Concrete Steps in East Providence, RI

What does rebuilding concrete steps involve?

Rebuilding concrete steps means demolishing the old set, checking the ground and footings underneath, and forming and pouring new ones. We break out the old steps carefully so we don't damage the siding, the threshold or the foundation. Then we dig for footings, set the forms for the landing and each tread, add steel, and pour.

Good steps follow a few rules. Every riser the same height and every tread the same depth, because an uneven step is the one people trip on. The landing at the door needs to be deep enough to stand on while the storm door swings open. Treads get a slight pitch so water runs off instead of freezing in place, and a broom finish for grip. Where code calls for a handrail, we leave the anchors in place for it.

What are the signs your steps need replacing?

Concrete steps usually need replacing when you see any of these:

• A gap opening between the steps and the house, which means the steps are sinking or tipping.
• Crumbling edges and corners on the treads, often with the stone underneath showing.
• Cracks running through the sides of the step block.
• Treads that tilt toward the house or hold water and ice.
• Steps that rock or sound hollow when you stomp on them.

Why do concrete steps fail so often here?

Steps take the worst of the weather on any house. The edges of every tread are exposed on two sides, so they freeze harder and faster than a flat slab. Ice melt gets dumped on them all winter because nobody wants a fall on the front stairs. Water running off the roof often lands right on them.

The bigger problem is what's underneath. Rhode Island's building code calls for footings under attached landings and platforms to reach three feet four inches below grade, below where the ground freezes. You can read it in the state's one- and two-family dwelling code amendments. Many older steps in the city were set on a shallow pad or straight on the dirt. Every winter the frost lifts them a little, and every spring they settle back somewhere else, which is how the gap at the house opens up. On older homes around Rumford and Watchemoket, the original steps have often been patched so many times there's little solid concrete left.

What affects the cost of new concrete steps?

The price of concrete steps depends on the number of steps, the width, the size of the landing, and how much demolition is involved. Steps with side walls or wing walls take more form work. Footings add digging and concrete. Tight spots against a porch, a bulkhead or a neighbor's fence slow the work down. A stamped or colored finish costs more than broom finish. We'll give you a written price after seeing the steps.

Should you repair or replace concrete steps?

Concrete steps can be repaired when the step block is solid and level and the damage is limited to a chipped corner or some surface scaling. A proper patch or a bonded overlay can buy years. If the steps have pulled away from the house, sunk, or cracked through the body, replacement is the only real fix. Patching a set of steps that's still moving just means patching again next spring. We'll tell you straight which category your steps fall in.

Concrete step questions

How long does it take to replace front steps?

Most sets of front steps take two to three days: one to demolish and dig, one to form and pour, and a return trip to strip the forms and clean up. You'll need another way in and out for about a week while the concrete cures.

Can you match my steps to the walkway?

Yes. If the walk leading up to the stairs is also worn out, we can replace both together so the heights, finish and color match.

Do I need a permit for new steps?

Some step and landing work needs a building permit in the city, especially when it's attached to the house. We check with the building office and handle the paperwork when a permit is required.

If the driveway beside your stairs is in the same condition, doing both at once saves a second round of demolition and a second truck.