Concrete steps, stoops and patio repair
Front steps pulling away from the door or a patio tilting toward the house? Get it lifted, repaired or rebuilt.
Steps, stoops and patios sit right against the house, usually over the backfilled soil around the foundation. When that soil settles, they tilt, drop or pull away. Besides looking bad, that can create a trip hazard at the door and send water toward your basement.
Can sunken steps be lifted?
Many can. Hollow or solid concrete steps that have dropped as a unit can sometimes be raised by leveling, though steps are trickier than flat slabs and not every company does them. Steps that are cracked through, crumbling or separated into pieces usually need to be rebuilt. A contractor should look at how the steps were built before recommending a fix.
Why is my patio sloping toward the house?
Patios poured over backfill often settle more next to the foundation, where the fill is deepest. Over time, a patio that once drained away from the house ends up draining toward it. Leveling can lift the low side back up so water runs away from the foundation, and sealing the gap where the patio meets the house keeps water from soaking in there.
Signs your steps or patio need attention
- A gap opening between the steps and the house
- Steps tilting or rocking
- The top step dropping below the door threshold
- Water pooling on the patio or running toward the wall
- Cracks widening each spring
- Railings pulling loose from the concrete
Repair vs. replace
Leveling and sealing are usually the first options when the concrete itself is solid. Replacement makes sense when the surface is badly scaled, the steps are broken, or you want to change the layout or size. If you're replacing, ask about footings or base preparation that will hold up to Sioux Falls frost, and about railings and step heights that meet code.
What affects the cost?
- Lift vs. rebuild.
- Size and shape of the steps or patio.
- Railings that need to come off and go back on.
- Access to the back yard for equipment.
Prices come from the concrete company after they've seen the slab and figured out why it moved. We don't quote prices ourselves, and a phone estimate is only a starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Why are my front steps pulling away from the house?
Usually the soil under them has settled, often backfill around the foundation. Leveling can sometimes close the gap; otherwise the steps are rebuilt.
Should the gap between my patio and house be sealed?
Yes. A flexible joint sealant keeps water from running down along the foundation.
Related services
- Concrete leveling (mudjacking and foam)
- Driveway repair and replacement
- Sidewalk repair
- Crack and joint sealing
More background: Sioux Falls concrete repair guide.
Sunken slab or a trip hazard by the door?
Call now and a local concrete company will come look and quote the fix.