Concrete repair in Pasadena: what can be fixed
A lot of Pasadena concrete is decades old, and much of it is still sound under a tired surface. Repair and resurfacing extend its life for a fraction of a repour. The catch is choosing correctly: a repair on a slab that is still moving comes back, and paying to replace a slab that only needed a new top wastes money the other way.
| Damage | What it looks like | Usual repair |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline shrinkage cracks | Thin cracks, no height difference | Seal or fill, then resurface if desired |
| Stable wider cracks | Open crack, both sides level | Rout, fill with flexible sealant or repair mortar |
| Spalling or scaling | Flaking or chipped surface | Remove loose material, patch, overlay |
| Failed joints | Weeds, missing or cracked joint filler | Clean and reseal joints |
| Worn or stained surface | Rough, blotchy, oil-stained | Clean and resurface |
| Faded stamped concrete | Washed-out color, dull sealer | Clean, recolor, reseal |
| Sunken or heaved panels | One side higher than the other | Lift (separate trade) or cut out and repour |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
Concrete resurfacing in Pasadena
Resurfacing bonds a thin new layer to the old slab. Depending on the product, it can bring back a plain broom finish, add color, or carry a stamped or textured pattern. Done well, it hides stains, patches and minor cracks and gives a driveway, patio or pool deck a uniform new face.
What a slab needs before it can be resurfaced
- Level panels with no step at the cracks
- Cracks that have stopped growing
- No hollow sound when tapped, which signals delamination
- A surface that can be cleaned down to sound concrete
- Drainage that already works, since an overlay doesn't change the slope
For driveways specifically, the driveway resurfacing vs replacement page walks through the decision, and resurfacing a pool deck is covered on the pool deck page.
Why Pasadena concrete cracks
Tree roots
Mature trees are part of what makes Pasadena's older streets look the way they do, and their roots lift walks, aprons and driveways. Root damage keeps coming back until the section is replaced and the roots are dealt with, ideally with an arborist's advice. If a City street tree damaged the public sidewalk, see the sidewalk and street tree guide.
Water and the base
Water that runs under a slab, from a downspout, a broken sprinkler line or a patio sloped the wrong way, softens or washes out the base. The slab then cracks and settles over the soft spot. Fixing the water is part of the repair.
Age and thin pours
Older flatwork was sometimes poured thin or without steel. It can last for decades and then break into pieces under a heavier modern car. Thin, unreinforced concrete that is breaking up is a replacement job.
Restoring stamped and decorative concrete
Stamped concrete loses its color and shine before it loses its pattern. Cleaning, recoloring and resealing, with a non-slip additive where people walk wet, bring most of it back. The stamped concrete in Pasadena page covers sealing schedules and patterns.
