Front Steps and Front Stoops are a common problem in the foundation repair world. Â Often the front stoops, stairs or porches are built directly on fill dirt (mostly uncompacted) right outside the footprint of the home. Â Over time these can settle as the soils consolidate.
How do you fix settling front steps?
- Polyurethane injection
- Mudjacking
- Underpin using helical piers
- Remove and replace the stairs
Depending on the size of the steps (2-4) the best option will either be to remove/replace the stairs or to use polyurethane or mudjacking. Â Typical costs for all of these options will be around $800-1200 in most cases. We do not perform these services in house but do have good referrals for these repairs. Send us an email to [email protected] and ask for our referrals for this issue. Note: Our minimum charge to fix a set of stairs is $2200.
How do you fix settling front Stoops?
- Underpin using helical piers
- Mudjacking
- Polyurethane Injection
- Remove and replace the stoop
Depending on the size of the stoop you will want to consider all the options. Â A standard size stoop will cost $4000-7000 to replace. Â Of course you will need to consider matching the brick and of course making sure the foundation is on firm ground. Â This is more than likely what caused the front stoop to settle in the first place. Â Add some deep foundation piers (helical piers) to the mix and you could be looking at $6,000-8,000. Â Of course the smaller in size the less it will cost. Â And there are always deals on masonry work – but generally a trade off with quality as well. Â If the stoop is failing/settling AWAY from the house (on settled on the outside edge) then underpinning with 2 helical piers would be a cost effective way to stop the settlement. Â Typical costs for a front stoop repair are around $2,500-2,800. Â There are other factors to consider as well.
How do you fix settling front porches?
- Remove the footings, install new footings
- Remove the footings, install new footings on deep foundation helical piers
- Jack up the porch and set on new posts
- Underpin the existing columns with helical piers
It gets interesting on wood porches that are supported by 2 or more columns. Â Generally these columns rest on footings. Â These footings often sink/settle for the same reason – poorly compacted fill dirt next to the foundation. Â All the above will work – and some are more permanent than others. Â Depending on the situation you may be looking at $1500 or $5,000 for this repair. Â But it’s all about what you are wanting to accomplish – and how long you want the repair to last.