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Concrete leveling vs replacement: when to lift, when to tear out
Polyjacking is the right answer 80% of the time. Here's how to spot the 20% where replacement actually makes sense.
When polyjacking is the right choice
- • Slab is intact (no major cracks or crumbling)
- • Settlement is uniform or sectional, not catastrophic
- • You want the surface usable the same day
- • Budget matters (polyjacking is 40–60% cheaper)
- • You want to avoid demolition mess and landscape damage
When replacement is the better call
- • Slab is severely cracked, crumbling, or spalling
- • Concrete has lost structural integrity from rebar corrosion or alkali damage
- • You're already changing the layout (adding a garage, extending the driveway)
- • Slab is more than 60–70 years old and at end of life
- • The slab has settled more than 6" — extreme lifts are possible but not always cost-effective
The hybrid approach
In some cases, the best answer is to replace one section and polyjack the rest — especially when one panel is beyond repair but the surrounding concrete is salvageable. A good contractor will tell you when a hybrid is the smart move.