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New Orleans Concrete Leveling connects property owners with independent local contractors for foam jacking in New Orleans — also called polyjacking or polyurethane concrete lifting. A two-part polyurethane is injected under a sunken slab, expands to fill the void, and lifts the concrete back to grade. HomeGuide puts it at $8–$25 per square foot, roughly double mudjacking, with holes about 5/8 inch wide and a cure time of about 15 minutes.
We don't sell one method. Foam is the better choice for some slabs and the more expensive choice for others. This page explains how it works and where it fits, so you can judge a quote that recommends it.
What happens on the first visit
When a contractor recommends foam, the estimate should explain:
- Why foam and not slurry for this slab — soil, access, timing or finish.
- Which foam density will be used and what it's rated for.
- Where the holes go and how they'll be patched.
- Whether soil stabilization is planned under the lift.
- The written price, including patching and joint sealing.
Where foam earns its price in New Orleans
Soft, compressible soil. Foam weighs a few pounds per cubic foot; cement slurry weighs roughly a hundred. Across drained-marsh neighborhoods where the City of New Orleans says organic soils keep compacting, adding less weight under the slab is a real advantage.
Same-day use. A driveway, garage floor or storefront walk lifted with foam can usually take traffic the same day. Finished surfaces. Holes about 5/8 inch wide are easier to hide on stamped, stained or coated concrete, and on interior floors. Wet areas. Cured foam doesn't wash out, which suits pool decks and slabs near downspouts.
Where foam isn't worth it
On a firm, well-drained base with one large open void — a common driveway or sidewalk case — mudjacking often does the same job for about half the price per square foot. On a slab that's shattered or crumbling, neither method helps; that's a replacement. The honest comparison is in foam vs mudjacking, and the price detail in foam jacking cost in New Orleans.
Foam jacking cost
Expect $8–$25 per square foot, with a typical $300–$700 minimum. Price moves with void size (more foam), foam density, and access. For a job-by-job view, see the concrete leveling cost guide or run the cost estimator with foam selected.
What a proper polyurethane foam leveling job includes
- Reason for choosing foam stated in writing
- Foam density matched to the load
- Holes about 5/8 inch, placed around cracks
- Lift controlled in small increments
- Laser or level monitoring during the lift
- Holes patched to match the surface
- Joints and cracks sealed afterward
- Same-day use in most cases
DIY patch vs cheapest operator vs proper polyurethane foam 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.