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Posted by on August 23, 2007, 9:42 am
Hello all
I own a 40 year old home in the Northeast with poured concrete front
steps. Previous owner put carpet on the concrete steps and porch,
which has resulted in crumbling and breaking off of some of the
steps. I have read about different ways of repairing it, but many say
that applying concrete to repair won't last, even when drilling and
putting metal pins to help retain the concrete patches in place. I
would just like to repair it with concrete, apply a good sealer and
paint on it, and be done with it. If that won't work, I would
consider having a contractor cover it with interlocking or flagstones,
or even build a wood porch on top of the concrete.
Any ideas on how to do a solid and lasting repair to the damaged steps
would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you.
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Posted by Joseph Meehan on August 23, 2007, 11:17 am
rastlouis@rogers.com wrote:
> Hello all
> I own a 40 year old home in the Northeast with poured concrete front
> steps. Previous owner put carpet on the concrete steps and porch,
> which has resulted in crumbling and breaking off of some of the
> steps. I have read about different ways of repairing it, but many say
> that applying concrete to repair won't last, even when drilling and
> putting metal pins to help retain the concrete patches in place. I
> would just like to repair it with concrete, apply a good sealer and
> paint on it, and be done with it. If that won't work, I would
> consider having a contractor cover it with interlocking or flagstones,
> or even build a wood porch on top of the concrete.
> Any ideas on how to do a solid and lasting repair to the damaged steps
> would be GREATLY appreciated!
> Thank you.
I doubt if the carpet caused any damage, it just hid it for a long time.
The only good fix I know of is to replace the steps.
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia 's Muire duit
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Posted by Andrew Duane on August 23, 2007, 11:22 am
On Aug 23, 9:42 am, rastlo...@rogers.com wrote:
> Hello all
> I own a 40 year old home in the Northeast with poured concrete front
> steps. Previous owner put carpet on the concrete steps and porch,
> which has resulted in crumbling and breaking off of some of the
> steps. I have read about different ways of repairing it, but many say
> that applying concrete to repair won't last, even when drilling and
> putting metal pins to help retain the concrete patches in place. I
> would just like to repair it with concrete, apply a good sealer and
> paint on it, and be done with it. If that won't work, I would
> consider having a contractor cover it with interlocking or flagstones,
> or even build a wood porch on top of the concrete.
> Any ideas on how to do a solid and lasting repair to the damaged steps
> would be GREATLY appreciated!
> Thank you.
As someone else in the northeast who loves all things stone, I have to
agree.
Any repair involving mortar or concrete is likely to suffer from
freeze/thaw
and break up in fairy short order. You can try hammering out enough
concrete
to get bricks or concrete pavers (preferred; bricks get SLIPPERY in
winter) on,
but again the mortar that holds them together will be a challenge to
keep
intact for long.
For short term, try breaking some concrete off and putting a fresh
coat
on with sealer. It may last at least a while. Long term, jackhammer
the
whole thing up and start again with what you want. I used granite
slabs
resting on compacted earth. My grandkids will be able to visit them.
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Posted by on August 24, 2007, 10:19 am
> As someone else in the northeast who loves all things stone, I have to
> agree.
> Any repair involving mortar or concrete is likely to suffer from
> freeze/thaw
> and break up in fairy short order. You can try hammering out enough
> concrete
> to get bricks or concrete pavers (preferred; bricks get SLIPPERY in
> winter) on,
> but again the mortar that holds them together will be a challenge to
> keep
> intact for long.
>
> For short term, try breaking some concrete off and putting a fresh
> coat
> on with sealer. It may last at least a while. Long term, jackhammer
> the
> whole thing up and start again with what you want. I used granite
> slabs
> resting on compacted earth. My grandkids will be able to visit them.
Thanks. Sounds indeed like freeze/thaw cycle is working against me!
Many other houses in my project still have the original steps intact
(no carpet). I believe my carpet retained moisture (it was always
wet) and ended up causing the concrete underneath to crumble and break
off on the steps. Unfortunately, jackhammer and start from scratch is
not a (cheap, anyway) option: the steps are poured and form the upper
walls and ceiling of the cold-storage room underneath, extending out
from the foundation. If the steps were the cheap pre-cast variety,
jackhammer would work, but not in my case alas.
A couple of people have recommended building wooden steps and porch on
top of the ailing concrete, either using pressure treated or cedar
($). Not sure wooden steps would match the front of the house (all
red brick), maybe if painted with a reddish stain. Might be the way
to go, though I may try to put some patches on and see how long they
last...
Cheers.
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Posted by Joe on August 24, 2007, 6:52 pm
On Aug 24, 9:19 am, rastlo...@rogers.com wrote:
>snip<
> Many other houses in my project still have the original steps intact
>snip<
Seems to me that would indicate that the concrete quality might have
been fairly decent if all of the houses were done in a similar time
frame, etc. So before doing anything rash, talk to a serious concrete
professional about salvaging what you have or a partial rebuild. With
concrete saws, tools, and clever forming much could be done. Some of
the concrete we have today is much more durable than in the past. It
probably won't be cheap, but you may be qute pleased with the outcome.
Good luck.
Joe
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