Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . Some not so deep. The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated.

Vv

On Sep 4, 10:53*am, Virtual Voyager wrote:
Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. *It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . *Some not so deep. *The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? *Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated. *

Vv

Will the area be roofed over when the new floor is built, and/or will
water still be able to get under the slab(?) from around the
perimeter, and then be subject to freezing and thawing?

On Sep 4, 12:04*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On Sep 4, 10:53*am, Virtual Voyager wrote:





Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. *It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . *Some not so deep. *The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? *Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated. *

Vv

Will the area be roofed over when the new floor is built, and/or will
water still be able to get under the slab(?) from around the
perimeter, and then be subject to freezing and thawing?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Bob, no roof or cover over the deck, but once I can get the cracks
sealed I intend on covering the entire slab with roll roofing, sort of
like tarpaper on a roof.

Thanks for the good response.

Vv

Virtual Voyager wrote:
Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . Some not so deep. The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated.

Vv


If you are building a deck over the footprint, best to tear the old
concrete out, correct the drainage problems that led to the settling (or
more likely frost heaving, if you live in frost country), and cover the
area with landscape fabric and gravel after you put in proper piers to
hold up the deck. I have a slightly-heaved buried patio under my deck,
and debris and such builds up under there, and causes ponding against
the imperfectly sealed foundation, and the water ends up in the
basement. The water may not be only coming through the cracks- it is
quite likely also coming in under the edge of the slab, if your yard has
any slope at all to it. The natural tendency of turf to 'eat' concrete
slabs can make even a level patio subject to ponding. Your yard does get
taller over the years. Pond under deck leads to mosquitoes, even if your
basement waterproofing keeps the basement perfectly dry. No sunlight,
that water can takes days to evaporate.

--
aem sends..

On Sep 4, 10:40*pm, aemeijers wrote:
Virtual Voyager wrote:
Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. *It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . *Some not so deep. *The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? *Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated. *

Vv

If you are building a deck over the footprint, best to tear the old
concrete out, correct the drainage problems that led to the settling (or
more likely frost heaving, if you live in frost country), and cover the
area with landscape fabric and gravel after you put in proper piers to
hold up the deck. I have a slightly-heaved buried patio under my deck,
and debris and such builds up under there, and causes ponding against
the imperfectly sealed foundation, and the water ends up in the
basement. The water may not be only coming through the cracks- it is
quite likely also coming in under the edge of the slab, if your yard has
any slope at all to it. The natural tendency of turf to 'eat' concrete
slabs can make even a level patio subject to ponding. Your yard does get
taller over the years. Pond under deck leads to mosquitoes, even if your
basement waterproofing keeps the basement perfectly dry. No sunlight,
that water can takes days to evaporate.

--
aem sends..- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


As long as the slab grade allows water to run off in the proper
fashion and it is stable, I see no need to tear the existing concrete
out. That is major work and the disposal of the concrete can be
costly.

Just caulk the cracks with one of the concrete crack repair products
available in a caulk gun type tube. However if the new deck is going
to depend on the old concrete, you do need to be certain that it is
stable at this point.

"hr(bob) " wrote in message
...
On Sep 4, 10:53 am, Virtual Voyager wrote:
Hi all,

I have a 16' x 22' concrete patio that butts up against the
utilityroom exterior wall foundation. It was poured when the house
was built almost 40 yrs ago.

It has severe cracks that appear to be almost, if not, all the way
through . Some not so deep. The cracks have created individual
sections, which has caused an uneven surface.

What can I use to seal the cracks? Finished appearance is not an
issue since I intend to build a "floating" deck over it.

I want to seal them so as to eliminate any further "settling" due to
the water undermining the slab(s).

Any and all experience and expertise is appreciated.

Vv

Will the area be roofed over when the new floor is built, and/or will
water still be able to get under the slab(?) from around the
perimeter, and then be subject to freezing and thawing?

I had good luck with pourcrete. Hydraulic cement. Has the consistency of
flour, you make it up until it is like thin pancake batter and pour in a
hurry, cause it sets fast. I had a bottom concrete slab at my cabin that
had sluffed off heavily due to freeze/thaw cycles, and just the aggregate
was showing. It would get wet, then freeze, then be slippery. I put some
PourStone on there, and made it intentionally rough on top, thinking I'd
just get the season out of it, and that would be it. It still has a grip on
the original concrete going on three years now, and is not sluffing at all
with the freeze thaw cycles. Be careful to mix it in small batches, like a
pint or less, because it is spendy, and you will waste it if you make too
much, and it starts setting. I like to use it on cracks because you make it
to the consistency of being pourable, and just pour it in the cracks, and it
flows right in. If one settles too much, just add a little more the next
time. It's weird stuff when you are mixing it like corn starch, it all
settles to the bottom. I use a wood paint stirrer to mix it.

HTH

Steve

thanks for the advice and info, I appreciate everyone's help.

Vv

There are thing you can do to slippery wet tiles to treat them to make
them anti-slip or non-slip solutions. The best one around is
http://www.slipdoctors.com They should have a solution that works on
slick concrete surfaces especially slipery when wet and unsafe. Give
them a call and see if they have some non-slip solutions.