Concrete Steps & Stairs

Your front steps are the gateway to your home. Every person who visits uses them multiple times. Family members go up and down countless times each week. These steps need to be safe, stable, and built to handle constant use in all weather conditions. Poor quality steps are dangerous and create liability issues if someone falls and gets hurt on your property.

Concrete steps provide advantages over other materials. Wood steps rot, warp, and become slippery when wet. They need regular maintenance including staining or painting. Metal steps can rust and get dangerously slippery in rain or ice. Concrete handles weather extremes without deteriorating. It doesn't rot, rust, or need regular refinishing. Properly built concrete steps last 30 years or more with minimal maintenance.

Steps are also a prominent visual feature of your home's entrance. Cracked, settling, or poorly designed steps make your entire home look neglected. Clean, well-proportioned steps enhance curb appeal and make a positive first impression. If you're planning to sell your home, quality front steps contribute to buyer perception and property value. Nobody wants to walk up crumbling steps to view a house.

Building codes regulate step construction for good reasons. Steps must have consistent riser heights and tread depths. Handrails are required in many situations. These rules exist because improperly built steps cause accidents. We follow all code requirements and building best practices. Our steps pass inspections and provide safe access for everyone who uses them.

Building quality concrete steps requires precision and experience. The work follows a specific sequence that ensures structural integrity and code compliance.

We start with excavation and base preparation. The area under steps needs stable, compacted base material. We dig below frost depth in areas where frost heave could be a problem. A concrete footing provides solid support that prevents settling. The footing must be level even if the ground slopes. This foundation work sets up everything that follows.

Forming steps is detailed work. We build forms that define each tread and riser precisely. The forms must be level, properly braced, and accurately positioned. Any errors in forming show up in the finished steps and can't be easily corrected. We verify all dimensions multiple times before pouring concrete. Steps are often visible up close where small imperfections are noticeable, so accuracy matters.

Steel reinforcement adds strength and controls cracking. We use rebar or wire mesh depending on step design and code requirements. The reinforcement must be positioned properly within the concrete pour. We also ensure steps tie into adjacent walkways or landings structurally, not just cosmetically.

Pouring and finishing requires working quickly and skillfully. We place concrete starting at the bottom and work up. Each tread must be finished before the concrete sets. The finish needs to provide traction while looking good. Edges are rounded slightly to prevent chipping. Control joints may be needed for wider steps. The finished surface should drain water away to prevent icing in cold weather.

Curing is critical for steps that will carry heavy loads and see constant use. We protect fresh concrete and keep it moist during curing. Steps should cure for at least a week before heavy use. Proper curing develops full strength and durability. Rushing this step compromises the quality and longevity of your steps.