does anyone know anything about repairing concrete?

**frugal is fun** · 03-14-2012, 12:07 PM

so I think I'm going to attempt to fix my concrete patio. I have extensive water damage on the outside wall of my patio, just cosmetic, not structural, and several large pieces are cracked and have fallen out leaving a huge hole. Everyone I mention it to says just buy a bag of concrete, slap it in the hole, smooth it over and you're done.

Is it really that easy? my ex thinks I can do it except he doesn't think I'm strong enough to lift the bag of concrete. any comments from my FV handymen?

**Russ** · 03-14-2012, 12:23 PM

Can you take a picture, Judy?

**Russ** · 03-14-2012, 12:28 PM

Here you go. These are better instructions than I can type.

How to Patch a Hole in a Concrete Wall | eHow.com

**frugal is fun** · 03-14-2012, 01:11 PM

I knew I would get a response from you Russ. thank you!

yes I can take a picture, I'll do my best to remember tonight and post it tomorrow.

**frugal is fun** · 03-16-2012, 10:17 AM

attached are the pictures of the areas I need to fix as well as a few cracks that I didn't take pictures of. These are the major areas that need major work.

thoughts?

**Russ** · 03-16-2012, 10:22 AM

First photo - at the corner of the house, is that the downspout? If so, you need to fix that before you do any work. The water gets in behind the concrete and expands during the winter. It will just happen all over again if you don't fix that.

The last picture - sorry to say but I'm not sure thats repairable. I think it will continue to deteriorate.

Bottom line, address the water problem first, before you make any repairs.

**frugal is fun** · 03-16-2012, 12:51 PM

that is just the corner of the house, not the down spout. There is no obvious puddling on the patio, nothing that even seems to be an issue anyway.

I noticed the night I was taking the pictures that the patio itself is slightly slanted toward the back yard,(a plastic golf ball rolled off) away from the house so now I'm wondering if its the water running off the patio down the face of it that is causing it.

I have a very blurry picture of the back of the patio/house. The area in question is blocked by the guy on the right but you can see the downspout is right next to it but it goes directly into the ground and I have never had any visible puddling or other obvious water problems.

but now that you say that the back of the patio is growing moss, I think its the third picture. this would explain the dampness if the water just runs straight down the face. right?

so I guess my next question is how do I fix that...dig around the bottom of the patio, put some type of drainage in, sloped away from the house?

I knew this was more complicated that slapping some concrete on it and calling it a day.

**frugal is fun** · 03-16-2012, 12:54 PM

This is a picture taken in the summer of the area. the flowers are in front but you can see the cracks, and the moss. The big hole is just to the right, not really in the picture.

**Russ** · 03-16-2012, 02:09 PM

Back to your first picture...
See all those fine cracks? The same thing is going to happen as the hole. The face is just going to fall off.
At the top of that picture you can see the water stains.

Our maintenance guy here has a saying...
There are 2 types of concrete, cracked concrete and concrete thats going to crack.

Unless you're going to completely replace the entire porch, all you can do is cosmetically repair it but chances are it will happen again.

**frugal is fun** · 03-16-2012, 02:43 PM

Boo!!

Appreciate your thoughts Russ.

**frugalfranny** · 03-16-2012, 05:02 PM

Thanks....interesting reading.........and I always learn a tidbit too..........

Thanks Russ......made me re-think my issue I am having with a crack going across my driveway........know it is a tree root, but won't try to patch it. (guess I will be digging down to find the root.........and then poisoning.....)

**frugal is fun** · 09-12-2012, 02:43 PM

so remember this post??.......I have a mason at my house this week addressing the issues. There is no obvious "water problem" to take care of, I think neglect is the major cause. Just from what he did yesterday, its more than I expected and I just have to say I'm so darn excited! yes, I know very weird! This is day one.

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**SueBee49** · 09-12-2012, 07:14 PM

Wow! That's looking good. I knew nothing about the job you were contemplating, but I did know that a bag of concrete is extremely heavy! I can lift my 60 lb dog with no major problem, but needed help with the 50 lb bag of concrete. I know you are excited to get this done.