Mission Viejo Concrete Steps

When it comes to concrete steps, there are many steps involved, such as designing, preparing the foundation, constructing formwork, placing steel bars, finishing, concreting, and curing.

Call us today on (949) 541-9282 for free estimates.

Building concrete stairs is a hard task that needs a professional building contractor like Mission Viejo Concrete Company to study the various aspects and design it.

Creating the Foundation Support

A concrete stair should be made in a manner where the stair’s load is successfully transferred to the ground to resist the movement of the stairs. If the building plinth beam is absent, there will be a need to construct a small size of stone masonry. To support stairs on top to restrict the movement of the stairs, it should be done on top of the slab or roof beam.

Constructing Concrete Stair’s Formwork

Formwork is used in the construction of stairs. The flight angle, risers, and thread dimension should be well checked. During the stair’s construction, the flight line, and thread should be marked on the wall to ensure proper fixing of formwork or shuttering. The boards need to have a thickness of 2″ if it will support the concrete weight. The entire form structure needs to be supported using four by four posts. The steps are made using wooden boards and should be fastened with screws to the lateral formwork structure.

Steel Reinforcement

Steel bars are used to reinforce concrete steps so that it bears the weight put on stairs and transfer this weight to the ground. The structural engineer will determine the size and number of steel bars depending on the weight put on the stairs. The steel reinforcement bars should be placed on the formwork with a spacing of at least 25 mm.

Concrete Pouring

The concrete step’s durability will be affected by the strength of the stairs. The mix used for steps should consist of having a ratio of 3:2:1 for cement, sand, gravel, and water, respectively. During the concrete pouring process, a concrete vibrator should be used to fill the stair’s gap and avoid the formation of honeycomb. A lot of care and patience are required when doing the concrete pouring. If a sudden movement occurs, the formwork’s alignment can be affected, leading to the collapse of the formwork. Stairs and a concrete ceiling should be poured the same day so that there can be a strong bond between the two components.

Formwork Removal

For the stairs to be completely dry, it will require at least 21 days. This means that the formwork removal should only be done after the 21 days. During these 21 days, there should be proper curing so that cracks in the stairs don’t happen as a result of thermal expansion. A crowbar and a hammer should be used after the 21 days. Be careful to avoid damaging the concrete on the edge of the steps.

Concrete Steps Finishing

After removing the formwork, various methods can be used to finish the stairs by the user’s requirement. Afloat or a trowel can be used to provide a concrete finish. To provide an even better look, granite or tiles can be installed. Wood and carpet are also a viable option for concrete steps finishing.

To understand what you can achieve with concrete steps in Mission Viejo, you should speak to Mission Viejo Concrete Company.

Call us today on (949) 541-9282 for free estimates.