Concrete Steps Construction in Riverside CA - a solid, even way up to your door
Cracked, sinking or crumbling steps at your door? We rebuild them on packed ground so you get a firm, even climb again.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What does it take to build new concrete steps in Riverside?
Concrete steps construction in Riverside means building a new set of steps up to your door. They're either poured in place with steel inside or set from precast units, and they sit on ground we dig out and pack so they stay firm against the house.
Most calls start with steps that have cracked, sunk away from the house or started to rock underfoot, or with a new door or addition that needs a way up. The price moves mostly with whether you go precast or poured, how many steps you need, how tall and wide they are and whether old steps have to come out first. The schedule turns on what the city wants for permits and, in summer, on finding a cooler time to pour. We're based in Riverside and work in many of the cities around it in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and I'll give you your own number in a written estimate that says what's in it.
How we build concrete steps
We start by going over precast and poured steps with you, since one costs less and the other lets us build to the size you want. If there are old steps, we break them out and haul them off, then dig down to firm ground and pack the subgrade, the ground the steps sit on, because steps set on raked-in fill settle and pull away from the house. We check which way water runs so the landing sheds it away from your door. For poured steps we build the forms and tie in rebar, the steel that holds the concrete together if it cracks, and precast units get set on the same packed base. On hot days we pour at a cooler hour and keep the fresh concrete from drying out too fast. We give the treads a broom finish, a light ridged texture that gives your shoes some grip when they're wet. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base once the pour is done, and it's what decides whether the steps sink.
New steps often hook onto other work. If you're adding a room, a garage or a back porch, we plan the steps along with the slab foundation so the top step lands at the right height. On a new house or addition, we can lay out the entry during foundation installation so nothing has to be torn out later.
Precast steps
Precast steps are hollow units made ahead of time and set on a packed base, so they cost less and go together with less work. They suit a standard doorway where a stock size fits the height you need.
Poured steps
Poured steps are formed on site with steel inside, so we can build them to the width, depth and number of steps your entry needs. They cost more, and they suit wide landings, odd heights or steps that turn a corner.
Steps that rock, sink or pull away from the house are worth a call now. Call (951) 589-3080, and we'll get back to you within one business day.
What happens when you call us about concrete steps in Riverside?
Here's how a steps job runs with us, from your first call to the walk-through. I do the estimate myself and run the crew on the job, so you deal with the same person throughout.
Call or send the form
Call (951) 589-3080 or send the form, and tell us what's there now, whether it's old steps to tear out or bare ground. We'll set a time for me to come out.
I come out and measure
I look at the site, ask how you'll use the entry and leave a written estimate that says what's in it, from tear-out to finish. It shows whether we're pricing precast or poured and how many steps, so you know what the price covers before you decide.
We settle permits and prep
Once you say go, we settle the permit question with the city first. Then we tear out, dig down and pack the base.
Pour, finish and walk through
We form and pour, or set the precast units, and then I walk the finished steps with you before we pack up. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Get a written estimate for your new steps
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the site and leave you a written estimate, free at your property and with no obligation.
(951) 589-3080Concrete steps construction and permits in Riverside
In Riverside, the city's building official issues permits for most all construction, and the city's list of exempt work names sidewalks and driveways up to 30 inches above grade, not steps. That leaves the question open for a set of steps, so we check with the City of Riverside before we start, and when a permit is needed we pull it ourselves or help you apply. A contractor taking out a permit there shows proof of a state license and holds a current city business license. The city also warns that work that misses its codes can lose much of its value, and that insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. We're licensed and insured, and forming, pouring and finishing concrete is what the state licensing board describes as a concrete contractor's work.
Ground moves under steps, too. Soil maps for this part of western Riverside County rate ground for building sites and for how much it swells and shrinks, so I look at the dirt before I price the base and dig past anything soft. We take the same care with the base on step jobs in Jurupa Valley and Corona.
Concrete steps questions we hear in Riverside
How much do concrete steps cost in Riverside?
Across the US, poured or precast concrete steps usually cost about $100 to $500 per step, and that's the market's range, not our price. Both kinds are priced by the step, and precast prices move with how tall and wide the steps are. Your own number comes in the written estimate after I measure.
Should I choose precast or poured concrete steps?
Choose precast if a stock size fits your door and price matters most, and poured if you need a size the units don't come in. It comes down to a lower price against more freedom in size, and I'll go over both with you at the estimate.
Who applies for a building permit for concrete steps in Riverside?
In Riverside, many types of permits can be issued to the property owner, the owner's authorized agent or a properly licensed contractor. If your steps need one, we'll work out with you which way makes more sense when we check with the city before work starts.
What is the best time to pour concrete steps in hot weather?
Hot-weather concreting guidance says a summer pour can be scheduled for a time of day or night when the weather is favorable. Heat makes fresh concrete set faster, which makes finishing harder and raises the chance of shrinkage and heat cracking, and wind with low humidity makes it worse. Those problems can show up any time of year, but mostly in summer, which is why we pick a cooler time on hot days.
How long do concrete steps last?
Concrete steps usually last about 30 to 40 years with proper care and upkeep, going by national cost guides. That makes them a long-term part of your house, so it pays to keep water from pooling at the base and deal with small cracks before they spread.
What causes concrete steps to crack?
Most cracked steps sat on a base that settled, were poured in heat that dried the top too fast, or had water running under them toward the house. Concrete can crack even when the work is done right, and I'd rather you hear that from me now than be surprised later. A packed base and steel inside keep a crack small and tight instead of letting the steps split and drop.
Foundation work that often goes with new steps
When steps lead up to a new addition, a garage or an outbuilding, the slab underneath has to be built right first, and the steps tie into it.
Building a new home or a room addition starts with the foundation, and planning the entry steps at the same time saves tearing out work later.
Call about your new concrete steps
Count your steps and measure their height and width before you call (951) 589-3080 or email hi@concreteriversideca.com, so we can start on precast versus poured right away.