Concrete steps construction in Monrovia CA - solid, even footing at your front door
Steps sinking, cracked or pulling away from the door? We find out why, then lift, resurface or rebuild them so they sit level and solid.
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Should I lift, resurface or replace my concrete steps?
Concrete steps construction in Monrovia covers lifting steps that have sunk, resurfacing steps that are worn on top, and tearing out steps that are past saving so we can pour new ones. The right choice depends on what's going on under and inside your steps, not just how they look.
Most calls start with a top step that's dropped away from the door, a bottom step that ended up short after the walk was raised, or treads chipping apart, and a step that's a different height from the rest is the one people trip on. What moves the price is which of the three fixes fits, how many steps and how big a landing you have, and whether the old concrete has to be broken out and hauled away. The schedule turns mostly on the permit question, covered below, and on lining up a pour day. Your estimate gives you your own number, with what it covers written down.
How we handle concrete steps construction
I start by checking whether your steps are sound, still sinking or past saving, and then I tell you which fix fits, because a new surface won't help a step that's still settling and I won't sell it for that. When the answer is a rebuild, our crew breaks out the old steps and hauls them off, then digs out and packs the subgrade, the ground the steps sit on, so they don't settle with loose dirt the way raked fill does. We set rebar, the steel inside that holds the concrete together, build the forms so every riser comes out the same height, and give the treads a slight fall away from the door so rain runs off instead of toward the house. We pour in the cooler part of the day so the top doesn't come out weak and dusty, then finish the treads with a broom finish, a light texture that gives your shoes grip when they're wet. If the budget gets tight, the base is the last place I'd cut, because nobody sees it on day one and it's what decides whether the steps stay where we put them.
Steps are often part of a bigger job. When we pour a new slab for an addition or a back room, we plan the steps alongside the slab foundation building so the landing ties in at the right height, and when a house needs foundation installation, we set the stoop and steps once the foundation is in so they sit on solid ground.
Concrete steps construction rules in Monrovia
The city's permit page says you more than likely need a permit, and its list of work that doesn't need one names sheds, decks, sidewalks, driveways and pools but not steps. Ordinary repairs don't need an application, but that stops short of removing or changing a required way out of the house, and steps that lead from a door you'd use to get out can count as one. So the city's pages don't settle whether new or replacement entry steps need a building permit, and the place to ask is Building Services at (626) 932-5581 or building@monroviaca.gov. We check with the city or county office that covers your address before we set a date, and if the job needs a permit, we sort out who pulls it and get it in hand before work starts.
If your steps come down to the sidewalk or the parkway strip, the city requires a permit before anyone places a step there, and any work in the city's right-of-way, the strip along the street that belongs to the city, needs an encroachment permit. We're based in Monrovia and work across the San Gabriel Valley, and we see plenty of front steps that meet the walk at the street, here and on jobs in Arcadia and Pasadena, so we mark where your property ends before we plan the work.
Concrete steps and stoops
Get a written estimate for your steps
We reply within one business day to set a time, then I come out, walk and measure your steps and write down what's included, like removal and hauling. The estimate is free, done at your property, and there's no obligation to book.
(626) 879-0614Concrete step questions from Monrovia homeowners
How much does it cost to build new concrete steps in Monrovia?
The price comes down to which fix your steps need, and lifting or resurfacing is usually a smaller job than tearing out and rebuilding. On a rebuild, the number of steps, the size of the landing, hauling off the old concrete and whether a rail or a permit is part of it all move the number. Your estimate lists what's included, so you know what the price covers.
How do I fix sunken concrete steps without replacing them?
If the steps are still in one piece and there's an empty space under them, mudjacking or foam lifting can often raise them back up. Steps that are badly cracked, or large precast steps, usually make more sense to replace, so I check their condition before I suggest a lift.
Will resurfacing fix cracked or uneven concrete steps?
No. Resurfacing only covers the face of clean, sound concrete, so it won't fix settling, cracks that are still moving or risers of different heights. If your steps have any of those, plan on lifting or a rebuild instead.
How do I know if my concrete steps need to be replaced?
One inspection guide suggests calling a concrete contractor when steps have settled noticeably, slope toward the house, have one step higher or lower than the rest, or are flaking off around the steel inside. The same guide suggests calling a structural engineer first if the sinking at your steps comes with foundation cracks, doors that stick or water in a basement.
What license does a concrete contractor need in California?
California's Contractors State License Board defines a C-8 Concrete Contractor as one who forms, pours, places, finishes and installs concrete work. Forming and pouring new steps is exactly that kind of work.
Do I need a handrail on two or three concrete steps?
You may not have to, but one inspection guide says that even where code doesn't require a rail on two or three steps, adding one is an inexpensive way to lower the risk of a fall for older family and guests. If you want one, tell me at the estimate so we plan for the rail posts before the pour.
Have your Monrovia front steps looked at
Call (626) 879-0614 or email estimates@monroviaconcrete.com with a few photos of the cracks, the sinking and any uneven step, and I'll have a good idea which fix to look at before I come out.