy demolition, hauling, and a full re-pour |
| Mess | Minimal — no demo debris, no mud spray | Broken-up concrete to remove and dispose of |
| When it's right | The slab is solid but has settled or has voids underneath | The slab is shattered, crumbling, or structurally failed |
Replacement means paying for demolition, hauling away the old slab, new forms, fresh concrete, and finishing labor. Lifting reuses the slab you already have — we inject high-density polyurethane foam through small ⅝-inch ports, fill the voids underneath, and raise the concrete back toward its original position.
Most residential lifting jobs run $1,000–$2,500, depending on slab size, the number of injection points, and how far it has settled. A full tear-out and replacement of the same slab typically costs about double. Financing and flexible payment options are available, and there's no deposit — you pay when the work's done.
Lifting raises and stabilizes a slab that's still structurally sound. It doesn't rebuild concrete that's already broken. We'd rather tell you straight than lift something that can't be saved.
If the slab has wide, spider-webbed cracks or is breaking into multiple loose pieces, there may not be enough solid concrete left to lift as one stable unit.
Surface that's pitting, peeling, or spalling apart from years of Utah freeze-thaw is a material problem. Raising it won't restore a surface that's already disintegrating.
Concrete that's shattered, heaved in opposing directions, or too far gone is usually a replacement job. Lifting needs an intact slab to push against.
This is the sweet spot for lifting. If the concrete is in one solid piece and has dropped because the soil beneath washed out or compacted, it's an excellent candidate to raise.
When your slab is a good candidate, lifting isn't a quick patch — it's an engineered repair built for the soils under the Wasatch Front.
The foam cures in about 15 minutes. Your slab is walkable within roughly 15 minutes and driveable within about an hour, with no days-long cure to wait out.
Our high-density foam weighs only about 2 lbs per cubic foot — easy on Utah's expansive clay and old Lake Bonneville lakebed — and is water-resistant and rated for 25+ years.
Every lift is insured and carries a 2-year re-lift guarantee. We start with a free inspection and an upfront written price, so you know the number before any work begins.
Concrete settles here for predictable reasons — expansive clay, soft lakebed sediments, poorly compacted builder fill under newer subdivisions, freeze-thaw cycles, and downspouts or plumbing leaks washing out the sub-base. A lift fills those voids; if the slab itself is too damaged, we'll tell you a replacement makes more sense.
Get a Free InspectionIf the concrete is still in one solid piece and has settled because the soil beneath it shifted, it's usually a great candidate for lifting. If it's severely cracked, crumbling, spalling, or structurally failed, replacement may be the better call. Our free inspection tells you honestly which one you need.
Most residential lifting jobs run $1,000–$2,500, which is roughly half the cost of a full tear-out and replacement of the same slab. Your written estimate depends on slab size, the number of injection points, and how far it has settled.
The polyurethane foam is inert once cured, water-resistant, and rated for 25+ years, so it's built to last. Every lift is insured and comes with a 2-year re-lift guarantee for added peace of mind.
Minor cracks are common and often fine. The concern is severe, widespread cracking that leaves the slab in loose pieces, since lifting needs an intact slab to raise as one unit. We'll assess the cracking during your free inspection and recommend lifting only when it makes sense.
Most residential lifts finish in 1–3 hours the same day, with the slab walkable in about 15 minutes and driveable within about an hour. A full replacement involves demolition, forms, a pour, and curing time, which typically stretches across several days.
No deposit — you pay when the work's done. We provide a free inspection with upfront written pricing first, and financing or flexible payment options are available if you need them.
Raise a sunken or trip-lipped driveway back into place.
Lift a settled patio that's pitching back toward the house.
Erase trip hazards and re-align uneven walkway slabs.
Lift interior garage slabs through small holes, low mess.
Water-resistant lifting for settled pool decks.
How foam compares to mudjacking on weight, mess, and longevity.
Free inspection and an upfront written price — no deposit, you pay when the work’s done.