Our front entrance leads out to a concrete slab that is over a cutout in the basement. Over years we have been getting leaking in the basement along the edges. It looks like the surface of the concrete has developed air pockets and fine cracks and the water is seeping in and traveling through the slab and dripping in the basement.

I have tackled all the possible drainage possibilities that might have been causing a leak, have tried Thompsons water seal on the entire seal and tried concrete seal in specific locations. The seal seems to work a little but wears off quickly. Replacing the slab would be a major and expensive option and covering it isn't really an option either. I am reluctant to start cracking those air pockets to see what is underneath because patching the surface would look uneven

Anyone have any suggestions on stoping the leaks or ideas on sealants that don't wear out quickly and also look OK for a front stoop.

Thanks

Have you tried masonry caulking? Look in the paint section of the home centers where all the caulking is located. Clean the joints first the caulk. This caulking will expand with the seasons and slab.

Install this caulking where the slab meets the house.
Does the slab over hang the porch foundation or is the foundation concealed by dirt/mulch?
If its exposed, seal where the slab meets the exterior of the porch foundation. Water may be draining over the slab edge and due to settlement draing back toward the foundation.
If the foundation is concealed, dig the dirt away, clean, then seal the joint and the replace the dirt/mulch. If you don't need to replace the dirt, then don't.

Thanks for answering. I have tried masonry caulking, water plug cement and sealants. A little water getting in where the slab meets the house but the when I tap the concrete there it sounds hollow and when I seal the concrete there the leaking stops for a short time.

Drainage away from the slab is also not and issue. It seems like the rain water is seeping into fine cracks on the surface and then traveling underneath and then dripping along the front into the basement.

The only other option I can think of is to chissel out the cracks and reseal with water plug cement the re-surface the whole porch.

You don't want to re-surface without not doing anything about the cracks because they will show back up through the new surface due to expansion and contraction of the slab.