Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - New Slab?

Currently i have a concrete patio that is in pretty good condition. However, there are places where the water puddles and it doesnt have good drainage. This problem arose when the backyard was re-sodded which caused the new sod to be slightly higher than the patio. We want to install a mortar bed patio and my question is if we need to rip out the existing slab and build another one or if we can correct the problem with the mortar bed patio with a better grade and drainage pipes.

Taco,

Welcome to DoItYourself.com and the dack and Patio forum.

Puddles on the slab -- they are called 'birdbaths' -- are the result of a less than high quality job of pouring the slab. They aren't a reason to replace the slab.

The drainage issue between the slab and the sod could be easily solved by installing a french drain along the edge of the slab. A trench 6" wide, sloped so it will drain, a perforated ADS pipe layed in that trench, a composite bender board on the sod side, then backfill with rocks should be plenty. Or do the trench and install an NDS drain in it that is flush with the edge of the slab, with the outlet out the bottom at the low end into ADS, which then runs down hill to eventually get rid of the water.

Not sure what you mean when you say "mortar bed patio". Explain it.

i mean putting in some sort of pavers on a mortar bed not on a sand bed.

If you are going to do that, then the birdbaths are nothing to worry about. You'll correct them with the mortar. That would correct the drainage problem from the sod being higher as well, eliminating the need for the drain system.