Concrete steps construction in Waltham MA - an entry that holds up through winter
Cracked, crumbling or sinking front steps? We build poured or precast concrete steps on a packed base, so your entry sits level and solid underfoot.
Concrete steps carry every visit. They should feel solid underfoot.
Concrete steps construction means building the steps up to your front door, side door or porch. They're either poured in place inside wooden forms or set from precast pieces made ahead of time. Most calls I get start with steps that have cracked, crumbled at the edges or started leaning away from the house.
Steps take more punishment than most concrete, from boots, shovels and salt. Once they settle or start to flake, every trip up them gets a little riskier, especially in the dark or on ice.
When the steps are part of a new house or addition, we plan them with the slab foundation or foundation installation so the heights and the drainage match from the start.
We plan concrete steps first. Then we pour or set them.
I come out for the estimate myself. I look at how the steps meet the house and the walk, and I ask who uses them every day. The price moves with the number of steps, their width, poured or precast and how much old concrete has to come out. Permits and weather move the schedule. Your written estimate shows exactly what's included.
We talk through poured or precast with you first, since that choice sets both the budget and the sizes you can get. On poured steps we ask for air in the mix, tiny bubbles that help the concrete stand up to freezing and deicers.
Concrete steps are more than treads. Here's what the job covers.
Tearing out old steps
We break up and haul away cracked or sinking steps. Then we look at what was under them before deciding how to build back.
Digging and packing the base
We dig down to firm ground and pack the subgrade, the soil and stone the steps sit on, so they don't settle with loose dirt.
Forms and rebar
For poured steps we build wooden forms to your size and set rebar, the steel bars inside that help hold the concrete together.
Setting precast steps
When precast fits your entry, we set the unit level on a prepared base and line it up with your door and walk.
Pitch and drainage
We tip each tread slightly forward so rain and meltwater run off instead of sitting and freezing, and we keep water heading away from the house.
Broom finish and curing
A broom finish drags light ridges across the top for grip in wet weather. Curing means keeping the concrete damp and off-limits for days so it hardens strong.
Steps and walks show shortcuts fast. The base is where it counts.
If the base is only raked flat instead of dug out and packed, steps settle and pull away from the house. If they're poured in midday heat, the top can turn weak and dusty and flake under salt. Treads that hold water freeze into a slick patch, right where you carry in groceries.
When a budget gets tight, people want to trim the base first because nobody sees it on day one. I'd rather keep the money there, spend an extra hour planning and time the pour for a cooler part of the day.
It starts with a phone call. Then I come see your steps.
Get in touch
Call (781) 622-9470 or send the form with a line about your steps. We'll get back to you to set up a visit.
The site visit
I come out myself and measure. I check the base and where the water runs, and ask how you use the entry day to day.
Your written estimate
You get a written estimate of what's included. Then we line up any permits, surveyors or engineers before the pour goes on the schedule.
The work and clean-up
Our crew builds within Waltham's work hours, 7 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm Saturdays. Then they clean up and walk the steps with you.
Tell us about your steps. We'll come take a look.
Tell us how many steps you have and whether you're leaning toward poured or precast. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, no obligation.
(781) 622-9470We're based in Waltham. We work across the cities around it.
- Waltham, MA
- Newton, MA
- Cambridge, MA
- Weston, MA
- Watertown, MA
- Belmont, MA
- Lexington, MA
- Wellesley, MA
- Arlington, MA
- Needham, MA
- Burlington, MA
- Sudbury, MA
We're based in Waltham and build concrete steps across the cities around it, including Newton and Watertown. If your city isn't listed, call and ask.
Mon–Fri: 7 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–11 PM
Concrete steps raise good questions. Here are our answers.
Read through the answers below. If your question isn't here, call (781) 622-9470 and ask.
How much do concrete steps cost near Waltham?
Concrete step installation in the Boston area usually costs about $650 to $5,400 per project. Pricing is often quoted per step, so the number of steps shapes the total, along with poured or precast and what has to come out first. Your own figure comes in the written estimate after I see the site.
Should I choose poured or precast concrete steps?
Pick precast if budget comes first, and poured if you need a size the stock pieces don't come in. Precast steps cost less because they're hollow and easier to assemble. Poured steps cost more but can be built to a wider range of sizes. We'll talk through which suits your entry at the visit.
How long do concrete steps last?
With proper care and upkeep, concrete steps last about 30 to 40 years, according to a national cost guide. How long yours last comes down to the base under them, the mix and how they're treated in winter. That's where we put most of our planning.
How do I protect new concrete steps from winter deicers?
Go easy on deicers the first winter. A Michigan concrete trade group advises keeping deicer use and exposure to a minimum until after one year. Sealers can cut down how much water and salt get in, but they're no fix for a weak surface or a poor mix. That's why we ask for air in poured steps.
Do I need a permit for new concrete steps in Waltham?
Check with the Waltham Building Department, which enforces the building codes and needs the owner's signature on its applications. We handle the permit steps for our work and tell you early when we need your signature. Ask that the contract say the registered contractor pulls the permit, because an owner who applies may not be eligible for the state's Guaranty Fund.
Does a contractor building concrete steps need to be registered in Massachusetts?
Yes, the contractor must be registered as a Home Improvement Contractor when the work is on an existing, owner-occupied home of one to four units. New construction and investment, vacation or second homes fall outside that rule. On 1- and 2-family homes, a licensed construction supervisor or registered design professional must also oversee construction. We're licensed and fully insured.
We pour more than steps. See what else we build.
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Front steps or walk wearing out? Call for a free estimate.
A crumbling step gets worse with each freeze. Call or use the form with your step count, and we'll set a time to come look.
(781) 622-9470