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New Orleans Concrete Leveling connects homeowners with independent local contractors who lift settled pool deck panels back into line and restore the slope that carries water away from the pool. With mudjacking, pool deck leveling in New Orleans typically runs $1,600–$3,600 for about 400 square feet, according to HomeGuide's mudjacking cost data — usually 30–50% less than tearing out and repouring a deck around a finished pool. Foam, the more common choice next to a pool shell, runs $8–$25 per square foot, or about $3,200–$10,000 for the same deck. Foam, the more common choice next to a pool shell, runs $8–$25 per square foot, or about $3,200–$10,000 for the same deck.
Pool decks have a built-in reason to settle. The pool was dug, the shell set, and the ring of soil around it backfilled — and that backfill is exactly what the deck sits on. As it compacts, deck panels drop away from the coping, joints open into trip edges, and panels that once sloped away from the water start to tip toward it.
What happens on the first visit
A pool deck estimate looks at the deck, the coping and the water path together:
- The gap at the coping and whether the deck has dropped below it.
- Trip edges between panels, measured at each joint.
- Which way water runs now. Water standing near the pool or running toward it is a sign the slope has reversed.
- Plumbing and equipment lines under the deck, so the drill pattern stays clear of them.
- Method and a written price, usually foam near the pool shell, for reasons below.
Why pool decks settle — and why New Orleans makes it worse
Backfill around a pool shell is loose soil that was dug out and put back. Even well-compacted fill keeps settling for years, and every time the pool is splashed out, the deck is rinsed, or a storm comes through, water soaks down along the shell and softens it. New Orleans adds more than 60 inches of rain a year (NWS) and ground that is still subsiding on its own, about 0.2 inches a year on average per the City of New Orleans.
A deck should shed water away from the pool. When panels settle next to the coping, that slope reverses and water collects at the edge of the shell, soaks into the backfill and speeds up the settling. Leaks in pool plumbing do the same from below.
Why foam is the usual choice next to a pool
Both methods can lift a pool deck, but polyurethane foam is common next to the shell. It weighs a few pounds per cubic foot instead of roughly a hundred for slurry, so it doesn't add load to backfill that is already soft. It's water-resistant once cured, its 5/8-inch holes are neater on a finished deck, and it cures in about 15 minutes, so the deck is back in use the same day.
Mudjacking can still be the value choice for panels farther from the pool on firmer ground. A good estimate may use each where it fits. See foam vs mudjacking for the full comparison.
When the deck isn't the whole problem
If panels keep sinking in one spot, suspect water from below. A leaking return or skimmer line can wash out soil under the deck faster than any rain. Fix the leak first, then lift — otherwise the new support washes out too. A pool technician can pressure-test the lines if the pool is losing water.
Decks with a finish coat, pavers or stamped overlay can usually still be lifted. Ask at the estimate how the finish will handle the movement. Cracked panels are covered in can you level a cracked slab?.
Pricing and the full pool deck cost guide
Expect $1,600–$3,600 for about 400 square feet of deck with mudjacking ($4–$9 per square foot), and roughly $3,200–$10,000 with foam ($8–$25). Most contractors charge a $300–$700 minimum. The pool deck leveling cost guide breaks this down by deck size and condition.
Homeowners insurance generally excludes settling; a sudden plumbing leak that washed out the base is the kind of exception worth asking your insurer about. A deck on your own lot doesn't need a City permit to level.
What a proper pool deck leveling job includes
- Coping gap and panel edges measured
- Water path and slope checked around the pool
- Plumbing lines located before drilling
- Method chosen for backfill conditions
- Panels lifted back to slope away from the pool
- Injection holes patched to match the deck
- Coping and expansion joints sealed
- Leak check recommended if panels keep dropping
DIY patch vs cheapest operator vs proper pool deck 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.