What Is The Cause Of Sunken Concrete Steps?

What Is The Cause Of Sunken Concrete Steps?

What Is The Cause Of Sunken Concrete Steps?

One of the most common problems homeowners face is sunken concrete steps. If the concrete steps are not level, they can become hazardous, leading to accidents.

The cause of sunken concrete steps is often due to a number of factors. For a variety of causes, your concrete steps may begin to sink. A concrete repair specialist can assist you in determining exactly what went wrong in your situation. However, most of the time, it is a soil issue.

It is possible that the soil support of the concrete slabs is unequal, with some of the slabs supported by soil and the remainder not.

It’s possible that the soil is shrinking or becoming compacted over time, especially if it’s excessively dry.

It might even be the incorrect kind of soil. The load-bearing capacity of different kinds of soil varies.

Concrete may be fairly heavy, and if the weight exceeds the earth’s load-bearing capability — as with concrete steps — the soil will shrink and compress, providing less support to the concrete.

What Should You Do With Sinking Concrete Steps?

Nobody loves the appearance of sinking concrete. It may give your curb appeal a disheveled and worn appearance. However, it’s more than an eyesore when your concrete steps start to sink.

Concrete steps that sink abruptly might be harmful, especially if you live with children or elderly people.

Far-flat concrete may become deadly if it is not level, and steps are even more perilous. To have them fixed, you must first understand the problem with sunken concrete and what causes it.

How Do You Break Concrete Steps Without A Jackhammer?

Hiring a jackhammer is not always possible or necessary. The steps might be little, or you could not have access to such large machinery. To break up concrete stairs without using a jackhammer, you must manipulate the concrete in many ways:

Cut into the concrete using a saw to create cracks that can be broken with a hammer or pry bar.

Drill holes in the concrete to generate weak points that can be pounded out to form detachable pieces.

Working from the edges inward, shatter the concrete into chunks using a sledgehammer.

Take a sledgehammer to the top edge and break away concrete till you see the foundation or not. The brickwork on the side with concrete blocks may be visible, however, some individuals will cover it up with extra cement or paint. A sledgehammer will break up any surface cement, exposing the brick beneath.

When you break through the concrete, in the case of precast, you should find a hollow space. Sand, gravel, and rubble will ultimately replace the concrete over the foundation.

If you work on a corner more than ten inches deep and discover no indication of foundation, you have a solid pour of concrete.

Removing precast stairs is the easiest work and may be completed in a few hours by a professional.

These stairs will be pulled out in their entirety by a crane and recycled by the firm. If you wish to demonstrate the methods, their hollow design will make it much faster.

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