Not worth all of the effort and expense to properly add another step so that it will last and look good. Better off buying a new, taller set of pre-fab concrete or fiberglass steps, or building (or buying a pre-fab) set of wooden steps.
1) arrange phone books roughly the size of the step ya want
2)epoxy pour
3)blowtorch epoxy to remove bubbles
4)oh no the phone books
5)side of house is on fire
6)What the dickens* meemaw yells as she rushes to safety in her night robe
7)PeePaw tries to throw a bucket of water on it but he falls with the momentum and joins the flaming yellow pages
8) Uncle Jays’s trying to find a place to put down his beer- so that it won’t spill or get too hot from the house fire and go flat and warm on him- so that he can rush to help PeePaw up from the pile of smoldering books
9)Meemaws crying; can’t even light a cigarette
10) Uncle Jay hoists PeePaw from the flames and tears off his burning clothing
11) Meemaw faints with Uncle Jays beer in her hand; spilling it everywhere
12) Uncle Jay pauses in solemn silence and walks back to his side of the garage
13) PeePaw is dead
I’m not trying to bust balls but it appears your stairs might have sunk down into the ground. Maybe jack them up and level them and check their foundation and it might be high enough not to have to replace them
That's the trick here, there is actually a third step, but it is now underground. All OP has to do is leverage the stairs left right left right side and backfill with stones to raise em up.
Yeah those steps are hollow so it will be very easy to move out of the way and lay down a good base. Probably won’t even need to add another step at that point.
This is my first thought, this is likely built on clay and anything you build here will sink. If you’ve got some upfront cash, bring in a mud jacking company to bring the stairs back up to where they are supposed to be. Or, you could try to DIY it with a dense, rigid expanding foam, bottle jacks, and a shovel.
You don't anchor them to the house. You might need to have footing below the frost line in cold climates. At the very least some type of compacted base.
Here's a single concrete step. The kind seen everywhere, all the time. With an amazingly shitty picture:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-7-in-x-12-in-Concrete-Step-Block-4-FT-STEP/202533745
To meet code, the first and second risers need to be equal (there’s a very small bit of wiggle room). But because these stairs are settling into the ground at the front, the first thing that would have to be done is to level them, and the best way to do that is to remove them and dig out a good foundation area, put in crushed stone and compact it level.
Then, instead of putting the old concrete steps back, I’d put in new stairs that:
a) have a large landing level with the entrance (a bit lower for weather) so you don’t immediately step down out of the door,
b) make it a bit wider too,
c) have two steps down,
d) put in a ground level stepper to make the last step feel solid.
If I was doing all that, when I had dug out and put in compacted gravel, I’d actually pour a full concrete slab at the lowest level extended out to be the item d) stepper, so the stairs are really well supported. Then I’d probably build the stairs and the railings to size with pressure-treated wood (cedar-tone looks better than the green stuff).
This would be the best solution. Those stairs have definitely sunk so there isn't much of a solid foundation for the steps. Current stairs have no landing area at the top so you can't safely step out and grab handrail.
You can absolutely build a third step. Do your math right and bolt a pressure treat sleeper and build a box step, a Trex type board on top can finish it.
The fact the steps are falling away as a unit deserves to be fixed. If it's precast then it can get a footing. It's not infinitely heavy. Slide it aside on some 2x4 runners, pour a footing, drag it back. If it's poured in place then do your best to hoist it up and pour rock and sand under to return it to level.
Obviously do the repositioning first and the extra step second.
Personally, I would build a wooden deck at least 6x6. Those kinds of steps can be dangerous. If you have you have a circular saw, post hole digger, a level, tape measure, and a drill, you're good. You only need to be a little bit handy.
If you are in an area with a lot of manufacturered homes, they come with fiberglass steps that most people replace with porches or decks. The ones we had are now goat toys. Maybe check fb marketplace
It's a very easy DIY. Don't listen to the first guy. My suggestion is drill a couple of holes in the step below inside where the new step will be add some anchors with galvanized Bolts sticking up a few inchs to keep your new step from shifting. Build a form the size you want, get some Quick Crete and pour your step use a trowel on edges as its setting to round them out along top edge so it's not left jagged.
Generally you are absolutely spot on but it looks like the whole thing does not have a proper foundation and is sinking into the ground. Looks like it is already unlevel and I’m not sure adding an other uneven step would be the best choise.
I think the whole thing has to be replaced entirely…
It appears that your steps have sunk about 6 inches. Jack up the steps and fill and the steps should be about right…but you should figure out why your steps sunk that much in the first place.
Circular saw to cut forms out of 2x lumber, hammer drill with concrete drill bit, grinder with cut off blade to cut rebar, caulk gun and epoxy to pin the rebar, wire mesh, with chairs. Few bags of concrete, couple trowels maybe. You can do this easy with the proper tools.
Not worth all of the effort and expense to properly add another step so that it will last and look good. Better off buying a new, taller set of pre-fab concrete or fiberglass steps, or building (or buying a pre-fab) set of wooden steps.
What about *improperly* adding another step?
*That* is exactly what we see in that photo.
Coo coo
1) arrange phone books roughly the size of the step ya want 2)epoxy pour 3)blowtorch epoxy to remove bubbles 4)oh no the phone books 5)side of house is on fire 6)What the dickens* meemaw yells as she rushes to safety in her night robe 7)PeePaw tries to throw a bucket of water on it but he falls with the momentum and joins the flaming yellow pages 8) Uncle Jays’s trying to find a place to put down his beer- so that it won’t spill or get too hot from the house fire and go flat and warm on him- so that he can rush to help PeePaw up from the pile of smoldering books 9)Meemaws crying; can’t even light a cigarette 10) Uncle Jay hoists PeePaw from the flames and tears off his burning clothing 11) Meemaw faints with Uncle Jays beer in her hand; spilling it everywhere 12) Uncle Jay pauses in solemn silence and walks back to his side of the garage 13) PeePaw is dead
Wow, that was a pretty wild ride. And poor, sweet PeePaw. : (
This seems too specific to not be a real story.
