DIY Concrete Leveling vs Hiring a Professional: An Honest Comparison

We get it, hiring professionals costs money, and there is a genuine satisfaction in fixing things yourself. Concrete leveling, however, is one of those tasks where DIY attempts often end up costing significantly more in the long run.

We want to give you an honest breakdown to help you decide.

At Colorado Springs Leveling, we have seen hundreds of “weekend warrior” projects that unfortunately required expensive repairs later. This guide compares the real costs, risks, and results of handling concrete settlement on your own versus calling in a team.

Here is the data you need to make the right call for your home.

What DIY Options Actually Exist

You will find plenty of products on hardware store shelves claiming to fix uneven concrete. Most of them are designed for surface repairs rather than structural lifting.

Self-Leveling Compound

What it is: This is a flowable, polymer-modified cement that spreads out to create a flat surface. Brands like Quikrete and Sika manufacture these specifically for resurfacing.

What it’s for:

• Indoor floors with minor unevenness (typically under 1 inch)
• Preparing subfloors for tile, laminate, or carpet installation
• Smoothing out rough surface textures on small spots

What it’s NOT for:

• Outdoor concrete subject to freeze-thaw cycles
• Lifting settled slabs back to their original position
• Filling structural voids beneath the concrete
• Any height difference greater than 1 inch

Reality check: This material does not lift concrete. It simply adds weight and material on top of a sinking slab. If the soil beneath is still settling, that new layer will crack right along with the old one.

Foam Lifting Kits

What it is: These are consumer-grade polyurethane foam kits sold online or at specialty suppliers.

What it claims: Marketing materials suggest you can lift sunken concrete yourself by injecting expanding foam through small holes, similar to professional “polyjacking.”

The problems:

• Limited lifting capacity: Most DIY kits generate significantly less expansion force than professional-grade foam.
• Blind injection: You cannot see where the foam is going, often leading to wasted material or clogged drainage pipes.
• Rapid reaction times: The chemical reaction happens in seconds, leaving zero margin for error if the slab lifts unevenly.
• Cost accumulation: A single kit often covers only a few square feet.

When it might work: We have seen this work for very minor settlement (1/2 inch or less) on a single, small sidewalk square.

When it won’t work: Driveways, patios, or garage floors usually require more lifting force and material volume than these kits provide.

Concrete Grinding

What it is: This involves renting a walk-behind grinder or using a handheld angle grinder to shave down the high side of a trip hazard.

What it’s for:

• Eliminating sharp trip hazards at expansion joints
• Smoothing surface irregularities before sealing
• Temporary safety fixes

What it’s NOT for:

• Addressing the actual settlement cause
• Fixing water drainage issues (slopes)
• Long-term solutions for active soil movement

Reality check: Grinding removes the symptoms but ignores the disease. The slab is still sinking, and you have now permanently thinned the concrete, making it weaker.

Mudjacking Rental Equipment

Does it exist? No, it really doesn’t. True mudjacking requires heavy hydraulic pumps, large hoses, and a custom slurry mixture of water, dirt, and cement.

The logistics:

• Specialized mixing equipment is not available at standard rental yards.
• High-volume pumps require operator training to avoid blowing out the slab.
• Material storage requires a truck or trailer.

You simply cannot rent this setup at Home Depot or Sunbelt Rentals.

The Real DIY Calculation

We believe in looking at the math before starting a project. Let’s break down what DIY concrete “leveling” actually costs in 2026 dollars compared to professional results.

Scenario 1: Minor Trip Hazard

The situation: You have a half-inch lip between two sidewalk slabs that creates a stumbling risk.

DIY approach:

• Rent concrete grinder: $100-$130/day
• Diamond grinding pads (consumable): $40-$80
• Safety equipment (respirator for silica dust, glasses): $40
• Total: $180-$250

Professional approach:

• Leveling the slab: $300-$500 (depending on minimums)
• Complete solution that restores the slab height
• Typically includes a warranty

Verdict: For very minor issues, grinding yourself might save a small amount of cash. Just remember that the grind marks are permanent and the dust is a serious health hazard without proper vacuum attachments.

Scenario 2: Sunken Driveway Section

The situation: A 10x10 foot section of your driveway has settled two inches near the garage.

DIY approach:

• Foam kits (Retail approx. $600 for equivalent volume): $600+
• Drill bits and accessories: $50
• Risk of failure: High (Consumer foam often lacks the density to hold 4,000 lbs of concrete)
• Total: $650+ (with high risk of total loss)

Professional approach:

• Polyurethane or Limestone leveling: $900-$1,500
• Deep injection to stabilize sub-soil
• Warranty protection (usually 2-5 years)
• Savings over replacement: $2,500+

Verdict: DIY is a financial gamble here. You will likely spend hundreds on products that cannot lift the weight, forcing you to call a pro anyway.

Scenario 3: Patio Pulling Away from House

The situation: Your patio has settled 2+ inches, creating a gap where water flows toward your foundation.

DIY approach:

• No viable DIY lifting option exists for this weight.
• Caulk fills the gap temporarily: $50
• Water continues to erode soil beneath.
• Eventually: Full replacement required ($4,000+)

Professional approach:

• Leveling and sealing: $1,200-$1,800
• Slope correction to drain water away from the home.
• Foundation protection.

