How to Make Decorative Concrete Porch Steps

Making the Steps

• 1

  Take measurements for your steps. Measure the vertical distance from the ground to the porch's edge where the steps will begin. This is called your rise. Measure the horizontal distance from the ground location where you prefer for your steps to begin to the home's foundation. This is called the run. Divide the run by the number of steps to calculate the height each step must be to reach the porch. For example, if the height between the ground and the porch is 5 feet and you are building five steps, each step will need to be 1 foot high to eventually reach the porch.

• 2

  Lay footing down to help support your concrete steps. Dig a 6-inch-deep hole that is equal to the run and the steps' width. Fill the hole with one layer of gravel and concrete.

• 3

  Make risers to keep your concrete in place as you build the steps. Cut 3/4-inch plywood to the height and length measurements you made earlier. The forms should resemble what your steps will look like when they are completed. Place the top step flush against the porch. Place the rest of the steps at right angles to the porch and plumb to the footing on the sides. Hammer stakes to the outer edge of each riser every 12 inches. Add side bracing so that the forms will be sturdy enough to hold the concrete.

• 4

  Mix the concrete. Pour concrete into each riser, and level off. The concrete should set in each riser for 20 minutes before you pour concrete into the step above the previous one.

• 5

  Remove the risers. Begin with the top step, and remove the riser after the concrete has set enough to retain its shape. Remove the other risers from the top to the bottom.

Adding Color

• 6

  Decide whether you want to add acetone, stain or a faux finish to color the concrete. Acetone colors the concrete and is available in many earth tone colors, such as red, brown, terra cotta and sage. Acid staining adds a translucent color to the concrete. Faux finishes provide you with more flexibility in color and design options.

• 7

  Clean the concrete. Sweep off the concrete steps and remove any leftover debris. Ensure that you have not applied a sealant to the concrete, which will interfere with the concrete's ability to take the new color.

• 8

  Apply your color. Spray or roll on the color, depending on which product you are using. Let the color dry. Use a sponge, rag or spray bottle if you want to add a faux finish.

• 9

  Seal the concrete. Rub or spray on the sealer depending on the sealant's instructions. Let dry.

• 10

  Let the sealant dry. Be sure nobody walks on the colored floor before it has fully dried or the color can be damaged.

Concrete Tile

• 11

  Apply mortar to the concrete steps. Work on one section at a time, and begin with the face of the steps.

• 12

  Place a concrete tile on the left edge of the face of the step. Prop the tile up to keep it in place.

• 13

  Add a spacer to the right edge of the tile. Add another tile next to the spacer. Position it at an equal height to the first tile. Continue the process until all of the faces of the step have been filled with tile. Let the mortar dry, and allow the tile to set in place.

• 14

  Add grout over the tile. Work the grout between the tiles. Use a rag to wipe off the excess grout.

• 15

  Repeat the process for the top of the steps. Add concrete tiles evenly over the steps for a decorated concrete porch.