Concrete repair sounds like the obvious choice when something breaks: cheaper than replacement, faster, less disruptive. Sometimes that is true. But patching concrete over the wrong problem is one of the most common ways homeowners spend money on work that fails early.
When concrete repair is the right answer
Repair is worth doing when three conditions are true at once: the damage is isolated, the underlying cause of the damage has been or can be addressed, and the surrounding concrete has significant remaining service life.
When repair is not the right answer
The root cause is drainage
Concrete that cracks because water is pooling beneath it will crack again if the drainage issue is not resolved. Patching the surface while the drainage problem continues is not a repair.
Damage is widespread
When a slab has cracking across most of its surface, multiple heaved or settled sections, piecemeal repair is almost always more expensive over time than full replacement.
The sub-base has failed
Soft spots, voids beneath the slab, or contaminated base material cause the concrete above to crack and settle regardless of surface repairs. Full replacement is needed.
Cumulative repair cost approaches replacement cost
Add up what you have spent or expect to spend on repairs over the next 3-5 years. If that approaches the replacement cost, the math favors starting fresh.
See also: Concrete Repair service page, Concrete Replacement, pricing guide, and FAQ.