Concrete steps

Miko69 · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:57 pm Post Subject: Concrete steps

i recently had some concrete steps formed to the front entrance to my property. Once the concrete was laid the concrete was left uncovered. It subsequently rained and the weather has been extremely cold and damp since. The concrete therefore does not appeared to have cured and dried out and the surface seems to be spalling slightly in areas. Also when i removed the shuttering to one step the face looked like it needed smoothing over. Are there any tips for remedying this problem. It has been 11 days since the concrete was laid.

noseall · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:25 pm Post Subject:

cast or shuttered concrete, that isn't being furnished with slabs or tiles etc, relies on the installer to give it its final decoration. in this case it would be trowel finish. with this in mind the installer should have been extra careful in protecting the concrete, particularly in bad weather, until the concrete had properly hydrated. sometimes a thin coat of sand/cement render can smarten up the risers, but the treads, im afraid may take a little more work!

JohnD · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:57 pm Post Subject:

The rain will not have stopped it hardening, because concrete hardens by reacting with (almost "absorbing" into the cement) the water, not by drying out. the moister it stays for longer, the stronger it will be. Once it has cured, damp, for a week or two, you can let it dry out and it will change colour from dark grey to pale.

The only downside is that heavy rain in the first few hours can wash away the cement from the outer layer, and it may flake.

However, if it was struck by frost, and froze in the first few days, this may have weakened the surface and made it crumbly.

After 11 days it is about as hard as it is going to get.

noseall · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:29 pm Post Subject:

i agree with john d, protection from frost is paramount, the builders friend in this case is 1.5m x 50m rolls of hessian sacking. ask your installer if he's ever heard of it!

Nige F · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:45 am Post Subject:

Suggested Remedy.....scabble it with a hired machine which will kind of even up the different textures

, and consider applying an anti slip coating to the treads of the steps

JohnD · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 11:03 am Post Subject:

Maybe render the risers and quarry-tile the treads?

Miko69 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:11 pm Post Subject: steps

thanks for the tips. All taken on board il just have to brave the nice cold weather and set about making the treads and risers good now! cheers!