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How to Add Cement Steps to a House

Many people who do not work in the construction field and are not familiar with building materials use the word cement when they are actually talking about concrete. Cement is a pure product, free of aggregates, and often used to make decorations or other items that do not need to be particularly strong. Structures that are meant for regular utilization, like steps, are made from concrete, which consists of cement powder mixed with both fine and coarse aggregates. Use concrete to build new steps against your house, and they will last a long time if cared for properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Shovel
  • Utility knife
  • Tamp
  • Staircase stringer with cross boards
  • Drill
  • 3 pieces standard 12-inch rebar
  • Broken masonry
  • Prepared concrete
  • 2-by-4 board
  • Metal finishing trowel
  • Step trowel
  • Stair-edging tool
  • Plastic tarp
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a place on the ground that is convenient for your porch or stoop and to the entrance or exit where you wish to use the stairs. Relocate statues, fountains or other items in this area. Dig up any growing items and cut away the grass with a utility knife to leave bare soil.

    • 2

      Dig down so that the area is 4 inches deep, wider than the planned lowest step, and the bottom is level. Tamp the bottom and sides of the excavation until the soil is well compressed. Place the stringer form into the depression and push it against the structure, generally the side of the porch or stoop, behind it.

    • 3

      Drill a row of three evenly spaced holes into the face of the surface against which the stringer is resting. Make the holes just beneath the highest cross board of the stringer. Make each one 3 to 4 inches deep and push a piece of rebar into it as far as possible.

    • 4

      Create piles of large broken masonry pieces within each portion of the stringer. This is a good use for any old, broken concrete steps. Keep the masonry 4 inches away from all of the sides and the top.

    • 5

      Fill the stringer with prepared concrete, starting with the lowest step and working toward the top. Wait about five seconds after you fill each opening to make sure that the concrete settles and the stringer is not leaking anywhere. Screed the top of each step from one side to the other with a scrap 2-by-4 board.

    • 6

      Run a metal finishing trowel over the surfaces of each step in circular motions to release any trapped moisture. Go back over them in straight lines to smooth the concrete. Gently tamp the top of each step within the stringer until each is perfectly level.

    • 7

      Let the steps sit for two hours so some moisture can evaporate. Screed the top of each step again and smooth the concrete surfaces again in straight lines with the finishing trowel. Wait several hours for the sides of the steps to set up and remove the cross boards of the stringer.

    • 8

      Glide a step trowel in straight lines over the ride in each step until it is smooth. Place a stair-edging tool against each of the edges of the staircase and run it back and forth to create smooth, precise edges. Cover the stairs with a plastic tarp and cure them five to seven days; remove the tarp and the stringer.

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Next:

Architecture
  1. How to Add Brick to a Concrete Block House
  2. How to Add a Side Sunroom to a House
  3. How to Grind Cement Floors
  4. How to Add Water to Concrete
  5. How to Add Stair Treads to Existing Cement
  6. How to Patch Cement Steps
  7. How to Add to a Cement Driveway
  8. How to Add Decorative Gravel to Cement
  9. DIY: How to Make Steps Out of Cement Blocks
  10. How to Add on to a Victorian House
  11. How to Install Concrete Steps
  12. How to Remove Concrete Steps

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