DIY Front Stoop

Draw the outline of the desired stoop on the ground with spray chalk, using a laser level and carpenter's square to ensure that all lines and angles are precise.

Remove 2 inches of topsoil from the stoop location with a sharp spade.

Dig four cylindrical holes with a post hole digger, positioned in a square at least 10 inches within the edges of the location. These should extend below the frost line and will provide footings that help to anchor the stoop in place.

Use a tamp to firmly compact the remaining soil, ensuring that it will not shift over time. Basic tamps are nothing more than a flat plate on a pole that you hit against the ground.

Assemble a box out of three pieces of 2-by-12-inch lumber, using the house foundation as the fourth wall. This box should match the borders of the stoop and be secured together with 3-inch wood screws. It will form a frame for the stoop.

Pound stakes into the ground every 12 inches around the three wooden sides of the box with a rubber mallet. These stakes will prevent the box from moving while you pour the concrete.

Prepare a batch of ready-mix concrete according to the instructions on the bag. It can be mixed with water by hand using a shovel and tub, or in a small cement mixer.

Pour the concrete into the box frame, filling it to just below the door's bottom edge.

Smooth the surface of the concrete with a float. Allow it to stiffen and then sweep it gently with a broom to give it a slip-resistant texture.

Allow the concrete to cure for 48 hours before removing the wooden box frame.