Slabjacking vs. Epoxy Leveling in Katy TX — Which Do You Need?

Slabjacking: For Structural Settlement

Slabjacking (mudjacking with cement slurry, or the newer polyurethane foam injection) lifts a settled slab section by injecting material beneath it. This is the correct solution for: sections that have dropped 1"+ below adjacent sections, step cracks between slab sections, and situations where there's a confirmed void beneath the slab. Epoxy cannot fix structural settlement — it just coats whatever surface exists.

Self-Leveling Overlay: For Minor Variation

Cementitious self-leveling underlayment (SLU) can correct floor variations up to 1" in thickness in a single pour. It's appropriate for: floors with gradual slope variation across the span, areas with pitting or spalling that create an uneven surface, and garages where the floor was poured without a level screed. SLU is not appropriate for active settlement or voids — it needs a stable substrate to level on.

Grinding for High Spots

Sometimes the floor isn't low — it's high. Concrete ridges at control joints that have heaved (pushed upward by soil expansion), bumps from aggregate exposure, or previous repair patches that sit above the surrounding concrete are addressed by diamond grinding the high spot down to match surrounding concrete. Grinding is faster and cheaper than overlays when the problem is localized high spots rather than general low areas.

The Assessment Process

Estimates include a 10-foot straightedge and a laser level to every uneven floor job. The straightedge reveals local variation; the laser maps the full room. From that data: (1) does this need slabjacking before anything else? (2) can SLU handle it? (3) are there localized high spots to grind? The answer determines the right sequence, timing, and cost — before we commit to anything.