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New Orleans Concrete Leveling connects homeowners, remodelers and flooring installers with independent local contractors for floor leveling before tile installation in New Orleans — lifting a settled concrete slab back into plane before tile, LVP or wood goes down. When a section of slab has dropped, pouring more self-leveling compound on top only fills the low spot — the slab is still unsupported and still moving. Lifting it back to plane from below, then finishing with a thin skim if needed, gives the new floor a stable base.
It matters most with tile. The industry flatness standard (ANSI A108.02) calls for a substrate within 1/4 inch in 10 feet for tile with all edges shorter than 15 inches, and within 1/8 inch in 10 feet for large-format tile. A slab that has settled an inch at an addition wall is far outside that.
What happens on the first visit
The best time for this estimate is after the old flooring is up. The contractor checks:
- Floor elevations across the room, mapped with a laser.
- Whether the drop is settlement or just an uneven pour — only settlement needs a lift.
- Cracks, especially where an addition meets the original slab.
- Plumbing under the slab, a common cause of interior settling.
- A written price and handoff plan with your flooring installer.
Lift or self-level? Know the difference
Self-leveling underlayment is a pourable cement topping that fills low spots and flattens a surface. It's the right tool for small, stable dips and a rough pour. It adds weight and does nothing about a void under the slab.
Slab lifting injects polyurethane foam under the slab through small holes, raising the settled section back into plane and filling the void that caused it. Where a slab has settled, lift first, then let the installer skim any remaining small variation. DIY concrete leveling vs hiring a pro covers when a topping alone is enough.
Timing it with the flooring install
The lift happens after the old floor is removed and before underlayment goes down. Foam cures in about 15 minutes, so the installer can usually start the same day or the next. Injection holes are patched flush and are hidden under the new floor. For a sloping addition or converted garage, also see interior slab leveling.
Pricing a pre-flooring lift
These jobs are quoted after the elevation survey. HomeGuide lists polyurethane foam at $8–$25 per square foot, with a typical $300–$700 minimum. Usually only part of a room has settled, so the lifted area is smaller than the floor you're replacing.
What a proper pre-flooring slab lift includes
- Laser elevation map of the room
- Settlement separated from uneven pour
- Plumbing check recommended where signs exist
- Written price and schedule for the installer
- Foam lift into plane from below
- Holes patched flush for underlayment
- Crack at old/new joint addressed
- Final elevation readings handed to the installer
Self-leveler vs cheapest operator vs a proper slab lift
| 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.