I need to build some concrete steps. Its 5 risers, and a small patio,approximentally 6,6″ x 3’7″ ( the patio). Its all suspended, except for the foot, the first riser. All in all its just 2 cubic yards of concrete, and now I am wondering if I need a footing under all this too. Most of the first riser is over a sidewalk, existing. Do I need a footer under this thing? In this area, house/deck footers are usually 30″ below grade, Maryland, mid atlantic. Overall size of the steps is 5’8″ by 16’6″ I have thought Maybe I could use air entrained concrete, since it is lighter, a footer might not be needed on account of the wewight of the step. I would still plan to set it all on pea gravel, or graded gravel
Edited 8/16/2005 8:17 pm ET by BBB
Replies
Greetings BBB,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
Hunts with garlic.
You may want to try your question at the JLC forum or perhaps the info you seek can be found at the Building Science site.
Best to you.
http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront
http://www.buildingscience.com/resources/resources.htm
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
I know very little about concrete steps, but most I've seen are hollow--2 cubic yards in quite a pile of concrete. The other posts about checking out other websites are good. I think you could form the steps and put sand and rubble in the center before pouring a cover slab. Just going by what I've seen. Only problem I've seen with the arrangement I describe is when I've dismantled such steps and porches, there are often lots of ants in the sand. Maybe treat it before covering.