Step repair and rebuilding
Well. What was starting out as a simple repair job on the front steps of my late grandmother's house has turned into a replacement project. Seems not only are half of the cinder blocks that constitute the foundation for the steps cracked and breaking... but the edges of the cement slab on top has turned to sand. It'll be a devil to remove though as where the rebar is, the cement is still solid.
Little bit of advice for anyone with cement steps or walkways: the moment you see ANY blade of grass or moss or whatever starting to grow on the cement, REMOVE IT. Once it gets its roots in, it lets water in and next thing you know your cement is sand and the whole thing needs to be replaced.
I'm just truly fortunate that the steps never collapsed. They were in that big of a state of disrepair underneath. You could glance at them and not realize it... but once my dad and I started taking those steps apart... it was evident just how bad things were. (Small note: if you use cinder blocks for construction, have the holes facing UPWARD. You can put cement slabs over the holes when you need to, but it's much more secure and solid with vertical holes.)
Little bit of advice for anyone with cement steps or walkways: the moment you see ANY blade of grass or moss or whatever starting to grow on the cement, REMOVE IT. Once it gets its roots in, it lets water in and next thing you know your cement is sand and the whole thing needs to be replaced.
I'm just truly fortunate that the steps never collapsed. They were in that big of a state of disrepair underneath. You could glance at them and not realize it... but once my dad and I started taking those steps apart... it was evident just how bad things were. (Small note: if you use cinder blocks for construction, have the holes facing UPWARD. You can put cement slabs over the holes when you need to, but it's much more secure and solid with vertical holes.)