Help with cracked outdoor concrete/tiles

Not an easy fix, if you plan on doing it right.

First fix the drainage problem so it doesent recur

Then cut a line parallel to the house in the top of the concrete slab starting at the cracks closest point to the house.

break out and remmove the outer portion of the patio slab. save the pieces.

Drill into the remaining portion of the slab with a 7/16" mason bit to a depth of 12 inches minimum. hammer in 1/2 " rebar pieces twice as long as the holes leaving half exposed so it will tie into new portion of the slab.

Form up the new patio edition and be sure to add a 12" deep footer on the outer edge. concrete wire in the form and tie it with wire ties to the previous placed rebar.

Pour new slab and then tile and landscape.
















Many other easy and cheap options exist though.

1. remove existing tile cover patio in outdoor carpet and ignore the crack.

2. Dig under outer edge of patio and pour a footer there to prevent further sinking then pour a leveling layer on the patio (requires form boards and some experience) Dont forget it should be a minimum of 1/2 bubble drop from the house. then re-tile

3. bust out all tile and stain the concrete and ignore the crack.

I have this same issue...previous owner extended the patio, but didn't put any footers under it, and tried to level it with the slab. Drainage is horrible, and it's cracking where they laid a course of tiles across the joint of the house slab and the new one they poured. I'm not looking forward to fixing it.

Heart - Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, I was afraid it would be a pretty involved fix.

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How big is the patio? Is the slab supporting a roof?

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Its the back deck of the house really. We have a large covered patio (screened in) then the backyard opens up, and we poured slab all along the back wall (If I had to eyeball it, maybe about 35 feet) and extended it about 20 feet out into the yard. It's pretty big. We put tile over the slab and beyond that is the pool and then a built up wooden deck.

The slab is not supporting the roof, but it butts up against the house. The part that is cracked is all the way on the far corner of the house, in about a 10x10 foot area.

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is it due to sinking or erosion from water drainage?

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I would have to guess sinking.

How would I tell if it was from water drainage? Our pool pump is right next to this area, so that may play a big part?

I know to fix it will require us to hire someone regardless, atleast I assume. (This is my mothers house)

ETA: I will try and take a picture tomorrow morning, I'm sure my description isn't too helpful

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I will try and take a picture tomorrow morning, I'm sure my description isn't too helpful

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If you do that it would help. Is the surface of the concrete even? Meaning, is the top of the concrete on one side of the crack lower than the other side of the crack?

They have foundation companies that will come out and spray foam underneath the concrete to level it, and strengthen it back up. That would typically be an inexpensive fix compared to replacing the slab. But, it kinda all depends on what's causing the slab to crack. Is there an expansion joint close by? Something that would allow rainfall to get underneath the slab and wash out the dirt.

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If you do that it would help. Is

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I'll bump it tomorrow

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Is the surface of the concrete even

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Yeah it's basically like a line goes through and cut the slab into a triangle that is now a bit lower.

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They have foundation companies that will come out and spray foam underneath the concrete to level it, and strengthen it back up

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This seems like a good option..

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Is there an expansion joint close by? Something that would allow rainfall to get underneath the slab and wash out the dirt.

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....umm.. not really sure?! haha I'll take a few pics and show you what I'm talking about. Thanks so much