Concrete steps construction in Brookings SD - a front entry that's even and solid
Front steps cracked, sinking or pulling away from the door? We build new ones on solid footings, measured so every step comes out even.
What does it take to build new concrete steps in Brookings?
Concrete steps construction in Brookings means building new steps for your entry, either precast steps we set in place or steps we pour on site, on support that keeps them from sinking or pulling away from the house.
Most folks call us when the old steps have cracked, settled on one side or pulled away from the house, leaving a gap at the door you catch a toe on. Usually that's less about the concrete and more about what it sat on. We tear out the old steps, get the support right, then pour or set the new ones, and where they tie into the house it's close kin to our foundation installation work.
The price moves with precast or poured, how many steps you need, an odd entry height or width, and how much tear-out and footing work there is. The schedule turns on the permit, which we sort out before we dig, and a pour day the weather allows. If the budget's tight, cut the finish before the base, since what's underneath can't be fixed later without tearing it all out. Your estimate gives you the real number.
What goes into building concrete steps
Most of what decides how long your steps last happens before any concrete shows up, so here's what we'll talk through when I'm at your house.
Precast or poured
We help you weigh precast against poured for your entry, looking at its height, its width and how the steps meet the door before anything gets ordered or formed.
Footings below the frost
Steps usually sit on concrete footings that go down below the frost line, which spreads the weight and keeps the steps from sinking as the ground freezes and thaws.
How they tie in
Steps that rest on the ground, tie into a landing or the house, or span like a stair each need different footings and rebar, the steel that holds the concrete together.
Every step measured first
Before we build forms, we lay out every step from top to bottom, because small errors add up and leave you with a short top step or a tall bottom one.
A mix made for freezing
Air-entrained concrete holds tiny air bubbles that give freezing water room to expand, which eases the pressure inside. It's a fair question to ask any contractor about your steps.
Questions about concrete steps
How much do concrete steps cost?
Across the US, poured or precast concrete steps usually cost about $100 to $500 per step, and that's the general market, not our price. Where yours lands depends on precast or poured, the size of your entry, the footings and tearing out the old steps. I'll give you your own figure after I've looked at the job.
What is the best way to choose between precast and poured concrete steps?
Start with your entry. Precast steps cost less because they're hollow and easier to set, while poured steps cost more but come in a wider range of sizes, so a standard entry can usually save with precast and an odd height or width usually fits better poured. I'll measure it with you and tell you which way I'd lean.
Do I need a permit for concrete steps in Brookings?
Yes, the city requires a building permit for all construction work in Brookings and on non-farm land in the joint jurisdiction area around it. For steps on footings, the permit has to be issued before the footings are poured, there's a footing inspection, and getting the permit late can bring an investigation fee of double the permit fee. We sort that out before work starts, either filing it ourselves or walking you through it.
How long do concrete steps last?
Across the US, concrete steps usually last 30 to 40 years with proper care and upkeep. That care is simple, like keeping harsh salts off and keeping an eye on them, and I'll tell you up front that small hairline cracks are normal and usually nothing to worry about. What shortens that span most is poor support underneath, which is why we spend our time there.
What causes concrete steps to sink or pull away from the house?
Usually it's what's underneath, steps set on loose fill or shallow support that moves as the ground freezes, thaws and settles. Water running toward the house instead of away softens the ground too, so I check where it goes. It's the same thinking behind our slab foundation building work, where the ground gets fixed before any concrete goes down.
How do I take care of new concrete steps over a Brookings winter?
Go easy on salt. A Michigan concrete trade group advises using no deicer at all the first winter, just sand for traction, and after that, staying away from magnesium or calcium chloride, fertilizer and water-softener salt. Shoveling snow off early and not letting water sit on the treads helps too.
Why Brookings homeowners call Brookings Concrete for steps
The City of Brookings licenses residential contractors and asks for proof of workers' comp and liability insurance, so it's worth asking anyone you hire about both. Here's what you get with us.
I come out myself
I look over your entry and the ground with you, so the person pricing the job knows what's under it.
Our own crew pours
Our own crew builds your steps, and I'm on site for the pour to keep an eye on it.
Building since 2013
I started this business in 2013 after years on a concrete crew, and we're known for footings that hold up.
Fully licensed and insured
That holds on every job we take, steps included, and you're welcome to ask about it when I'm out.
Satisfaction guaranteed
That's our word on your steps, and getting started is a call to (605) 401-5479 or a note through the form.
Call about your concrete steps today
Steps that rock or lean usually get worse with every freeze and thaw, so it's better to have them looked at sooner than later.
What happens when you call about concrete steps in Brookings?
We plan your steps around your entry, your schedule and the weather, and you'll know what's coming at each stage before anything gets poured.
Call or send the form
Call (605) 401-5479 or send the form with how many steps you need, a photo or two of your entry and your address.
I look it over
I come out, look at the entry and the ground with you, measure the rise and help you weigh precast against poured.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate with your own price and the work it covers, so you know what you're paying for before you decide.
Permit, pour day, build
We handle the permit, leaving the week the city asks for plan review, and pick a pour day the weather allows. Then our crew builds while I watch over it.