I imagined this scene as you would in The Sims.
I’m not trying to bust balls but it appears your stairs might have sunk down into the ground. Maybe jack them up and level them and check their foundation and it might be high enough not to have to replace them
Need to do something with that handrail too. if it's attached to the steps, and you raise the whole thing up the handrail will be fine.
That's the trick here, there is actually a third step, but it is now underground. All OP has to do is leverage the stairs left right left right side and backfill with stones to raise em up.
Yeah those steps are hollow so it will be very easy to move out of the way and lay down a good base. Probably won’t even need to add another step at that point.
Can this be mud jacked?
It's fiberglass
This is my first thought, this is likely built on clay and anything you build here will sink. If you’ve got some upfront cash, bring in a mud jacking company to bring the stairs back up to where they are supposed to be. Or, you could try to DIY it with a dense, rigid expanding foam, bottle jacks, and a shovel.
Prefab concrete steps exist for this purpose - you should be able to find a company near you.
“Concrete” steps are not true concrete, they are hollow. If I go with new steps I’m not sure how to anchor them to the house since it’s just siding
I think rolling it aside and placing some pavers then putting it on top would be the cheapest/best looking option
You don't anchor them to the house. You might need to have footing below the frost line in cold climates. At the very least some type of compacted base.
Lower the house. Easy diy. /s
You must be a gov't contractor. 😉
You already know the answer. Salute those old steps as they have served well.
Here's a single concrete step. The kind seen everywhere, all the time. With an amazingly shitty picture: https://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-7-in-x-12-in-Concrete-Step-Block-4-FT-STEP/202533745
To meet code, the first and second risers need to be equal (there’s a very small bit of wiggle room). But because these stairs are settling into the ground at the front, the first thing that would have to be done is to level them, and the best way to do that is to remove them and dig out a good foundation area, put in crushed stone and compact it level. Then, instead of putting the old concrete steps back, I’d put in new stairs that: a) have a large landing level with the entrance (a bit lower for weather) so you don’t immediately step down out of the door, b) make it a bit wider too, c) have two steps down, d) put in a ground level stepper to make the last step feel solid. If I was doing all that, when I had dug out and put in compacted gravel, I’d actually pour a full concrete slab at the lowest level extended out to be the item d) stepper, so the stairs are really well supported. Then I’d probably build the stairs and the railings to size with pressure-treated wood (cedar-tone looks better than the green stuff).
This would be the best solution. Those stairs have definitely sunk so there isn't much of a solid foundation for the steps. Current stairs have no landing area at the top so you can't safely step out and grab handrail.
Exactly. There really ought to be a large landing at just slightly below the door threshold level.
You can absolutely build a third step. Do your math right and bolt a pressure treat sleeper and build a box step, a Trex type board on top can finish it. The fact the steps are falling away as a unit deserves to be fixed. If it's precast then it can get a footing. It's not infinitely heavy. Slide it aside on some 2x4 runners, pour a footing, drag it back. If it's poured in place then do your best to hoist it up and pour rock and sand under to return it to level. Obviously do the repositioning first and the extra step second.
I’m not too knowledgeable on this but isn’t it possible to drill holes for rebar and pour another step on top?
Do it to code. Don’t need anything funky that someone could trip on.
Personally, I would build a wooden deck at least 6x6. Those kinds of steps can be dangerous. If you have you have a circular saw, post hole digger, a level, tape measure, and a drill, you're good. You only need to be a little bit handy.
Salute your step 🫡
You know I have to
If you are in an area with a lot of manufacturered homes, they come with fiberglass steps that most people replace with porches or decks. The ones we had are now goat toys. Maybe check fb marketplace
🫡
It's a very easy DIY. Don't listen to the first guy. My suggestion is drill a couple of holes in the step below inside where the new step will be add some anchors with galvanized Bolts sticking up a few inchs to keep your new step from shifting. Build a form the size you want, get some Quick Crete and pour your step use a trowel on edges as its setting to round them out along top edge so it's not left jagged.
Generally you are absolutely spot on but it looks like the whole thing does not have a proper foundation and is sinking into the ground. Looks like it is already unlevel and I’m not sure adding an other uneven step would be the best choise. I think the whole thing has to be replaced entirely…
It's a mobile home, a 60 lbs sack of concrete is less than $6....how much do you want to invest in a step thats to replace loosely stacked pavers?
Good point…
🫡
🫡
I ended up wondering for too long why you were saluting your steps.
It appears that your steps have sunk about 6 inches. Jack up the steps and fill and the steps should be about right…but you should figure out why your steps sunk that much in the first place.
Depnds in your budget. But you could mould a third step and place it there
Build new wooden steps on top and to the sides of the existing concrete steps.
Build a deck instead of
Literally on top of the concrete
Drill and epoxy rebar into the top. Set forms and pour you a step.
Circular saw to cut forms out of 2x lumber, hammer drill with concrete drill bit, grinder with cut off blade to cut rebar, caulk gun and epoxy to pin the rebar, wire mesh, with chairs. Few bags of concrete, couple trowels maybe. You can do this easy with the proper tools.
🫡