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New Orleans Concrete Leveling connects homeowners with independent local contractors who lift sunken patios and porch slabs back to level — or back to a slight slope away from the house — by injecting material underneath. With mudjacking, patio leveling in New Orleans typically runs $600–$1,400 for a 150-square-foot slab, according to HomeGuide's mudjacking cost data, and usually costs 30–50% less than breaking it out and repouring. Polyurethane foam runs $8–$25 per square foot, or about $1,200–$3,750 for the same patio. Polyurethane foam runs $8–$25 per square foot, or about $1,200–$3,750 for the same patio.
The trouble with a sunken patio isn't how it looks. When the slab settles, it usually tips toward the house, because the soil next to the foundation was disturbed during construction and compacts more. Rain that should run off into the yard runs back to the wall instead, down the gap and under the slab, washing out more fill each time. The slab then sinks faster, and the cycle feeds itself.
What happens on the first visit
A patio estimate focuses on slope and water as much as on the drop. Expect the contractor to check:
- Which way the slab slopes now, with a level at several points. A patio should shed water away from the house.
- The gap at the house wall or porch, and whether water has been running into it.
- Voids under the slab edge, especially below gutters and downspouts.
- Cracks across the slab, which change the drill pattern but rarely rule out a lift.
- Method and a written price, plus any downspout or drainage change that should happen first.
Why New Orleans patios pull away from the house
Many New Orleans homes sit on piers or pilings, while the patio behind them sits directly on the soil. As the ground settles — about 0.2 inches a year on average across the city, and faster in places like Lakeview, per the City of New Orleans — the house holds its height and the patio goes down with the ground. The result is a widening step down from the back door, or a porch slab that has separated from the steps above it.
Slab-on-grade homes in Metairie, Kenner and the Westbank show a different version: the house slab and patio slab were poured at different times on different fill, and the patio's shallower base settles faster. Either way, the fix is the same — lift the patio back into line and seal the gap so water can't get under it again. The why concrete sinks guide explains the soils.
Getting the slope right, not just the height
A proper patio lift doesn't stop at level. The contractor raises the house side slightly more than the outer edge so the finished slab sheds water outward. The adjustment is small — a patio only needs a gentle fall away from the wall — but it's the difference between a lift that lasts and one that sinks again in a few years.
Because the lift is controlled a fraction of an inch at a time, the contractor can set that slope precisely, watching a level as material goes in. This is one of the real advantages of leveling over replacement: you keep the existing slab and correct the grade in the same visit.
Porch slabs, back steps and covered patios
Concrete porch slabs and the steps that lead to them usually settle together, and they're often lifted in the same visit — see step leveling. A covered patio adds one check: posts that sit on the slab. The contractor will look at whether lifting the slab will push up a post or column, and plan the lift around it.
Screened porches and patios with pavers or tile on top can usually still be lifted, but the finish may crack if it was set rigidly. Ask about that at the estimate, and see can you level a cracked slab? for how cracks are handled.
What it costs and what pays for it
Typical patio pricing is $600–$1,400 for about 150 square feet with mudjacking ($4–$9 per square foot), and roughly $1,200–$3,750 with foam ($8–$25). Most contractors carry a $300–$700 minimum, so if the back steps or a walk are also low, doing them together is cheaper per square foot. Use the cost estimator for a range on your size.
Homeowners insurance generally excludes settling. The exception is when a covered event — a burst pipe, for example — washed out the base. Details are in does insurance cover concrete leveling? A patio on your own lot doesn't need a City permit to level.
What a proper patio & porch leveling job includes
- Slope measured at several points before pricing
- Gap at the house wall inspected for water entry
- Void check under edges and downspouts
- Slab lifted to shed water away from the house
- Posts and columns on the slab accounted for
- Injection holes patched with cement grout
- House-side gap and joints sealed
- Downspout advice to keep water off the slab
DIY patch vs cheapest operator vs proper patio & porch leveling
| Factor | DIY patch or topping | Cheapest operator | Proper leveling job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixes the void under the slab | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Actually raises the slab | No | Yes | Yes |
| Drop measured at every joint first | No | No | Yes |
| Method chosen for your soil | n/a | Whatever rig they own | Yes |
| Written price before drilling | n/a | Rarely | Yes |
| Holes patched, joints sealed | n/a | Holes only | Yes |
| Drainage cause addressed | No | No | Yes |
| Carries liability insurance | n/a | Ask | Ask — and verify |
| Typical life | Cracks as the slab keeps moving | Short if the cause isn’t fixed | 5–10+ years (mudjacking) |
| Typical cost, 150 sq ft patio | Materials only | Lowest bid | $600–$1,400 slurry · ~$1,200–$3,750 foam |
Proper-job cost and life from HomeGuide's mudjacking cost data; foam range calculated at HomeGuide's $8–$25/sq ft. Resurfacers and self-leveling toppings cover the surface; they don't lift the slab.