Decorative/Stamped concrete walls?

[IamZombie]

Anyone know if the poured concrete with the faux look of brick is any cheaper than getting brick installed?

My front step is really getting bad, and I can't afford to have new brick put in.

The brick is breaking up because it was poorly installed.

The timbers used on the steps aren't even attached to anything on the right side (closest to the house). They were put in on top of the old steps.

There's paver stones for platforms, but the sand just runs out so it's all uneven.

[SFC]

I would have to say that the brick look to be installed correct by the picture, it looks like u have a problem with the footing or maybe no footing. Whatever the brick is sitting on is sinking causing it to break the joints or possibly water getting between the brick and your top landing -as u come out the door, water may be running off your stoop going in a crack behind the brick-water - freeze-thaw-freeze=expansion. Hard to tell for sure by pic. The main stoop looks good by the picture, the pavers and timbers are probably not on a footing. Most of those used brick can be reused, and clean up nice. I would get more than a few estimates and maybe change the design of the steps-maybe keep the original stoop, tie that into the risers or pour a footing if required and use a minumin number of steps needed per code to the driveway.

[Jim Almquist]

I think that SFC nailed it when he said there were no footings under the steps. Way back when I did that type of work we would always pour footings for the steps and we added blocks to get it up to grade and they were tied into the blocks of the house. So basically your steps would get poured and the would rest on the blocks that were on top of the footings. If there are no footings it will make the job a lot tougher to stop it from floating and ruining your bricks. Some how they need to tie your steps into the foundation of the house to prevent them from floating. Your style of bricks was what we called Old Chicago and they could be a little tough to find if you needed more.

[upnorthvoice]

It appears someone did a fast one to get the property ready to sell. I'm amazed it passed any home inspection. Maybe it looked good when you bought it.

Framing the old steps with timbers and stepping with sand and pavers isn't a permanent solution for sure.

The way to repair it is like the the previous posters indicate,footings are needed. That of course would mean demolishing the steps and starting over.

Short of that, you may determine the steps have settled to a maximum depth and minimal repairing may be an option.

The lest expensive repair would be to remove the pavers and sand. Form and pour new steps or use pea rock to a height so the pavers can be installed on the new concrete or pea rock versus the sand base. Pea rock would be easiest.

[joe_stack20]

the brick are installed properly...your steps are your number 1 priorety to get fixed...i would recommend pulling your old steps out, pouring a new footing...and forming and pouring new steps...everything else you would do to "try and fix the problem" would be just a temporary fix

[IamZombie]

It appears someone did a fast one to get the property ready to sell. I'm amazed it passed any home inspection. Maybe it looked good when you bought it.

Framing the old steps with timbers and stepping with sand and pavers isn't a permanent solution for sure.

The way to repair it is like the the previous posters indicate,footings are needed. That of course would mean demolishing the steps and starting over.

Short of that, you may determine the steps have settled to a maximum depth and minimal repairing may be an option.

The lest expensive repair would be to remove the pavers and sand. Form and pour new steps or use pea rock to a height so the pavers can be installed on the new concrete or pea rock versus the sand base. Pea rock would be easiest.

It wasn't the previous owner, this has been here for a while, it didn't look recent when I bought the house. So I don't think it was a quick fix, just a poor fix that's reached it's limit.

Yeah, the footings are probably the problem.

The brick has to come down to fix it properly. You can see in the picture that it's already breaking up at the top of steps.

I could go out there right now and take about 1/3 of if off, it's just sitting there. some of the other bricks are just crumbling in place, so I don't even think I could salvage them.

Which brings me back to my original question, is that stamped concrete cheaper than actual brick work?

[soldoncass]

"stamped concrete" isn't cheap, so I highly doubt is is cheaper than relaying brick you already have. We use to do stampcrete sidewalks/ driveways, and it was spendy. I don't know if doing it for a WALL would be possible even, but lets just say it is......it would need a "foundation", just like the brick does, and it wouldn't match your house.

[upnorthvoice]

I doesn't sound like you will not do this as a DIY project. Call four or five contractors to bid the complete step replacement and footing job. Ask them what the cost would be to stamp the steps if that is the look you are interested in. You can't stamp the facade were the bricks are crumbling. It looks like used chicago bricks were used on the house and entry facade and the contractor should be able to find these to replace the ones that have deteriorated.

[pureinsanity]

I would remove the brick and timbers and slab. Dig it out, add base, ad retaining wall block and pavers.

Bobcat for a day, to remove everything and dig out, and about 4 days of work you could have it all done by yourself!

[CFRay]

Yes, there are form liners to make poured concrete walls "Look" like brick. But nobody would use them for a project like yours. They cost a lot and only make sense for bigger projects. You might have seen it used on freeway walls or precast wall panels like on a Menards. "Stamped" concrete is used for walkways and driveways but that makes no sense for a stair project.

As the others have suggested there is no simple fix for the mess you've got there.

If you go with a new stair set stay away from the "Old Chicago" brick. They are notorious for holding moisture and failing in our freeze/thaw environment. Those brick are contributing to the crumbling problem you have. They were very popular for awhile but are not any longer for exterior use. Just go with a new concrete stair, no brick. Good Luck.

[LightningBG]

In the picture it looks like a solid slab up by the front door... correct? If so, is this slab settling at all, uneven, pulling away from the house?

Any idea whats under the brick on the garage side? Is there a concrete wall underneath?

Are you concerned with the steps or just want the face of the platform fixed up?

[soldoncass]

You said the pavers/timbers were put in on top of the old steps? Have you seen them? Were they sagged? Unless you have a house plan there, it will be impossible to KNOW how it is done and the best/cheapest way to fix it. If you are committed to getting it fixed, have more ambition than $, tear it apart. Take the loose brick off, remove pavers, and timbers, so you can see what is under there. Any contractor you would have look at it would need to know that also. Everything else is a guess, or assumption. That tree has roots right there also, and won't help the step situation at all.

[FishHawk11]

I work for my father-in-law doing concrete work, and have done some poured walls and steps. Im not even sure how you would stamp a wall. It would be pretty iffy pulling the forms to put the stamp on there. If you pull it too early your up a creek. If your too late you can't get the stamp in it. Its all timing and I know stamping flatwork isn't cheap. My guess is if you can find someone to do it, your going to pay.

[IamZombie]

I work for my father-in-law doing concrete work, and have done some poured walls and steps. Im not even sure how you would stamp a wall. It would be pretty iffy pulling the forms to put the stamp on there. If you pull it too early your up a creek. If your too late you can't get the stamp in it. Its all timing and I know stamping flatwork isn't cheap. My guess is if you can find someone to do it, your going to pay.

Maybe stamped isn't the right word. Maybe cast would be better?

I've seen Hopkins do this along Shady Oak Road near Shady Oak Lake.

They used cast in place forms and then came back and dyed the surface so it looks like blocks.

Similar to this.

http://www.concretenetwork.com/photo-gallery/vertical-stamping_12/

[LightningBG]

If the steps are falling apart already, what about pulling out the steps, pulling off all the brick, adding retaining wall blocks along the driveway side, curving the steps out, and filling the middle with dirt and plants?

(excuse the crude diagram, threw it together quickly)