Sinking Concrete Steps
Sinking concrete steps creates safety hazards. Groundworks resolves underlying issues with innovative concrete lifting solutions.
Schedule Inspection
A sturdy stairway serves as a crucial access point to your home, ensuring stability and mitigating potential dangers.
However, sinking concrete steps impair your property’s aesthetic appeal while posing safety hazards like tripping risks. Unfortunately, these occurrences are common and stem from various factors.
Groundworks effectively resolves these issues, offering exceptional specialized solutions to elevate safety and visual appeal. Our innovative, durable concrete lifting and leveling techniques restore your home’s original charm.
Learn what’s behind sinking concrete steps and how Groundworks’ proprietary methods re-establish structural integrity and peace of mind.
See what Concrete Lifting can do for your home. Book your appointment today.
What Are Sinking Concrete Steps?
Sinking concrete steps refer to exterior stairways that have shifted or sunk below their original position, resulting in uneven surfaces and compromised structural soundness.
Not only do uneven steps detract from curb appeal, but they present safety risks too. These issues indicate underlying problems like soil erosion or structural instability that require prompt attention to prevent further deterioration or accidents.
Other concrete areas on your property may exhibit similar damage, including:
- Cracked driveway
- Cracked pool deck
- Concrete pits, flakes, and stains
Sunken concrete stairs negatively impact visual appeal while creating significant tripping hazards. If left unaddressed, they may fail entirely, requiring intervention from qualified professionals like Groundworks.
What Causes Sinking Concrete Steps?
Many factors contribute to settled concrete steps, including:
- Soil Compaction: The consolidation, shifting, or sinking of soil beneath stairs can trigger settling and cracking of the overlying concrete—particularly common in clay and other expansive soils.
- Soil Erosion: Water flowing under or against stairs erodes and washes away supporting soil, undermining the concrete’s structural integrity.
- Tree Roots: Encroaching tree roots can displace underlying soil, exerting upward pressure that cracks and heaves concrete from below.
- Excessive Precipitation: Prolonged moisture exposure from heavy rains, flooding, or snowmelt softens soil, triggering erosion beneath stairs.
- Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Water infiltration expands during freezing, worsening existing cracks during Alberta’s seasonal thaw periods.
- Substandard Concrete: Improperly prepared or cured concrete is prone to premature cracking and settling.
The factors impacting steps often threaten home foundations too, underscoring the importance of comprehensive solutions from professionals like experts at Groundworks.
Can You Repair Sinking Concrete Steps?
Yes, sinking concrete steps can and must be repaired. However, quick DIY fixes and traditional mudjacking methods are ineffective bandages providing only temporary relief.
Instead, specialized concrete lifting is the durable solution, using equipment to inject high-density polyurethane foam beneath stairs to gently lift, re-level, and stabilize them. The foam expands and cures within 30 minutes for a fast, lasting repair.
Resolving visible damage and underlying structural threats requires a comprehensive approach. Groundworks provides holistic solutions addressing every aspect of the problem for reliable results.
In severe cases, specialized foundation repair like helical piers may provide supplemental support and prevent further settling.
Groundworks’ Concrete Step Lifting Process
Groundworks employs an innovative concrete lifting method called PolyRenewal™ to securely rehabilitate settled concrete steps. Here’s a look at how it works:
- Evaluate concrete to determine damage and causes, and formulate a tailored repair plan.
- Drill small holes into affected concrete.
- Insert injection ports into the drilled holes.
- Carefully blend the specialized two-part polyurethane foam mix.
- Inject foam beneath affected concrete for full coverage.
- High-density foam fills voids between steps and soil base, gently lifting settled sections as it solidifies.
- Seal the drilled holes once stability is restored for a seamless finish.
- Address and repair existing cracks to prevent future damage.
- Provide annual maintenance to ensure lasting concrete stability.
Our proprietary lifting foam is a custom-engineered solution providing dependable lift and stabilization far surpassing basic DIY methods.
Why Address Settled Steps?
Addressing settled concrete steps promptly is crucial for several reasons:
- Prevent Further Deterioration: Neglecting repairs allows water infiltration to widen cracks, accelerating the degradation process.
- Safeguard Your Foundation: Soil settlement beneath steps may signal underlying foundation issues demanding immediate attention to protect structural integrity.
- Enhance Safety: Uneven steps pose significant tripping hazards, increasing fall and injury risks. Concrete lifting eliminates hazards and reinforces stability.
- Enhance Property Value: Sunken, cracked steps diminish curb appeal. Reliable repairs restore aesthetics and resale value.
- Lasting Results: Our solutions include comprehensive warranties, ensuring a lasting fix. Promptly addressing settled steps avoids expensive future repairs.
Trust Groundworks in Northern Alberta with inspecting and restoring your settled concrete steps. Our PolyRenewal™ service delivers secure, dependable, long-lasting results.
Contact Groundworks for Superior Concrete Lifting
For more than 30 years, we’ve honed our expertise revitalizing concrete in Northern Alberta—restoring settled steps, enhancing safety, and boosting curb appeal. Our tailored service, meticulous repairs and dependable solutions earn homeowners’ trust.
Elevate your home’s aesthetics and safety with Groundworks’ innovative concrete lifting techniques. Contact us to schedule a free inspection and receive a no-obligation repair estimate.
Sinking Steps FAQs
Costs can vary based on factors like the amount of sinking, number of steps, and related repairs needed. But Groundworks provides free inspections and upfront quotes to ensure transparency. Financing options are also available.
The PolyRenewal™ process typically completes in just one day, with the expanding foam curing in about 15 minutes. However, project duration may vary based on damage extent and any additional repairs needed.
The high-density polyurethane foam sets within 15 minutes of injection, allowing us to restore stair functionality the same day. This is far more efficient than mudjacking or replacement methods requiring days of curing.
Do you see any of these signs? Book an appointment now!
Disclaimer: “Concrete leveling” means the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in most cases lifted, by means of PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. Groundworks does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make any and/or every square inch of your concrete perfectly level.
Proudly Serving Alberta
Alberta trusts Groundworks for reliable crawl space, basement waterproofing, concrete lifting and foundation repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!
Top Cities We Serve
