how to repair cracked concrete stairs

Everything you need to repair broken concrete stairs

• Remove dust and debris. Since you’ll eventually be applying a bonding agent to the damaged area, the cracked or crumbling surface needs to be as clean and dust-free as possible.
• Create a wood form. You’ll need a wood form to help create your new step’s shape accurately. ...
• Apply a bonding adhesive. ...
• Create your concrete mix. ...

Full Answer

How much does it cost to replace concrete stairs?

The price of precast concrete stairs is only about $100 per step, including labor. When replacing an existing staircase, expect to pay between $400 and $700 for removal first. Concrete steps are versatile.

What is the best way to pour concrete over stairs?

Pour it on and spread it with a masonry brush. Hose down the steps and let them dry. Then coat the chipped-out areas with concrete bonding adhesive. Build a concrete form to match the original height of the step. Locate the front of the form about 1 in. out from the old face of the step.

How to resurface concrete in 4 steps?

pressure wash concrete to get steps totally clean. Pressure Wash the Concrete. Tape Off the Edges. cement needs to be consistency of peanut butter. roll on layer of bonding agent and smooth. Fill the Holes. Add a Second Coat. mix concrete to a slurry like pancake batter. Spray Water. Can you resurface concrete stairs?

How much does it cost to repair cement steps?

Concrete step repair including filling holes, patching cracks and applying a smooth new layer of concrete over the aging steps costs, on average, less than $500.In comparison, pouring new steps costs about $300 per step, including the framing, the rebar and the concrete.

How do you fix cracked concrete steps?

Mix a small batch of quick-setting cement in a plastic bucket. With a pointed trowel, scoop the cement and press it into the form tightly, eliminating any air bubbles. Slightly overfill the corner, and once the patch is thumb dry (about 5-10 minutes), then smooth the cement flush with the top of the step.

What is the best cement for repairing steps?

For repairs to concrete edges and corners QUIKRETE® Quick-Setting Cement should be used along with QUIKRETE® Acrylic Fortifier. Quick-Setting Cement can be molded and shaped to match the surrounding contour of the concrete and sets in about 10 minutes.

Whats the difference between cement and concrete?

What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.

How do you bond new cement to old cement?

A bonding agent (bonding adhesive) needs to be painted onto the existing concrete first to ensure that the fresh concrete will successfully adhere. This is also true of floor repairs, if concrete is used to fill gaps caused by damage. The new won't adhere to the old without the help of a bonding adhesive.

How long does it take to repair a concrete step?

In an hour you can repair a step.

How to remove sand from a concrete slab?

Remove all loose gravel, sand, dirt, and cement with a clean, stiff wire brush. You can also tap lightly with a hammer or use a hammer and chisel. ...

How to keep cement moist?

12. Keep the cement moist. Use a spray bottle to moisten the new concrete patch 2 or 3 times a day for 3 days. Then moisten the patch twice daily for a week.

Can concrete steps break apart?

Concrete steps are exposed to the elements every day. After time, the steps can crack or begin to break apart. Cracked steps pose a potential safety risk to people entering or leaving your home and must be repaired. Use these instructions to repair concrete steps.

Can you use premixed cement to fill stucco?

Do not use pre-mixed vinyl cement repair because it shrinks and will not hold weight. These vinyl fillers are best used to fill holes in stucco walls where no one is walking over them. "Cement-all", that is $22 per bag, does not need a bonding agent, and can be driven over in 60 minutes with an automobile.

Who can repair concrete steps?

A mason or general contractor can repair your concrete steps. You may want to contact either professional for your project if the damage to the concrete steps is extensive or if it extends deep within the structure of the steps. Show Full Article.

How does concrete deteriorate?

From a physical standpoint, once the concrete has been allowed to deteriorate in a minor way—through spalling, small breaks or chips, de-lamination, cracking, or blistering —further deterioration occurs exponentially. Catching the problem early on is critical to preventing rebuilding the steps entirely.

How to protect hands from concrete dust?

Avoid breathing concrete products' dust since exposure may irritate eyes, nose, and lungs. Use a NIOSH/MSHA-approved respirator such as a HEPA N95 mask or a P100 mask. To protect the hands, wear latex or latex-substitute gloves. Always wear safety glasses.

How to make peanut butter with concrete fortifier?

Mix the Concrete. Mix up the concrete in the 5-gallon bucket with the recommended amount of water. Add the concrete fortifier at a ratio of 4:1. Mix to the consistency of peanut butter.

How cold should concrete be to repair?

Be mindful of the temperature ranges of the concrete repair product you will be using. Concrete applied below 45 F or above 90 F often may not cure or will cure exceedingly slow.

How to build up a broken section?

Build up the broken section in layers. First, press concrete into the broken section with the margin trowel. At this point, you are only aiming to add mass, not form, to that section.

How long does it take for concrete to set?

Second, since concrete sets quickly, you will need to work relatively quickly. Concrete becomes hard to the touch in about ten minutes. Plan the contours of your intended patch before you mix up the concrete.

How do you fix cracks in concrete steps?

Tip: Consider the size of the crack when determining how to fix concrete steps. Thin cracks can be filled with masonry crack filler or concrete repair caulk and a caulk gun. Use the gun to force a thick bead of caulk into the crack. Shape the caulk with a putty knife or trowel and allow it to dry.