Verdict: There is no DIY path here. Pay for professional leveling now or pay significantly more for foundation repairs and concrete replacement later.

What Professionals Bring

Equipment

The truck: Our rigs carry tens of thousands of dollars in specialized technology designed for precision.

• Hydraulic Pumps: These deliver material at consistent pressures (often 1,000+ psi) to lift heavy slabs without cracking them.
• Heated Hoses: Polyurethane requires exact temperature control to expand correctly, which our trucks monitor automatically.
• Laser Levels: We use rotary lasers to ensure the lift is accurate to within a fraction of an inch.

Consumer products simply cannot replicate this power or precision.

Materials

Professional standards:

• Engineered Slurry or Foam: We use high-density geotechnical foam (4-6 lbs per cubic foot) or limestone slurry designed for load-bearing stability.
• Hydrophobic Properties: Our materials are often designed to set up even in wet soil conditions.
• Cure Time: Professional polyjacking cures in 15 minutes, allowing you to drive on it immediately.

Consumer products:

• Low Density: DIY foam is often 1-2 lbs density, which can crush under the weight of a vehicle.
• Shrinkage: Store-bought cement patches often shrink as they dry, causing them to pull away from the repair area.

Experience

What experience provides:

• Knowing exactly where to drill to maximize lift leverage.
• Understanding soil types (clay vs. sandy loam) and how they react to injection.
• Recognizing “false lifts” where the slab binds against a wall rather than rising.
• Managing material flow to fill voids completely before lifting begins.

What happens without it:

• Pyramid Cracking: Injecting too much in the center cracks the slab into pieces.
• Blowouts: Material escaping through the sides or into sewer lines.
• Over-lifting: Raising the slab too high, which blocks doors or creates new trip hazards.

The Hidden Costs of DIY

Failed Attempts

When a DIY leveling project fails, the costs compound quickly.

• Wasted Material: You cannot return used foam kits or bags of cement.
• Removal Costs: A professional often has to charge more to fix a botched DIY job because they must drill through your patchwork or scrape out failed foam.
• Time Lost: You spend a weekend working only to end up with the same problem.

Damage Potential

DIY gone wrong can turn a repair into a replacement.

• Structural Cracks: Uneven pressure snaps concrete easily.
• Stained Surfaces: Spilled foam or cement is incredibly difficult to remove from a driveway.
• Drainage Issues: Accidentally pitching a slab toward your house can cause basement flooding.

Time Value

Your time has real value.

• Researching products and watching tutorials.
• Multiple trips to the hardware store.
• Physical labor involves heavy drilling and hauling.
• Cleanup of hazardous dust or chemicals.

When DIY Makes Sense

You are a concrete professional

If you work in the industry and have access to commercial pumps and materials, then you are not really doing “DIY” in the traditional sense.

The issue is truly minor

For a single raised edge on a garden path, renting a grinder is a reasonable solution. Just understand that the color of the concrete will change where you grind it.

You are doing something else anyway

If you plan to demolish the concrete in a year for a remodel, a temporary patch or grind is perfectly fine to keep the area safe in the meantime.

Budget simply won’t allow professional work

In this specific case, use caulk and patch material to seal cracks and prevent water from making the problem worse. This buys you time until a proper repair is affordable.

When to Call Professionals

Any significant settlement

If the drop is more than 1/2 inch, consumer products rarely have the power to fix it effectively.

Drainage concerns

Water flowing toward your foundation is a critical issue. Professionals use levels to ensure positive drainage away from your home.

Safety hazards

Trip hazards on public sidewalks or mail carrier paths create liability. A professional repair documents that you took proper action to fix the defect.

Valuable concrete

Stamped, colored, or decorative concrete is expensive to replace. We have specialized techniques to lift these slabs with minimal visual impact, preserving your investment.

Before selling your home

Home inspectors are trained to spot DIY patches. A professional warranty is a selling point, whereas a messy patch job is a red flag for buyers.

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Is this a minor cosmetic annoyance, or a structural issue involving soil movement?
2. Am I willing to pay for a full replacement if my DIY attempt cracks the slab?
3. Do I have the safety gear to handle silica dust or isocyanate chemicals?
4. Is my time worth $50 an hour? If so, does the savings still make sense?
5. Will a warranty give me peace of mind during the next rainy season?

Our Honest Advice

We are in the business of providing professional leveling services, but we would rather you make an informed decision than hire us for something minor.

Call us for a free assessment if:

• Settlement is more than 1/2 inch
• Multiple slabs are affected (like a driveway seam)
• Water is pooling or draining toward the house
• Safety liability is a concern
• You are not sure what caused the sinking

Consider DIY if:

• It is a tiny trip hazard on a back walkway
• You are okay with a repair that looks like a patch
• You want to try a temporary fix before committing to professional work

We will always give you an honest evaluation. Sometimes we tell homeowners they don’t need our services yet. Other times, we can show exactly why a $100 kit won’t solve a $2,000 problem.

Request a free assessment →

Either way, you will have the clear information you need to protect your home.