Help me find a solution to my cracked patio! (color, stain, mold)

[Ynot]

Uh, oh, looks like our recent cold weather cracked my poured concrete patio in several places - sure don't like the look of that!








Instead of trying to described the area, you can see the pics (if I got that right).

Oftentimes new products come out, but may not be known in my particular corner of the woods. Maybe you'll have some ideas for covering the concrete--maybe some new products, etc., both inside and outside the screened area. Will have to work around the hot tub or move it since cracks made it to that area as well. Obviously it will be subjected to the weather--part of my problem now, unfortunately. These pics were done soon after construction, so you won't see the newly formed cracks; wood is no longer there, etc. Thanks for any ideas or suggestions!

[Hopes]

You can patch it, blend the finish so it's not noticable, and then stain the entire patio to match the patch to the patio.

You don't have to stain with a color. Concrete stain comes in the color of concrete. Hopefully stain will resolve the problem of that big red stain too.

It does need repaired or water will get into and under your patio and degrade the integrity of the concrete.

People often make the mistake of not repairing cracks. All cracks should be repaired as soon as they appear to preserve the concrete.

[K'ledgeBldr]

There's only two kinds of concrete- concrete that will crack and concrete that is cracked. Especially when we're talking non reinforced flatwork that's only a nominial 4" thick- in a residential application.

[harry chickpea]

There are too many issues with that pour for me to be comfortable. I don't see any expansion joints, I see a wall butting up against it and potential frost heave pressure, I see it tight to the house, I don't see a drain, I see the natural flow of rainwater directly under the screen door where people walk and mold can build up for slippery wet walking, I see no appreciable transom to keep flooding rainwater out of the house, etc..

With so many issues that have the potential of becoming a MAJOR problem, I would just undercut any cracks, fill in with hydraulic cement and try to blend the joint a little. IMO, the whole patio is living on borrowed time.