Concrete repair vs new concrete pour
Concrete repair vs new pour: patching cracks and leveling slabs vs tearing out and starting fresh. Compare costs, durability, and when repair isn't worth it.
Concrete repair covers a range of methods for fixing damaged existing slabs without full replacement. Crack filling (epoxy or polyurethane injection, $150–$500 per crack) seals cracks to prevent water penetration and further deterioration. Resurfacing (applying a thin cement overlay, $3–$7 per square foot) covers surface spalling, discoloration, and minor pitting with a fresh top layer. Mudjacking or foam leveling ($500–$1,500 per slab) lifts settled or sunken sections back to grade. These repairs are cost-effective when the sub-base is stable and the damage is cosmetic or moderate. A new concrete pour means demolishing the existing slab ($2–$5/sq ft for removal), preparing the sub-base (compacted gravel, forms), and pouring fresh concrete ($6–$12/sq ft for standard, $12–$20/sq ft for stamped or colored). A typical 400 sq ft driveway slab costs $4,000–$6,500 for new concrete vs $800–$2,500 for repair. New concrete lasts 25–50 years with proper installation and control joints. The decision point: when repair costs exceed 40–50% of replacement cost, or when the sub-base has failed (frost heave, root intrusion, washout), repair is a temporary fix on a deteriorating foundation — new concrete is the better investment.
concrete-repair vs concrete
| Feature | concrete-repair | concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Choose concrete repair when the slab is structurally sound but has surface damage — cracks, spalling, discoloration, or moderate settling that can be leveled. Repair costs 30–50% of replacement and extends the slab's life by 5–15 years. | Choose a new concrete pour when the existing slab has extensive damage across more than 30–40% of the surface, the sub-base has failed (heaving, washout, root damage), or you want to change the layout, finish, or grade — repair on a bad foundation is throwing money away. |
Call a concrete-repair when…
Choose concrete repair when the slab is structurally sound but has surface damage — cracks, spalling, discoloration, or moderate settling that can be leveled. Repair costs 30–50% of replacement and extends the slab's life by 5–15 years.
Call a concrete when…
Choose a new concrete pour when the existing slab has extensive damage across more than 30–40% of the surface, the sub-base has failed (heaving, washout, root damage), or you want to change the layout, finish, or grade — repair on a bad foundation is throwing money away.