My concrete patio has a large crack running across it

I had the same problem when I moved into my house 9 years ago. I had just built a deck and boardwalk to it from the small cement patio in front of the door. I just continued the deck look by laying down support lumber and adding decking boards over top of the cracked cement, a lot cheaper than pavers. Now I wish I had put preservative on the decking boards even though they were pressure treated because many of them need to be replaced now and probably the deck as well when I take up the indoor/outdoor carpet.

How about posting a picture? It would help tremendously.

Hi Joan. Yes you can fix this. First, you need to make sure gophers are gone! (Gophers and moles are BAD this year here too!) Next, using a small stick-ish type something, like a 1X1, pack dirt extremely tight back into the "hole". Then get and follow instruction, cement crack filler. Be sure it's for outdoor use and not the indoor kind. Good luck and let us know it need more info.

I don't think you should put pavers over the concrete. I recommend building a deck over the patio instead.

Can it be repaired - depends on how deep it is. You could plant moss.

El Monti has earthquakes, too.. but either way, if the ground wasn't compacted properly, I think it would happen again. if the deck answer is not an option, what about a rubberized coating similar to tennis courts, over the concrete? They come in different colors, and DO NOT CRACK.. We had to do this on a few patios when I worked in SoCal years ago.. Hope that helped.. R

Our concrete patio cracked after we removed a nearby tree and the roots deteriorated. Then, with alternating rain and drought, it heaved so it was removed. We have clay instead of dirt, which expands and contracts with moisture/dryness. A neighbor build a wood deck over their concrete patio block and haven't had any issues. Would recommend wood or trex boards over the patio block, not pavers.

You could fix the crack then install these: http://www.homedepot.com/s/outdoor%2520interlocking%2520tiles?NCNI-5 If the gap is big use this before filling with a caulk for concrete. It comes in different thicknesses, and you'll see in the reviews that someone used it for concrete.http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-E-O-3-8-in-x-20-ft-Caulk-Saver-C21H/100067266?MERCH=RV-_-rv_gm_pip_rr-_-100165680-_-100067266-_-N

Gophers did not crack your concrete. improper install, expansion joints, no wire, concrete mix, or ground movement.... Pavers on top of existing concrete ; yes, grind surface to elevate any rise's high spots, rented at h/d or rental yard. if ground and clean, apply concrete glue 20% solution and allow to dry, mix then set, or you may use mortar mix, but add concrete glue to mix, mix to a consistence of a stiffness, that if you pick it up (mix) w/ a trowel and turn it , it does not slide off. using a 1/2 notched trowel ( tile dept.) spread on concreate and place pavers. If the cracking is bad, go to a roofing supply and get yellow jacket, 40" wide, once concrete is prep'd ( clean ) glue down w/ concrete glue like wall paper overlap 3 ", allow to dry, then set pavers as above