How Long Does Mudjacking Take To Dry?

Learn what to expect when it comes to mudjacking dry times.

Hours… days… weeks? How long should you expect your concrete to be out of commission while you wait for the mudjacking to dry?

The short answer: you’re likely looking at hours rather than days. But here’s the twist: mudjacking may never dry at all.

Here at A-1 Concrete Leveling, we’ve been lifting settled concrete for 30+ years. While we don’t perform actual mudjacking (learn about our stone slurry grout leveling process vs. mudjacking), we’ve learned a lot about this concrete leveling method over the years. 

In this article, we’ll be answering how long mudjacking can take to dry, shining some light on why there are such varied responses to this question, and discussing how mudjacking may never dry at all (and why that’s not a bad thing!). 

How Long Does Mudjacking Take To Dry?

The mudjacking material pumped under sunken slabs may take 1 to 72 hours to dry, or it may never dry at all. (We’ll dive deeper into this in the next section.)

This wide range in drying times comes from the difference in mudjacking mixtures from company to company – more specifically, whether or not Portland cement was added to the mixture. More cement generally means faster hardening and enhanced strength properties.

Drill Hole Drying Time

While the material under the slab may be dry or weight-bearing sooner, you may need to stay off the concrete for up to 24 hours in order to allow the patched drill holes to cure.

Why Mudjacking May Never Dry

The mudjacking mixture is made out of soil, sand, and water. Sometimes Portland cement is added to the mixture to increase strength. Due to the nature of this mixture, it can take on moisture from surrounding soils, or even from the concrete slab itself.

This means that the mudjacking compound may continuously absorb moisture and may never fully dry out, even if cement is added. (But it isn’t a bad thing – more on this next.)

Is It Bad if Mudjacking Never Dries?

No, it’s not a bad thing if the mudjacking material under your slab never dries. The mudjacking mixture is still weight-bearing and can support your slab, even when wet.

In fact, this property makes mudjacking a good concrete lifting method. Instead of holding moisture against the slab, the material absorbs and wicks it away. This can help prevent excess moisture in the slab and the freeze-thaw damage that comes with it. 

The same goes for the limestone slurry mixture we use here at A-1 Concrete Leveling to lift settled slabs. 

Will the Mudjacking Mixture Wash Away?

It doesn't matter if the mudjacking material stays wet, as long as it has nowhere to go. But if there is water actively running below the slab and washing out the underlying soils or material, or if the sides of the void are open to the outside, then it could get washed away and cause the concrete to resettle.

Related Resource: Why Concrete Leveling Repairs Fail

Is Mudjacking a Good Idea?

The fact that mudjacking may never fully dry doesn’t make it a bad concrete leveling method. In fact, it can still be incredibly durable and last for the life of the concrete itself.

Like all concrete leveling methods, mudjacking comes with its own set of pros and cons to consider. But in general, mudjacking can be a good option for lifting your settled concrete. 

If you’re not quite sure which concrete leveling method to choose, this resource will help you learn more about your options: The Types of Concrete Leveling Compared

Here at A-1 Concrete Leveling, we don’t do mudjacking. Instead, we provide stone slurry grout and foam concrete leveling services. But we know that mudjacking can be a good idea in many cases.

Interested in seeing what concrete leveling can do for your settled concrete? Click the link below to request a free onsite cost estimate with an A-1 expert near you!

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