How to Build a Stoop

Mark out the perimeter of the stoop in front of the door using landscaping paint. Dig a foundation for the stoop within the markings to a depth of 4 inches using a spade. Create a footing for the slab by digging a 5-inch-wide trench around the edge of the foundation 3 inches deeper than the foundation floor. Use a tamper on the soil at the base of the foundation to compact the soil. Drop the tamper multiple times onto the soil to compress the dirt, preventing shifting beneath the concrete stoop.

Remove any siding from the base of the house for 8 inches to either side of the door. Use tin snips to cut aluminum siding and a siding removal tool to pull it from the house.Use a hand saw and a claw hammer to remove wood siding. Replace the siding with a piece of flashing to protect the foundation from water damage. Attach the flashing to the foundation using construction adhesive, adding non-corrosive nails if the sheathing at the base of the wall is wooden.

Create a three-sided form for the stoop using 2-by-4s cut to the width and length of the stoop with a table saw and nailed together where they join using double-headed nails driven with a hammer. Place this form onto the ground with the open side against the flashing. Level the form with a slight slope away from the home to aid in drainage, using a carpenter's level. Drive wooden stakes into the ground around the form perimeter. Nail the stakes to the form to stabilize the form and keep it in position.

Pour a layer of gravel into the foundation 2 inches deep and compact with the tamper. This layer of gravel will prevent water from pooling beneath the stoop and causing sagging or movement. Wet the gravel layer slightly with a hose to keep the stones from leaching moisture from the concrete. Place 3-inch concrete stones in the bottom of the foundation on the gravel and a rebar mesh atop the stones to add support for the stoop slab. Cut the rebar 2 inches shorter than the slab dimensions on all sides with a pair of bolt croppers.

Pour the concrete into a wheelbarrow and add water to the dry mix, folding the water into the concrete mix until it's about the consistency of oatmeal. Pour the concrete into the foundation hole and continue pouring until it reaches the top of the frame.

Level the top of the concrete stoop by pulling a wooden screed bar across the form top with a sawing motion to level out the concrete. Allow it to dry slightly and run a concrete edger between the edge of the concrete and the form to create a nicely curved edge to the stoop. Smooth the concrete with a trowel to remove the lines from the edger and brush the surface with a broom to create a non-slip texture.

Cover the stoop with plastic sheeting so it doesn't dry out while curing. Secure the sheeting in place with bricks on the form. Allow the slab to cure for a week. Remove the sheet and the wooden form. Wait a second week before walking on the stoop.