Mudjacking and concrete leveling in Grand Forks

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what the slab is doing.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent mudjacking and concrete repair contractor that serves Greater Grand Forks.

3. They call you back

   They inspect the concrete and quote the repair directly.

Who uses this site?

Homeowners in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Thompson and the farm towns around them who have concrete that has settled, tipped, heaved or cracked. That includes driveways, garage aprons, front walks, public sidewalks, stoops, steps and back patios. It's also for Grand Forks owners who have been told their sidewalk is on the city's repair list and want to hire their own contractor before the city's project reaches their block.

What is mudjacking, and will it work on my slab?

Mudjacking (also called slabjacking) lifts a sunken slab by pumping a cement-based slurry into the hollow space underneath it. The contractor drills a few holes, fills the void, and keeps pumping until the pressure raises the concrete back toward level. Then the holes are patched.

It works best on slabs that have dropped but are still in one or two solid pieces. If the concrete is shattered, the top is flaking away, or the slab keeps sinking because water is pouring under it every spring, replacement or a drainage fix may be the better spend. A good contractor will tell you when lifting isn't worth it.

Mudjacking or polyurethane foam?

• Mudjacking. A heavy, cement-based slurry pumped through holes around an inch and a half across. It's the older method and usually the lower-cost one.
• Foam leveling. A two-part polyurethane that expands under the slab, injected through holes about the size of a dime. It adds very little weight to soft ground, sets in minutes and doesn't absorb water, but usually costs more.

On the soft lake clays under much of Grand Forks, the lighter weight of foam is one reason some contractors favor it. Others lift with slurry and do it well. Ask which method the contractor recommends for your slab and why. More on mudjacking and foam leveling.

Why does concrete move so much in Grand Forks?

• Old lake-bottom clay. The Red River Valley is the bed of glacial Lake Agassiz. The North Dakota Geological Survey describes the Brenna Formation lake clays under the area as soft and expansive, about 30 feet thick around Grand Forks, with silts and clays above them that can become unstable when saturated.
• Deep cold. Grand Forks averages about 48 inches of snow a year, and January's average temperature is around 6°F. Water that reaches the soil under a slab freezes, expands and lifts it, then leaves gaps as it thaws.
• Spring melt on flat ground. The valley is very flat, so snowmelt can sit against foundations and slabs instead of running off, soaking the soil underneath.
• Backfill that keeps settling. Dirt placed around foundations, garages and utility lines often compacts for years after a house is built. Garage aprons and stoops sit right on top of it.

What problems should I deal with soon?

• A sidewalk edge high enough to catch a toe or a snow shovel
• A garage apron that has dropped below the garage floor
• A stoop or patio sloping toward the house
• A gap opening between the slab and the foundation
• Steps that rock or have pulled away from the door
• Water or ice pooling on the driveway every thaw
• A notice from the city that your sidewalk needs repair

When is the best time to book?

Most lifting, pouring and sealing happens between spring thaw and freeze-up, when the ground isn't frozen and sealants can cure. Spring is when frost heave and melt washouts show up, so it's a good time to walk your concrete and make a list. In Grand Forks, the city's sidewalk project is planned in late winter and bid in spring, so if you want to do your own sidewalk repair, call early in the season.

Does it matter which side of the river I live on?

Yes, for paperwork. Grand Forks is in North Dakota and East Grand Forks is in Minnesota, and the two states license contractors differently. North Dakota requires a state contractor license for jobs over $4,000. Minnesota licenses residential building contractors, but a contractor that does only one skill, such as concrete, can be exempt. Each city also has its own sidewalk and right-of-way rules. The Grand Forks concrete repair guide explains both.

What should I fix at the same time?

Lifting the slab fixes the symptom. To keep it from dropping again, deal with the water:

• Extend downspouts so they empty past the edge of walks, stoops and driveways
• Point sump pump discharge away from concrete
• Seal the joint where a slab meets the house, and any open control joints
• Build up soil that slopes toward the foundation

Are you a concrete company?

No. Grand Forks Mudjacking is a referral service. We connect you with an independent contractor that serves your address, and that contractor quotes, does and stands behind the work. Before you hire anyone, read our tips for choosing a contractor.

Areas we cover

• Grand Forks
• East Grand Forks
• Thompson

Planning ahead? Read our Grand Forks concrete repair guide.