Foundation projects are crucial to a home’s stability. Everything from materials to climate to the company you choose for work can impact how solid your home is for decades to come. And when you notice damage and need a repair? It’s crucial to address the concerns as soon as possible. While most homeowners understand the importance of foundation work, few know about one of the best processes for repairing damage and preventing future concerns: mudjacking.

How Mudjacking Might Solve Your Foundation Concerns

What is Mudjacking?

Mudjacking, also known as slab jacking, is a process that can help level uneven foundations and fill empty space below the foundation created by previous projects or settling earth. The process starts by drilling holes into the existing slabs; the filler will be injected through these holes down into the space under the foundation. The filler itself is made from a mix of concrete, dirt, and water — though some companies use chemical or foam fillers instead. Some professionals, like Ecoscape in Dallas, use only the strongest filler materials to ensure top-quality results. The Portland concrete in their mix is free from aggregate or debris that could cause gaps in the fill. Teams then use a high-pressure injector to push the filler under the foundation and fill in voids or lift the slab up to fix uneven areas.

How Much Does Mudjacking Cost?

Like most other home projects, the final cost of mudjacking depends on several factors, including your home’s size and location. National estimates run from $3-$20 a square foot. Companies in Dallas, like Ecoscape, often use tiered fee structures so that most jobs run a flat fee of around $4,000.

Can I Use Mudjacking in the Texas Climate?

One of the best things about mudjacking is that professionals can complete it in almost any weather. Texas homeowners know that the clay-rich soil can lead to foundation problems, so mudjacking can be a great solution in this climate. Clay soil expands and contracts quickly in response to rain and subsequent hot, dry weather. This cycle of expansion and contraction can make your foundation shift and crack, leaving patches of uneven slabs. Mudjacking is an excellent solution for those damages, and its strong materials can withstand the Texas soil and climate.

Best Uses for Mudjacking

Mudjacking is a solution for several common foundation concerns. If you have cracks or uneven foundation slabs due to settling, mudjacking is a much easier way to repair the damage than replacing the entire foundation.

Mudjacking is also a preventative measure. The team at Ecoscape uses mudjacking anytime a project lifts the foundation more than four inches. Mudjacking can mitigate the potential for voids that might cause future damage.

It’s also a potential solution for water seeping up through the floors. If there are voids under the house (potentially from past foundation projects or trenches dug for other repairs), water can get into those areas and slowly seep up into the home. Mudjacking fills the voids and stops the water damage from getting worse.

Pros and Cons

There are many benefits to mudjacking, ranging from its effectiveness to environmental impact:

• The process minimizes environmental waste and hazards. Because you’re not replacing old slabs, you won’t be adding these pieces of concrete to the landfill. Your project won’t create extra property damage (like accidentally hitting a water line) or run the risk of interfering with landscaping.
• The cost is less than replacing a whole part of your foundation.
• The new concrete mixture sets quickly and is stable within the same day. You don’t have to wait for a curing process.
• Mudjacking can be completed in almost any weather conditions.

Although there are many benefits, there are several potential downsides to mudjacking as well.

• If you use chemical components, like foam filler, there might be environmental hazards. You also might find “missing spots” in the filler since it relies on immediate chemical reactions to expand and harden.
• It’s generally not a good solution for raising an entire home’s foundation, so it’s not an appropriate fix in all situations.
• Depending on your area and needs, the project can get expensive.

Is DIY Mudjacking a Good Idea?

Many home repairs make good weekend DIY projects, but in most cases, mudjacking is not one of them. Homeowners would need the proper equipment to drill holes in the concrete and inject the right product solution to fill the area. Mudjacking is such a specialized procedure that even most professional foundation companies don’t include it in their services!

Professionals in Dallas Who Can Help

Fortunately, mudjacking is relatively affordable, and homeowners in the Dallas area have several companies that can help. It’s important to note that most foundation repair companies don’t offer mudjacking, so if you’re interested in the service, call one of the few teams with experience — Olshan, Advanced Foundation Repair, and Brown Foundation Repair in Dallas all offer mudjacking. However, Ecoscape is at the top of the list, with a mix of quality products and reliable service.

If you have foundation damage, are concerned about water in your home, or want to prevent future foundation issues, mudjacking might be right for you!

This article was created by an external contributor. Members of The Dallas Morning News editorial and news staff were not involved in the creation of this content.