Concrete Steps & Stairs
Safe, durable concrete steps and stairs that provide secure access to your home or business.
Why Quality Steps Matter
Your steps provide the main access to your home, which means you use them multiple times every single day. Worn, cracked, or uneven steps create serious safety hazards that put your family and visitors at risk. Steps that have settled away from your foundation create gaps where water can penetrate and cause further damage. If your concrete steps are showing their age, replacement makes sense both for safety and property value. Here at PlatinumPoint Salem Concrete, we build concrete steps that combine structural integrity with attractive appearance.
Concrete makes excellent step material for New England homes. It handles our freeze-thaw cycles better than wood, which rots and becomes slippery when wet. Concrete steps require minimal maintenance compared to wooden stairs that need regular painting or staining. Stone steps look beautiful but cost significantly more to install. Precast concrete steps offer a faster installation option, but custom-poured steps integrate better with your home and allow for design flexibility that precast units cannot match.
Signs Your Steps Need Replacement
- Visible cracks that continue spreading
- Steps that have pulled away from the foundation
- Significant settling creating uneven treads
- Surface spalling and deterioration exposing aggregate
- Missing or damaged railings and safety features
- Water pooling on treads instead of draining off
Designing Steps That Work
Good step design balances safety, building codes, and aesthetics. Building codes specify requirements for tread depth, riser height, handrail placement, and other safety features. These requirements exist for good reasons, as consistent step dimensions prevent tripping and make stairs easier to use. We design steps that meet all code requirements while fitting naturally with your home's architecture and existing landscape.
Critical Dimensions
The tread is the part you step on, while the riser is the vertical height between treads. Residential steps typically use 10 to 11 inch treads and 7 to 8 inch risers. All treads and risers in a flight of stairs must be consistent, as variations cause tripping. The total rise determines how many steps you need. If your entrance sits 28 inches above grade, you might use four 7-inch risers to reach that height. We calculate these dimensions carefully during planning to ensure comfortable, safe stairs.
Width and Landings
Steps should be at least 36 inches wide for single-person traffic, wider if you want two people to pass comfortably. A generous 48-inch width feels more welcoming and works better when carrying groceries or furniture. Landings provide space to rest and make directional changes. Building codes require landings at certain intervals and at door locations. The landing at your door should be large enough to stand safely while opening the door inward. We make sure landings slope slightly away from your foundation to prevent water problems.
How We Build Lasting Stairs
Building quality concrete steps requires more skill than most people realize. The work starts with proper excavation and base preparation. We dig deep enough to get below the frost line, preventing frost heaving that can crack or shift steps. A well-compacted gravel base provides stable support and drainage. For steps that connect to your home, we tie them into the foundation properly to prevent separation.
Forming steps takes precision and patience. We build sturdy forms that define each tread and riser to exact dimensions. The forms must be level side to side and properly sloped front to back for drainage. Steel reinforcement gets installed throughout the structure, with special attention to connections between steps and landing areas. This reinforcement prevents cracking and holds everything together as a single unit.
Finishing and Safety Features
When we pour and finish the concrete, we create surface textures that provide good traction in wet conditions. Smooth concrete becomes dangerously slippery when wet, so we use broom finishing or other textured surfaces on treads. The front edge of each tread gets rounded slightly to prevent chipping and make the steps easier on shoes. If your steps require handrails per code or for practical safety, we can install mounting hardware during the pour or add provisions for rail attachment later. Some homeowners also want decorative treatments like stamped patterns or colored concrete that we can incorporate into the design.
Caring for Your Concrete Steps
Well-built concrete steps require minimal maintenance but benefit from basic care. Regular sweeping keeps dirt and debris from accumulating in corners and against risers. This simple task prevents organic staining and keeps steps looking good. Hosing down steps occasionally removes salt residue and grime. During winter, prompt snow removal prevents ice buildup that creates slip hazards.
Winter Care Tips
- Use plastic snow shovels to avoid damaging concrete surface
- Choose deicing products safe for concrete
- Avoid excessive salt which can cause surface scaling
- Clear drainage areas to prevent ice dams
- Apply slip-resistant treatments if steps become slippery
Sealing concrete steps every few years provides additional protection from moisture and salt damage. The sealer also makes cleaning easier since dirt does not penetrate as deeply. If minor surface damage develops, small repairs can usually address the problem before it spreads. Properly built and maintained concrete steps should provide safe, reliable service for many decades. Compare this to wooden steps that often need major repairs or replacement after 10 to 15 years, and concrete clearly makes sense as a long-term investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Replace Your Steps?
Contact us today for a free consultation and estimate on your concrete steps project.