7 Benefits of Concrete Step Repair
Sometimes, certain areas of your property (like concrete steps) can be overlooked. It’s important to keep these steps safe and level with professional concrete step repair when needed.
Fixing concrete steps does more than just make them look better. It helps prevent injuries and can even increase the value of your property. Here’s why it’s a good idea to prioritize concrete step repair.
7 Benefits of Concrete Step Repair
1. Better Safety
The main reason to fix concrete steps is for safety. Cracked or uneven steps can cause trips and falls, which might lead to serious injuries. Checking and repairing these steps regularly ensures they are safe for everyone, from family to visitors.
2. Damage Prevention
Early signs of damage, like small cracks or slight unevenness in concrete steps, can get worse quickly if ignored. Water can get into these cracks and cause more damage, where it can wash away the underlying soil.
In California specifically, droughts can also causes soil issues as the ground become dry, brittle, and unable to support concrete. Fixing concrete steps early on can stop these problems from turning into bigger, more costly ones.
3. Maintaining Property Value
The condition of your steps can affect how people’s first impressions of your property. Maintaining concrete steps improves the look and feel of your entire home, which can also increase its value. On the other hand, steps that are falling apart can make your property worth less. Regular upkeep and timely repairs are good investments.
4. Cost Efficiency
Repairing steps right away can save money compared to waiting until the damage gets worse. Big repairs or having to replace the steps entirely can be much more expensive and take more work. Regular maintenance keeps your steps in good shape longer and can save money over time.
5. Compliance with Building Codes
In some places, keeping your steps in good repair is also a legal issue. Many California building codes require steps and other building parts to meet certain standards to avoid fines. Keeping your steps in good condition ensures you meet these rules.
6. Restored Functionality
If steps are damaged, it can make it hard for people to enter a building, which might turn away visitors or affect business. Making sure steps are well-maintained helps keep your building functional and accessible.
7. Protection Against Environment
Concrete is strong but can still be worn down by weather, chemicals, and physical wear over time. Concrete step repair can help your steps resist damage better and last longer in general.
How Concrete Step Repair Works: The Polyurethane Injection Process
At Bay Area Underpinning, we use a modern concrete lifting technique called polyurethane injection, with an in-house version called PolyRenewal™.
This innovative approach uses high-density polyurethane foam that is installed below sinking, cracked concrete. Polyurethane is durable enough to address issues such as sinking, cracking, and unevenness. Here’s how the PolyRenewal™ injection process works.
Step 1: Site Evaluation and Assessment
Before starting repairs, our experts check the concrete steps carefully to see the extent of the damage and what caused it. This helps us plan the best way to fix the steps for your specific situation.
Step 2: Preparing the Area
To make sure the repair goes as smoothly as possible, we clear the area around the damaged steps. We remove any debris, dirt, or plants from work area to help the repair process happen without any unintended hiccups.
Step 3: Injection Ports Installation
Small, penny-sized holes are strategically drilled into the concrete near the affected areas. These holes serve as entry points for the polyurethane foam. Injection ports are then installed in these holes, which will guide the foam into the necessary locations beneath the concrete.
Step 4: Polyurethane Foam Injection
After setting up the ports, we inject a type of foam called polyurethane. This foam is light but strong and starts to grow right away. It fills any empty spaces under the steps, lifting and stabilizing the concrete to its original level. The foam hardens fast, so the steps can be used soon after the repair.
Step 5: Sealing and Finishing
After the foam has fully expanded and the concrete is back to level, the injection ports are removed, and the drilled holes are sealed with a strong, weather-resistant material. Any cracks that were initially present in the steps are also sealed to prevent water ingress and future damage.
Step 6: Clean-Up and Inspection
The final step involves cleaning up the work area and conducting a detailed inspection to ensure that the repair has been completed successfully and to the highest standard. Our team ensures that everything is left neat and tidy, with steps restored to their full functionality and appearance.
Benefits of PolyRenewal™ Injection
The PolyRenewal™ system offers several advantages over other concrete repair methods:
- Quick Application: Polyurethane foam cures quickly, which means repairs can be completed in a timely manner and steps can be used soon after.
- Minimal Disruption: Unlike some repair techniques that require extensive excavation, PolyRenewal™ involves minimal disruption to the surrounding area.
- Precise Installation: The expansion properties of the foam allow for precise lifting, making it easier to level and stabilize concrete steps accurately.
- Long-Lasting Results: Polyurethane is resistant to water, chemicals, and wear, providing a durable, long-term solution that helps prevent future settling and cracking.
- Eco-Friendly: This method is less invasive and uses materials that are less burdensome on the environment compared to traditional methods.
By choosing Bay Area Underpinning’s PolyRenewal™ system for concrete step repair, you’re opting for a modern, efficient, and effective solution that not only fixes visible damage but also addresses root causes, ensuring safer and more durable steps in the long run. If you notice any issues with your concrete steps, contact us to learn more about how our PolyRenewal™ technology can restore them.
FAQs
Step repair costs vary based on the extent of damage and necessary repairs. For instance, the cost of concrete lifting with polyurethane injections differs from pier installation for foundation-based problems. Contact Bay Area Underpinning for an accurate cost breakdown and financing options during a free inspection with one of our experts.
Exterior concrete steps can sustain damage, including cracking and sinking, for various reasons. Most issues are caused by the property’s soil, such as expansive soil complications, soil settling and erosion, oversaturation, and shifting due to growing tree roots. Bay Area Underpinning determines the cause of the damage and the best repair solution during a free inspection.
Generally, the SettleStop PolyRenewal™ method can be completed within a day. However, factors like damage severity might alter the timeframe. Reach out to Bay Area Underpinning for precise timelines.
Schedule a Free Concrete Inspection With Bay Area Underpinning
Dealing with uneven, sinking, or cracking concrete steps? Don’t let this issue cause injuries or lower your home’s value. Consider working with Bay Area Underpinning for the strongest, fastest, and longest-lasting concrete step repair in Florida.
With nearly 20 years of service in California, Bay Area Underpinning is a leader in concrete lifting, foundation repair, and crawl space repair. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and restore your concrete steps to a safe and functional condition!
Related Resources
Ted Dryce
Disclaimer: By “concrete leveling,” we mean the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in most cases lifted, by means of our PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. Bay Area Underpinning does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make your concrete perfectly level.
Publish Date:
Last Modified Date:
Our Locations
2333 Courage Dr. Suite C
Fairfield, CA 94533
1161 N Fair Oaks Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94089