How to Repair a Harlem Townhouse Stoop

Prepping the Stoop

• 1

  Put on a pair of safety goggles. Depending on level of damage to the stoop, use a chisel or a sledgehammer to break away cracked or crumbling stone.

• 2

  Remove the large pieces of broken stone. Use a wire brush to rub away the remaining loose pieces of stone from the stoop.

• 3

  Use a hose with a spray nozzle to wash away any additional pieces of loose gravel and sand. Allow the stoop to fully dry before proceeding.

Repairing the Stoop

• 4

  Use a drill to screw together two pieces of 1-by-6 wood. Attach the wood so it forms an L-shape. This wood will create the frame for recasting the broken portion of the stoop.

• 5

  Coat the inside of the L-shape with a generous amount of motor or cooking oil. When the concrete patching mixture begins to set, the oil will act as a barrier between the wood and concrete so your wooden frame does not stick to the stoop.

• 6

  Use duct tape to attach the wooden frame to broken portion of your stoop. The frame will form a right angle around one of the stoop corners, providing a template for you to reform the portion of the stoop that is damaged.

• 7

  In a plastic bucket, mix your concrete patching mixture with water. Carefully follow the product’s instruction for mixing.

• 8

  Cover the face of the broken portion of the stoop with latex bonding. The bonding will allow the cement to adhere to the stoop.

• 9

  Pour the concrete mixture into the wooden frame, covering the broken or damaged part of the stoop. Overfill the space so that the concrete rises just above the wooden frame. Use a 2-by-4 piece of wood to scrape off the excess concrete and level off the stoop.

• 10

  Allow the concrete to set overnight. Remove the wooden frame and duct tape. Cover the patched area of the stoop with a tarp or a piece of plastic for another night, which will allow cure the concrete, creating a stronger bond.