Can concrete steps be resurfaced?

The good news is that as long as the concrete is viable, your concrete steps can be resurfaced. This means that you can get beautiful steps that are also safe to walk on without having to replace your existing concrete steps.

Can cracked concrete be repaired?

Wide cracks in concrete are best patched and sealed with a concrete patching compound. Smaller cracks, less than 1/4 inch wide, can be repaired with a concrete caulk or liquid filler. Patching compounds typically are mixed with water and applied with a trowel.

What is the best concrete crack repair product?

The Best Concrete Crack Repair Solutions: Polyurethanes and Epoxies. For deep cracks, a polyurethane (also known as a polymer) product is the best choice. This is an elastomeric, fast-setting foam that is ideal for applications that involve crack sealing for waterproofing.

How much does it cost to repair cracked concrete?

Cracked concrete is the most common issue for homeowners. Concrete driveway crack repair methods depend on the size of the hole. Most contractors charge an average of $2.00 to $2.50 per square foot to apply a filler and sealant to the damaged area.

Can you put stone over concrete steps?

You can give your steps a more stylish appearance without removing the concrete by simply installing pavers right on top. Laying pavers over concrete steps is not difficult, but you must set them in mortar to keep them in place. Plan to lay pavers over both the face and surface of the steps.

Is cracking in concrete normal?

When you see a crack in your concrete slab or wall, your first assumption is typically that something has been done wrong–but that’s not always the case. Actually, concrete cracks are very common, some are even inevitable.

Concrete Crack Repair

The technique for patching cracks will depend on the size of the crack.

Remove Paint From Concrete

Concrete is porous and absorbs paint well. Here are some recommendations for removing spilled paint.

How long does it take to revive concrete stairs?

Once you have applied it, there are no additional, tedious steps to complete. Within two to three hours, your transformed stairs will be ready to accept foot traffic again. Although there’s no more straightforward way to revive tired concrete, there are still nuances to working with NewCrete or another resurfacer.

How long does concrete last?

In many instances, concrete can last for decades without deteriorating or requiring much at all in the way of maintenance. But particularly when it’s used outdoors, ...

Can you shore up concrete without a contractor?

But even so, solutions like Rapid Set Cement All enable you to shore up fail ing concrete on your own, and to do so easily and quickly, even without a contractor.

Can you reverse damage to stairs?

You can reverse damage and keep your stairs looking as good as new with a little maintenance and some innovative, effective products that simplify and speed up concrete repairs. For construction professionals and homeowners alike, concrete offers many appealing qualities, but there may be none greater than its undeniable durability.

Can concrete tablecloths get stained?

Believe it or not, concrete has something in common with a plain white tablecloth—both are capable of getting stained. Of course, there’s no practical harm associated with discoloration, so depending on the location of the stairs in question, you may or may not feel the need to intervene.

Does concrete get worse in winter?

For one thing, structural problems in concrete only get worse, particularly with each passing winter, until the installation deteriorates so badly that it needs to be fully replaced. There’s also the fact that compromised concrete can be a tripping hazard, never more so than on stairs.

Can you repair a concrete stairs?

Perhaps no hardscaping feature suffers as much as concrete stairs, which are subject to heavy foot traffic that only serves to hasten deterioration. That said, you can repair damage to your concrete stairs, whether it’s the result of gradual wear and tear or a sudden trauma, with a basic course of maintenance.

Remove dust and debris

Since you’ll eventually be applying a bonding agent to the damaged area, the cracked or crumbling surface needs to be as clean and dust-free as possible. Using a wire brush, clean off dust and loose chunks of cement. As you’re brushing, look for deeper cracks that will be difficult to fill entirely with cement mix.

Create a wood form

You’ll need a wood form to help create your new step’s shape accurately. Cut a piece of plywood to an appropriate size and place it horizontally along the side of the step. It should be flush against the side and rise above the top of the step about an inch or two.

Apply a bonding adhesive

Using a paintbrush, apply a generous amount of concrete bonding adhesive to the step’s damaged area. The adhesive instructions should explain how much to use and how long to let it dry, depending on how many inches of concrete you’ll be layering on. Drying time is typically between one and three hours.

Create your concrete mix

Be sure your step is prepped, and you are ready to begin applying concrete before you start creating your concrete mix. The mix will start to dry very quickly. Following the instructions on the concrete mix package, pour the mix into a large bucket or concrete tray and add the appropriate amount of water.

Apply concrete to damaged areas

A pointed trowel works best for this step. Use the trowel to scoop out portions of the mix and press it down onto the step’s damaged area. Be sure to press the mix into deeper cracks to prevent air bubbles that will have you repairing the step again sooner than you’d like.

Fill in gaps

Remove your wood form and put it aside. Check the sides of the step for gaps since, again, air bubbles will be problematic. Fill gaps in with more cement using your pointed trowel and use your steel trowel to straighten out the sides of the step.

Smooth the surface

For this step in this process, grab an edging tool and a damp cement sponge. Round off the edges of the step using the edging tool. A rounded edge is safer to walk on, and it actually lengthens the life of your new step since a round edge is less likely to crack against pressure and weather.