Should i resurface or tear out and pour a new patio slab?

[Brandon_P]

I’ve finally decided to tackle the old, uneven concrete patio in my backyard, but I’m stuck on whether to use a concrete resurfacer or just tear it out and pour a new slab. The surface is flaking and has a few low spots that collect water, but the base seems solid. I’m worried a new layer might not bond properly or could crack again in a year.

[SamuelBR]

I went through something similar last year and tried a concrete resurfacer on a flaky patio. It looked better for a while, but the low spots still collected water and the surface started chipping again after a few cold cycles.

[Nora.M]

I pulled the trigger on tearing out and pouring a new slab. The base looked solid, but pulling the old concrete taught me the ground and form work take just as long as you expect. It’s not glamorous, but it felt sturdier in the long run.

[Jonathan48]

I tried patching the low spots with a polymer-modified mix and a trowel, and it lasted maybe a season. The flakes keep popping where water sits, and I finally stopped blaming the product and blamed the moisture under the slab.

[Savannah24]

Drainage matters more than you think. If the water sits in the low spots, everything else is a guess. I’d fix slope away from the house and get a proper clean, dry surface before deciding.

[VioletZP]

I wonder if the real issue isn’t the resurfacing at all but the soil beneath or how you’re draining water away. Are you sure the base beneath is truly solid, or could there be movement you’re not seeing?