Steps, stoops and patio leveling
Raise steps and stoops that have dropped or tipped, and correct patios that send meltwater toward your basement.
A concrete stoop is a heavy block, often poured on fill right against the foundation. As that fill settles, the stoop tips away from the door or drops below the threshold. Back patios settle the same way, and when they tilt toward the house they steer rain and snowmelt straight at the basement wall.
Signs it's time
- A widening gap between the stoop and the house
- The top step now sitting below the door threshold
- Steps that rock or feel uneven underfoot
- Water standing against the foundation after rain or melt
- A patio that has cracked into tilted sections
Can steps be raised?
Often, yes. Foam is popular for steps because the holes are small and the material is light. Steps that are cracked through, crumbling, or hollow with rotted forms inside may need to be rebuilt.
What if the steps need to be rebuilt?
New steps attached to the house are a structural job, and how deep their support goes matters here. Minnesota's building code sets a minimum footing depth for frost of 3½ feet in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties, unless an engineer competent in soil mechanics determines otherwise. Ask any contractor rebuilding steps how they'll support them and whether your city requires a permit.
Why it matters for your basement
A stoop or patio sloping toward the house works like a funnel. Bringing it back to a slight slope away from the foundation, then sealing the seam against the house, is one of the simpler ways to keep spring melt out of a basement.
Pricing is set by the contractor after an on-site look, once they know how big the void is and what caused it. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the slab is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
My stoop pulled away from the house. Can it be pushed back?
Leveling raises a stoop; it doesn't slide it back toward the wall. Once it's level, the gap can be sealed. A large gap may call for a different repair.
Is foam safe right next to my foundation?
Foam is commonly used beside foundations because it's light and the holes are small. The contractor should check for utilities, drain tile and sump lines before drilling.
Related services
- Concrete leveling (mudjacking and foam)
- Sidewalk repair and trip hazards
- Driveway and garage apron repair
- Joint sealing and crack repair
More background: St. Cloud concrete repair guide.
Slab dropped over the winter? Walk turned into a trip hazard?
Call and a local concrete contractor will come look at it and quote the fix.