Your front steps take more abuse than almost any other part of the house. They carry daily foot traffic, sit in the path of roof runoff, get shoveled and salted all winter, and are expected to look good while doing it. When concrete steps start to crack, crumble at the edges or tilt away from the door, they become a real safety hazard. We build and rebuild concrete steps in New Jersey for front entrances, back doors, side doors and commercial entries.
When concrete steps need attention
Look closely at your steps and the area around them. These are the warning signs we see most:
- Gap between the steps and the house. The step structure has settled or slid, often because of a missing or shallow footing.
- Crumbling tread edges. The front edge of each tread (the nosing) takes the most wear and salt, and is usually the first part to break.
- Tilting or rocking. Steps that slope sideways or toward the house send water in the wrong direction.
- Deep cracks through the risers. Cracks that run through the full step usually mean the structure has moved.
- Loose railings. Posts set in deteriorating concrete lose their grip and can no longer be trusted.
Surface wear on otherwise solid steps can often be handled with concrete repair and resurfacing. Structural movement generally means a rebuild.
Front steps, rear steps and stoops
Front entrance steps
Front steps set the tone for your home. We size them to the doorway and walkway, and build a landing large enough to stand on comfortably while you open a storm door. Many homeowners pair new steps with a new walkway so the entrance looks complete.
Rear and side steps
Back and side doors often have smaller, older steps that were never built properly in the first place. We replace them with sturdy concrete steps that lead safely down to a patio, yard or driveway.
Stoops and landings
A stoop is a raised platform at the door, often with steps on one or more sides. Larger stoops can work as a small porch. Because they are bigger and heavier, a solid foundation is critical.
How we build concrete steps
- Demolition. Old steps are broken up and removed, and we inspect the house foundation where the steps meet it.
- Footings. We dig and pour footings to the depth your municipality requires to get below the frost line.
- Layout. Rise and run are calculated so every step is the same height and depth. Small differences between steps are what catch people off guard.
- Forming and reinforcement. Forms are built to the final shape and steel reinforcement is placed so the steps act as one solid unit.
- Pouring and finishing. We place air-entrained concrete, finish the treads with a non-slip broom texture and round the nosings so they resist chipping.
- Curing and railings. Once the concrete has cured, railings are anchored securely, and the area is cleaned up.
Finish options for concrete steps
Plain concrete is durable and cost-effective, and a crisp broom finish looks clean on almost any home. If you want more character, poured concrete steps make an excellent base for other materials. We can face the risers with brick or stone veneer and top the treads with thick bluestone, which gives you the look of a fully custom masonry entry over a structurally sound core. See our stone masonry and brickwork page for more on those finishes.
Railings and local requirements
Railing rules, maximum riser heights and landing sizes are set by the building code your town enforces, and requirements vary by municipality and by whether the project needs a permit. We check what applies to your property before building, so the finished steps are safe and pass inspection where one is required. We typically install powder-coated aluminum or steel railings in black, anchored into the concrete with the posts sealed against water.
What affects the price of new steps
Every set of steps is different. Cost depends on the number of steps and landing size, how difficult the old steps are to remove, footing depth, access to the work area, railing length and style, and whether you choose plain concrete or a brick or stone finish. You will get a clear written breakdown at your estimate.
Steps are just one part of the concrete work we do. Visit our concrete services page to see the rest, or request a free estimate to have us look at your steps.
