Polyjacking vs Concrete Replacement
When Each Makes Sense in Kansas City
Lift it or replace it? A decision framework based on cost, time, disruption, and longevity.
Quick Answer
Lifting Wins for Most Sound Slabs
For most structurally sound slabs, polyjacking is faster, cheaper, and far less disruptive than tearing out and repouring concrete. Replacement is the right call when a slab is severely cracked, deteriorated, or structurally compromised.
Lifting is always evaluated first. Replacement is the right call only when lifting genuinely won’t work.
Polyjacking
$700–$3,000+. 1–3 hours. Same-day use.
Replacement
$4,000–$12,000+. 1–3 days. 5–7 day cure.
Cost Multiplier
Replacement is typically 4–6x polyjacking.
15–30 Min
Same-hour use after the lift.
1/10th Weight
Far lighter than cement slurry.
5/8" Ports
Small holes, patched flush.
Long-Term
Outlasts cement-based lifting in clay.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Four Factors That Drive the Decision
Cost
Polyjacking $700–$3,000+. Replacement $4,000–$12,000+. Lifting almost always 4–6x cheaper.
Time
Polyjacking 1–3 hours on-site, 15–30 min to use. Replacement days on-site, full week to cure.
Disruption
Polyjacking: small ports, minimal cleanup. Replacement: full demolition, debris hauling, dust.
Aesthetic Match
Polyjacking preserves existing concrete. New pour won't match weathered slab color or finish.
When Polyjacking Wins
Know When to Lift and When to Replace
Polyjacking is usually the better call when the slab is structurally sound, settlement is caused by soil voids or poor compaction (not failed concrete), you want the slab back in service today, the aesthetic of the existing concrete matters, and you want to spend a fraction of replacement cost.
That’s the majority of residential settlement cases we see across Kansas City.
When Replacement Is the Right Call
Specific Cases Where Lifting Won't Work
Replacement makes sense when the slab is severely cracked, fractured, or structurally compromised; the base material has completely failed; the concrete itself is too thin or deteriorated to bear load; polyjacking has been done multiple times and the soil keeps moving; or you’re remodeling and intentionally redesigning the space.
We’ll tell you straight at the inspection if your slab is in this category. Replacement isn’t our service, but if it’s the right answer, we’ll say so.
The Hidden Cost of Replacement
Long-Term Results Depend on Slab Condition and Support
Replacement quotes usually look like one number. The real cost includes demolition and debris removal, site protection, time off work to oversee, curing time before vehicles can return, new concrete that doesn’t match existing color, and the same underlying soil conditions that caused the original settlement.
Polyjacking doesn’t eliminate every variable, but it does eliminate most of the disruption.
Polyjacking vs Replacement FAQs
The most common decision-framework questions.
- Lightweight material that will not overload weak soils
- Fast cure times, often usable in 15 to 30 minutes
- High lift precision for cleaner leveling results
- Moisture-resistant support for long-term performance
Polyjacking Process Recap
What to Expect From a Lift
Free Inspection
An on-site evaluation that measures settlement, identifies the root cause, and confirms whether polyjacking is the right fix. About 20 minutes, no obligation.
Foam Injection
Closed-cell polyurethane injected through 5/8-inch ports under the slab. The foam expands, fills voids, and lifts concrete with millimeter precision.
Real-Time Lift
The slab raises as foam expands — visible in seconds, measured against benchmarks for accuracy. No guesswork, no slurry settling overnight.
Same-Day Use
Concrete is back in service within 15–30 minutes of injection. Walk on it, drive on it, no waiting for cure days.
Free Inspection — We'll Tell You Which You Need
If you’re stuck between getting a tear-out quote and a polyjacking quote, the inspection settles it. We’ll tell you whether your slab is a candidate for lifting — and if it isn’t, we’ll say so directly.
Learn More About
Decision Resources
In our experience, about 85% of slabs we inspect are good polyjacking candidates. The remaining 15% need replacement, usually because the concrete itself has failed.
Probably not perfectly. New concrete cures lighter and takes years to weather to match adjacent older slabs. Polyjacking preserves the original look.
No. Polyjacking is hours on-site with same-day use. Replacement is days on-site plus a full cure week.
Yes — though it rarely fails the way mudjacking does. If it does, foam can be re-injected. Replacement after a polyjacking failure is unusual.