Cracks, spalling, and worn finishes don't always mean your patio slab has failed. We assess the damage, determine whether repair or replacement is the right move, and execute the fix with a free written estimate upfront.
A patio that looks rough on top is not necessarily a patio that needs to come out. The concrete slab underneath is often still level and structurally intact, which means the visible damage, surface cracks, spalled edges, faded finish, can be fixed without a full replacement.
Repair work on concrete patios includes crack sealing to stop water infiltration, saw-cutting and patching spalled corners back to clean lines, and laying a thin overlay across the whole slab when cosmetic refresh is the goal. Most jobs finish in one or two days and cost significantly less than tear-out and pour.
The line between repair and replacement is clear: if the slab is heaving, settling unevenly, or pulling away from the house, the base has failed and a new patio is the honest answer. We walk the slab with you, identify which category yours falls into, and quote accordingly. That same straightforward approach applies to all our residential concrete services, from driveway repair to foundation work.
Recent work
The repair sequence
How Patio Repair Gets Done in Gatineau
On-site assessment and diagnosis
We inspect the slab for base movement, crack patterns, spalling extent, and surface condition. This determines whether repair is viable or if the slab needs replacement.
Saw-cut and remove damaged concrete
For localized damage, we cut clean edges around the problem area, remove the failed concrete, and expose sound base material for the patch to bond to.
Prepare and bond the patch
The prepared area is cleaned, primed if needed, and filled with repair mortar keyed into the surrounding concrete. Reinforcement is added for larger patches.
Finish and cure to match
The patch is textured to blend with the existing slab (broom, exposed aggregate, or stamped), then cured on schedule. Full resurfacing applies an overlay across the entire slab for uniform appearance.
Overlay and protect
How Patio Resurfacing Refreshes the Whole Slab
When the concrete slab is structurally sound but the surface looks tired across the entire patio, resurfacing is the smarter choice than spot-patching. A thin overlay is applied over the prepared slab, creating a fresh, uniform finish that reads as a brand-new patio without the cost and disruption of tear-out.
Repair vs replace, cracks, resurfacing and what is honest to fix in Gatineau.
If the cracks are surface-only and the slab still sits level against the house, repair makes sense. If the slab is heaving, settling or pulling away from the house, the base has likely failed and a new pour is the honest answer.
Yes. We saw-cut clean edges around the spalled area, prepare the base, and bond a patch into the sound concrete. Done with the right mortar and prep, a patch holds as well as the original.
Resurfacing lays a thin overlay across a prepared slab when the structure is sound but the surface is cosmetically gone. It gives the whole patio a fresh, uniform look at a fraction of the cost and time of a tear-out.
Patches into existing concrete are visible up close, but resurfacing covers the whole slab in one go and reads as a new finish. Either way, sealing afterwards keeps the result protected for years.
Most localised repairs are done in a day. A full resurface usually wraps in a day or two, with a cure window before furniture goes back. We give you the exact timeline on the assessment.
Homeowner reviews
What Gatineau Homeowners Say About Their Patio Repairs
Resurfaced our old broom-finish patio instead of tearing it out. The new top reads as a brand-new patio and we used the slab through the summer.
B. E.
Gatineau
★★★★★
Spalled corners at the steps, patched cleanly and colour-matched. No more catching shovels on the broken edges, and the seam is barely visible.
M. P.
Barrhaven
★★★★★
Honest that the back half of the patio had base problems and the front half was sound. Replaced the back, repaired the front, exactly what we agreed on.
A. Q.
Kanata
★★★★★
Cracks sealed before they could grow. The seal is back on the whole patio and the slab looks easily a decade younger than it did before.
J. U.
Ottawa
From the blog
Concrete Guides & Articles
Practical reading on planning, finishes and caring for concrete in Gatineau.
Describe what you are seeing on the patio, cracks, spalling, discoloration, or general wear, and we will assess it at no cost, give you a straight repair-or-replace recommendation, and provide a written quote for any work.
