New Orleans Concrete Leveling doesn’t publish made-up customer stories, so this is an illustrative walkthrough of a typical driveway job, built from how the work is normally done. The house, the numbers and the timeline are representative, not a specific job.
The situation
A raised house in Gentilly, on piers, with a concrete driveway running back to a carport slab. Over the years the driveway has dropped about 1½ inches at the carport joint — enough that the car bumps over it — and the first panel tips toward the house. A downspout empties at the corner of that panel.
Step 1: The call and the estimate
The owner calls, describes the lip, and sets up a free on-site estimate within 24 hours. At the estimate, a contractor:
- Measures the drop at each joint with a level: 1½ inches at the carport, ¾ inch at the next joint, flush at the street.
- Taps the first panel — hollow near the downspout corner. There’s a void.
- Notes a hairline crack across the second panel.
- Recommends a method and writes up a price.
Because the ground in Gentilly is drained backswamp that keeps compacting (City of New Orleans), the contractor explains both options. Mudjacking is cheaper; foam adds almost no weight and lets the owner park the same day. See foam vs mudjacking.
Step 2: The price
For two panels, about 200 sq ft, HomeGuide’s data puts mudjacking at $800–$1,800 and foam, at $8–$25 per square foot, at roughly $1,600–$5,000. The written estimate lands in range and includes patching and joint sealing. More detail: driveway leveling cost in New Orleans.
Step 3: The lift (a few hours)
- Drill. Small holes go through the two sunken panels in a planned pattern — around the hairline crack, not through it.
- Fill the void. Material goes into the washed-out corner first.
- Lift. More material, in short bursts, with the contractor watching a level until the first panel meets the carport slab and sheds water away from the house.
- Patch and seal. Holes are patched; the carport joint and the crack are sealed.
Step 4: Afterward
- Foam: parked on it the same evening. Mudjacking: off it for two to three days, per HomeGuide.
- The downspout gets an extension, sending water into the yard instead of under the slab.
What made it last
Not the material — the water. The void formed because a downspout had been emptying at that corner for years. Redirecting it is the cheapest part of the job and the most important. See how long does concrete leveling last?
For a free estimate on your driveway, call (504) 517-8336 — free estimate within 24 hours.