Build Cement Steps

1458 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by konyen, Dec 31, 2015

konyen

Discussion Starter · Dec 29, 2015

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post and any advice is welcome.

I would like to build cement steps outside my front door. Current there is a 6 to 9 inch slab in from of my door. Once you walk in the front door you are in a foyer and 5 steps up to get into the living room. I want the steps to be outside and raise the foyer and front door.

My questions are:

1) Can I use the currently slab as a foundation and put cement blocks left and right to start building the steps?

2) How can I attach the 1st row of cement blocks to the slab?

3) Do I have to attache the back of the steps to the house incase the house sinks or the steps shift?

Thanks for your advice in advance.

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griz

· #2 · Dec 29, 2015

konyen said:
Hi Everyone,

This is my first post and any advice is welcome.

I would like to build cement steps outside my front door. Current there is a 6 to 9 inch slab in from of my door. Once you walk in the front door you are in a foyer and 5 steps up to get into the living room. I want the steps to be outside and raise the foyer and front door.

My questions are:

1) Can I use the currently slab as a foundation and put cement blocks left and right to start building the steps?

Maybe, is their a footing under it?

2) How can I attach the 1st row of cement blocks to the slab?

Sure.

3) Do I have to attache the back of the steps to the house incase the house sinks or the steps shift?

No.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

FYI,

You want to build concrete steps.

Cement is merely one of the ingredients of concrete.

By itself it is about as strong a a flour & water mix....

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konyen

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 29, 2015

Thanks for the quick reply.

i do not believe there is footing under the slab. How deep should i do the footing if I live in central NJ.

If I do chooses to use the slab, should i drill holes on the slab to put in rebars vertically on the edge for the first row?

Thanks for clarifying the terms.

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Msradell

· #4 · Dec 30, 2015

You should definitely plan on putting in footings if your existing slab doesn't have any. They need to go down to below the frost line in your area. I'm guessing the frost line in your area is around 24" but you should be able to check with your local building officials when you pull the permit and they will tell you.

Yes you should drill dowels into the footings or better yet cast them into the concrete when you pour the new footings. You then fill the cores of the blocks that the rebar goes up through.

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konyen

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 30, 2015

If i build a foundations, should it be the total total area of the bottom or can it just the the perimeter on the bottom. (meaning the foundation is a big hole in the middle with dirt vs the whole area filled with cement)

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jimn

· #6 · Dec 30, 2015

I wish I had pictures of all the houses in my neighborhood that had front steps built without sufficient footings. After a few years they were tilted in all sorts of crazy directions . You need proper footers . Forget the slab.

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jomama45

· #7 · Dec 30, 2015

A picture would help, but I'd assume you have an existing stoop at the front door already which likely has footings?

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Msradell

· #8 · Dec 31, 2015

konyen said:
If i build a foundations, should it be the total total area of the bottom or can it just the the perimeter on the bottom. (meaning the foundation is a big hole in the middle with dirt vs the whole area filled with cement)

What you're proposing is fine as long as the area itself is big enough. The footings need to be wider than the block wall if you are building. How big are the steps going to be in all dimensions?

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konyen

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 31, 2015

thanks for the help. I don't have a paperclip button to add pictures. Not sure why.

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