Steps · Columbus Concrete Repair
Concrete Step Replacement in Columbus, OH
Steps pulling away from the house or crumbling at the edges? Replace them on solid support. Get an estimate.
Serving Columbus and 31 nearby towns, from Dublin and Westerville to Grove City
Free Concrete Step Replacement Estimate
Tell us the type of slab, its rough size and what it is doing (cracking, sinking, heaving or flaking). Expect a phone call back to go through it and pick a day to come see the slab.
- Free estimates
- Tear-out and replacement
- Base rebuilt, not patched
- Homes and businesses
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Concrete Step Replacement
Concrete Step Replacement for Columbus, OH
Concrete steps give three kinds of warning. A gap opening between the top step and the house means the steps are settling or rotating away, usually because they sit on loose backfill rather than on footings. Treads that chip and crumble at the nose, with rusty steel showing, mean salt and water have reached the reinforcement and it is swelling as it rusts. Treads that slope forward or sideways mean the whole unit has shifted. Since steps carry people up and down through ice and rain, these are repairs to schedule rather than live with.
A replacement starts by removing the old steps completely, the stoop too if it failed along with them. The new set gets proper support, with footings reaching below the frost line, about 32 inches in central Ohio, so it cannot drop away from the house. Risers are formed even, treads get a slight pitch so water runs off instead of pooling and freezing, and the finish is textured for grip. The landing at the top is sized so a storm door can swing open without pushing you backward off the edge.
What's included
What goes into step replacements
- 01
Front steps and stoops
Full replacement of entry steps and the landing they lead to.
- 02
Support below the frost line
Footings that keep the new steps from heaving in winter or sinking toward the yard.
- 03
Even risers
Consistent step heights from bottom to top, the detail that keeps people from tripping.
- 04
Treads that shed water
A small forward pitch on each tread so rain and melt run off instead of freezing in place.
- 05
Textured, winter-ready finish
A broom texture for grip on an air-entrained mix that stands up to freeze-thaw.
- 06
Back and side steps
Steps at patios and side doors replaced the same way as front entries.
Examples
Concrete Step Replacement: examples
Example photos of the type of work.
How it works
Concrete Step Replacement, step by step
- 1
Check the gap and the base
Measure how far the steps have moved and see what they are sitting on.
- 2
Demolish and dig
Break out the old steps and stoop, haul them off and excavate for the new footings.
- 3
Form the new set
Build forms for footings, landing, risers and treads, with reinforcement tied in.
- 4
Pour and texture
Pour, give each tread a gripping finish, strip the forms after a day or so and keep traffic off while it cures.
Questions
Concrete Step Replacement questions
What does a gap between my steps and the house mean?
It means the steps are moving because the soil under them is moving. Steps poured on backfill without footings below the frost line settle as the fill compacts and get shoved around when wet clay freezes. Replacement with proper support stops that cycle instead of just filling the gap.
How are replacement steps priced?
By the count of treads, how big the landing is, how deep the footings go and how stubborn the old set is to break out. Steps are formed by hand piece by piece, so they take more labor for the amount of concrete than a flat slab does. The estimate is free and specific to your entry.
How do we get in and out while the steps are replaced?
Plan on using another door for several days. Demolition, forming and the pour take a short stretch, and the new steps need time to cure before regular use. If the front door is your only way in, say so up front so a temporary arrangement can be planned.
Can crumbling step edges be patched instead?
A patch on a tread nose rarely survives an Ohio winter, because it is a thin layer over concrete that is already letting water in. When the edges crumble and steel is showing, the steps are usually near the end of their life. Replacement brings new steel, new concrete and a properly pitched tread.
Can the layout of the steps change?
Yes. Replacement is a chance to add a wider landing, turn the steps to face the driveway, or break a tall run with a landing partway up. Changes that affect how far the steps reach toward the walk get worked out at the estimate.
Tear-out and replacement
Related work
Sidewalk Replacement
Lifted, cracked or sunken sidewalk panels and front walks replaced level, including walks in the public right-of-way.
More on sidewalk replacement
Patio Replacement
Sunken, cracked or back-pitched patios torn out and poured again with slope away from the house.
More on patio replacement
Concrete Tear-Out & Removal
Breaking out and hauling away old patios, walks, pads, steps and driveways, alone or ahead of a new pour.
More on concrete tear-out & removal
Service area
Concrete Step Replacement around Columbus
We handle step replacements for homes and businesses in Columbus and these nearby towns:
Franklin County
Pickaway County
Fairfield County
Delaware County
Licking County
Talk to us about step replacements
Describe the crack, the sinking or the heave, and get a free replacement estimate from someone who will tell you if it can wait.