Concrete Steps

Published by: Tim Manson
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

There’s nothing more frightening than taking a step and not landing on solid footing. With a quick wobble one way or a loss of balance another way, a person could slip, trip, fall, and potentially do harm to themselves or others in the process. No one wants to see that in any situation, but the absolute last place you would want it to happen is on your own front steps. It would be bad enough for you, the homeowner, to have to navigate treacherous steps on an every day basis (especially when carrying groceries!). But the thought of guests landing awkwardly as they take their first steps towards your home brings fear of injury and, in the worst possible situation, maybe even litigation.

To combat this potential downfall, you should take steps to create a safe and attractive, set of stairs to match your home. There are many different types of steps you could build to enter your home. Stone, brick, and wood are all reasonable looks for your front stairs. But the most versatile look and the longest lasting option is to build concrete steps.

The great thing about concrete steps is that they can blend into any home or landscape. Additionally, you can build concrete steps with only a few basic items. While you are welcome to mix your own concrete, the easier path is to buy pre-mixed concrete. Concrete mix can be purchased from any home supply store and will avoid the headache of mixing the concrete yourself. You simply have to add water to pre-mixed concrete.

The first major step is to remove any existing steps to your home. After you’ve removed all the debris from your old steps, you can begin to design your new ones. The design of the step is up to you, but make sure to follow a couple of simple rules. The height of each step should be the same and the depth of each step should be the same.
 After you plan your design, begin preparing the base. You must level the ground in front of the door, remove any debris from there and remove any grass roots. Dig the surface about six inches, then use gravel or sand to fill about four inches to make the surface uniform.

Use stringers to create the outside form of the steps. Place the stringers according to how wide you’d like your steps to be and support them with two inch by four inch stakes. You should have one stake for each step.

Now cut two inch by six inch pieces of plywood and nail them horizontally to the frame where the front of the step will be. Again, the number of steps will dictate the number of plywood pieces you need. If you are going to have four steps, you’ll need three pieces of plywood.

Next pour gravel into the frame. Do this to fill some of the area so that less concrete is needed. Mix enough concrete for each step, so you have enough time to level each step out before it starts drying. After you shovel the concrete into the step area, use a hammer to hit the side of the frame once the step is full of concrete, to prevent cracking. Smooth out the concrete with a trowel and then use a level to make sure you’ve got it just right. Repeat this process for each of your steps.
Once you’ve done each of the steps, use a broom and sweep each step to make your steps less smooth, and therefore less likely to end up slippery when dry. Spray the cement with water periodically to keep the cement from cracking. Allow a full five days for your steps to dry and voila! You have a new, attractive and most importantly safe set of steps to your home for residents and visitors to enjoy alike.

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