Orlando Concrete Contractor
Concrete Steps and Stoops
Entry steps, porch stoops and back door landings from an Orlando concrete contractor.
Orlando Ronald's Concrete Contracting builds new concrete steps and stoops and replaces old ones that have cracked, settled or pulled away from the house. We form, reinforce and finish each set so every riser matches and the treads grip in the rain. Every job starts with a free on-site estimate. Call (689) 588-1438 or request a quote for new steps.
Concrete Steps Built to Stay Level in Orlando
Front steps get used more than any other concrete on the property. Guests, deliveries, groceries, kids running out the door. They also sit right under the roofline, where the drip edge and the downspout soak the ground beside them every afternoon storm. Over time the soil washes out on one side, the steps tilt and a gap opens up against the house.
Older Orlando homes show it the most. Plenty of houses in Lake Eola Heights, Colonialtown and Delaney Park have steps poured decades ago with no steel tying them to the foundation, and once those start moving they keep going. The 1960s and 70s ranch homes around the city usually have just one or two steps at the front door, and even those can settle enough to leave a lip at the threshold.
Our Concrete Steps and Stoops Installation Process
- 01Measure and plan. We measure from the door threshold to the ground and work out the number of risers and the tread depth. Florida's residential code caps riser height at 7 3/4 inches and allows no more than 3/8 inch of difference between risers in the same run.
- 02Demolition. Old steps get broken out and hauled away, with care around the door frame, the siding and any porch columns.
- 03Base prep. Washed-out soil gets replaced and compacted so the new steps start on firm ground.
- 04Dowels and steel. We drill into the existing slab or foundation and epoxy rebar dowels in place, then tie a rebar cage through the steps. Those dowels are what keep new steps from pulling away from the house later.
- 05Forming. Riser forms get set level and square, with a slight pitch on each tread so water runs off the front edge.
- 06Pour and finish. We pour, consolidate around the steel, edge each nosing and broom the treads for traction.
- 07Cure and strip. Forms come off once the concrete holds its shape, and curing compound goes on right away.
Step and Stoop Design Options for Orlando Homes
A stoop should be big enough to stand on while you unlock the door. The residential code calls for a landing at least 36 inches deep, and a lot of homeowners go wider so two people fit, or so there's room for a couple of potted plants.
Broom-finished treads are the safest choice for rain. Rounded bullnose edges soften the look. Exposed aggregate adds texture, and stamped concrete steps can match a stamped walkway or patio. Wraparound steps that fan out on three sides suit wide front porches.
Four or more risers need a handrail under the residential code. We can set sleeves or anchors in the fresh concrete for the railing posts.
What Concrete Steps Cost in Orlando
Price depends on the number of steps, the width, the size of the landing and how much demolition is involved. One step at a back slider is quick work. A wide run of four or five steps with a big landing takes more forming, steel and concrete. Tearing out old brick or concrete steps adds labor and haul-off, and decorative finishes and railing sleeves add a little more. Every item appears on your written estimate.
Orlando Conditions That Wear Down Concrete Steps
Water does most of the damage. Steps under a roof edge with no gutter get hammered every summer afternoon, and the soil along the sides slowly washes out. We grade the ground away from new steps, and if water is pouring straight onto them we'll point it out so a gutter or downspout extension can go up.
Shade and humidity grow mildew and algae on steps that never see direct sun, and that green film gets slick. A broom finish and a good sealer make it easier to keep clean.
Rusting rails crack concrete too. Steel posts set straight into a step rust from the base, the rust expands and it pops chunks off the concrete around the post. Galvanized or aluminum rails in sleeves hold up much better in Florida humidity.
Fixing Cracked, Settled or Separated Steps
A gap between the steps and the house usually means the steps were never tied in and the soil underneath settled. Small gaps can be sealed to keep water out. Steps that have tilted, dropped more than about half an inch or cracked through usually get replaced, since a patch won't stop them from moving.
Chipped nosings and surface spalling on steps that are still solid can often be patched with concrete repair and resurfacing. A quick look in person usually settles which route makes sense.
What to Expect From Our Concrete Step Contractors
Most step jobs take a day for demo and forming and another for the pour. If the steps are your main way in and out, we'll talk through access ahead of time, usually a side or back door for a couple of days. You can typically walk on new steps after 24 to 48 hours. Your written estimate covers dimensions, steel, finish and cleanup.
Every riser in a run should be the same height, because feet remember the first step and expect the rest to match.
Orlando Ronald's Concrete Contracting
Related Entry and Walkway Concrete Services
Proudly Serving Orlando, FL
70 W Robinson St Ste B1, Orlando, FL 32801