Concrete step repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What concrete step repair is

Concrete step repair fixes crumbling treads, cracked risers and broken nosings on front, back and side steps, or rebuilds a step that has failed. Steps take heavy use and freeze and thaw, so a repair has to address the water and the base under them, not only the visible damage.

Signs you need it

  • The edge of a tread has broken off or the nosing is rounded and crumbling
  • A riser or the side of a step has a crack that runs through the full height
  • A step rocks or feels soft when you step on it, which can mean the base has settled
  • The surface flakes or pits, leaving sharp, loose pieces that catch shoes and trip people
  • The step pulls away from the house or the walkway, opening a gap at one end
  • A handrail or post set into the step is loose, and the concrete around it has cracked

What the pro does

  • Check each tread, riser and side wall for sound concrete, hollow spots and cracks that run into the stringer or landing
  • Check the base and the soil under the steps for settling, water flow and any movement against the house
  • Chip out loose or crumbling concrete back to sound material, undercutting the edges so the patch locks in
  • Set any new formwork or drill for anchors if a nosing or handrail post must be rebuilt in place
  • Place repair mortar or a bonded concrete overlay in layers, shaping the nosing and the tread slope so water runs off
  • Cure the repair under cover, then seal the surface and leave it unloaded until the material has set

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • How many steps are damaged and whether one tread or the whole flight needs work
  • Whether the damage is surface flaking or deep cracking and broken sections that need full rebuilding
  • Whether the base has settled, which may mean the steps must be lifted, reset or rebuilt on new footings
  • Whether a handrail or post is set into the concrete and must be removed, reset or replaced
  • Access to the steps, especially if they are narrow, steep or close to a wall or a planting bed
  • The finish needed to match the existing steps, such as broom texture, color or a stone pattern

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each step listed with the repair done, such as nosing rebuild, tread patch or full replacement
  • The cause of the damage, such as water, freeze and thaw or base settlement, and the fix for it
  • The repair material named and whether the texture and color will be matched
  • Any handrail or post work, listed separately with the anchoring method
  • Curing and use restrictions, including when the steps can be used safely again
  • Protection and cleanup, including how the work area is kept clear for the household

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Are the steps resting on a solid base, or do they sit on fill that has settled?
  • Will you rebuild the nosing or patch the tread, and why is that the right fix?
  • What will you do about the handrail anchors if they are loose in the concrete?
  • How will you match the texture and color of the existing steps?
  • How long will the steps be out of use, and is there a safe way to get in and out during the work?
  • What would cause this repair to fail, and how do you prevent that here?

Red flags

  • Patches the surface of a step that is cracked through the full height or moving
  • Says the steps will be fine without looking at the base or the water flow
  • Ignores a loose handrail anchor and only repairs the concrete around it
  • Builds the new nosing thicker than the rest of the step without checking the rise and tread
  • Leaves the steps unusable for a long period without a safe plan for the household

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can fill small surface chips and hairline cracks on a step with a repair mortar, after cleaning out loose pieces. Call a pro for steps that rock, have through cracks, have a settled base or have a loose handrail, because those failures can cause a fall. Wear eye protection and gloves when chipping concrete, since flying fragments and wet mix can injure eyes and skin.

Licenses and permits

Step and stair concrete work is commonly done by licensed contractors, and rebuilding steps or changing their footprint can need a permit in many areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before work starts, especially if the steps connect to a porch, deck or handrail.

Concrete step repair questions

Why are my concrete steps crumbling at the edges?

Edges take the most wear and the most freeze and thaw, and salt speeds up flaking on the nosing. A good repair fixes the edge and keeps water from soaking into it, or the new edge will break the same way.

Can I just pour a new layer over the top of the old step?

A bonded overlay can work on a sound step, but it will fail if the step is cracked, loose or still moving. The pro should test the surface and the base before recommending an overlay.

Is it safe to keep using steps with a crack?

A hairline surface crack is usually not an emergency, but a crack that moves, a step that rocks or a loose piece of nosing is a fall risk. Keep people off the step until a pro has looked at it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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