Crumbling Steps at Front Porch replaced with New Paver Steps

Mortared Brick or Tiled Steps in Michigan will fail over time

This homeowner was in immediate need of having there deteriorating Front Steps replaced with a long-term solution.  After many years of frustration and hiring 3 different contractors over the past 12 years to fix these steps, it was our time to come to the rescue.

I suggested we install modular retaining wall block & cap Steps, usually referred to as Paver Steps, because they will give the best performance and least maintenance over the years.  If any of the coping units (caps) come loose, they can easily be adhered without any signs of repair. Any of the riser step blocks can be reset at little cost and effort too.


Outdoor mortared brick steps will fail over the long-term in Michigan due to freeze thaw cycles which break up the mortar and loosen the bricks. Even more so, ceramic or granite tile used for outdoor non-covered porches and steps are also not a long-term solution. The grout will crack and chip and allow tiles to come loose and pop off.


The homeowner really wanted to keep the tile on the top of the porch since that was in good condition . We carefully installed the Paver Steps to meet the finished height of the tile and filled the joint behind the coping with some grey HP Polymeric Sand to match the existing grout in the tiles.


We finished this paver project by power wash cleaning and re-sanding the paver joints of the front walk which completed the whole restoration. There are never any "permanent" solutions to steps in frost states (considering moderate costs) but the best solution is Paver Steps. They offer great performance, very low maintenance, and low repair costs if needed.

Brick Pavers Porch & Steps Installed

Another transformation in Ann Arbor to a new Brick Paver Porch and Steps

In 2011, we have installed over 15 porch & step replacements in Ann Arbor alone.  As homes begin to reach almost 50 years old, porches & steps are beginning to show their age. Aside from their unsightly appearance, old deteriorating porch & steps begin to create water and safety issues that homeowners can no longer ignore.

In early posts on this Blog, I have described the options we discuss with homeowners when considering replacement, enclosure, or overlays of Brick Paver Porches and Steps.  Many factors are in play when considering which option makes both functional and economical sense. Paver Porches and Step are installed best by a qualified & experienced brick paver contractor.

This particular porch slab had sunk, cracked, and pitched back towards the home foundation. The mason bricks had begun to pop & crack, causing leaning and large gaps of missing mortar. The step had sunk creating steep rises and trip hazzards.  It was time for the homeowner to address these issues and create some new curb appeal.

We completely removed the old porch slab, brick framing walls, step, and debris.  We built over the existing footings and created a more functional design that increased the width of the porch in the space allowed.  By bowing out the porch face, we not only improved the appearance, but we increased the landing space for a more comfortable & safer entrance into the front door. We also added an additonal Paver Step to reduce the riser heights for a safer and more comfortable transition to the walk.

It is amazing how a new Paver Porch and Step can immediately change the curb appeal of a home when properly designed and installed.  Though the front porch & steps are one of the most functional & visible aspects of a home, they are often ignored until their appearance and structure have failed.  Bring back that "smile" for your home! Improve or replace that old crumbling porch or steps with brick pavers and modular retaining wall blocks & caps.

Brick Paver Porch & Steps Transforms Curb Appeal!

Once coined ugliest Porch & Steps in town now is the envy of the neighborhood

The challenge for homeowners these days is the tremendous need for repair & replacement of dilapidated Porches & Steps. Much like the process 50 years ago, a new age of construction has emerged for the every popular need for function & curb appeal...the Brick Paver and Modular Retaining Wall Porch & Steps.

Before

This past week, my team and I performed a complete transformation of a Porch & Steps in Ann Arbor. As you can see in the "before" picture, the curb appeal of this home was lacking.  We designed and installed a beautiful, functional, & safe Porch, Steps, and Front Walkway that the homeowner could now be proud of. The "after" picture shows just one possibility of the curb appeal your home can experience.

After

There are a few ways to approach the transformation of porches and steps. In an earlier post on this Blog, Porch & Steps replacement, I explain the major options for improving the appearance, function, and curb appeal of porches. Every porch & step project is custom & unique so different applications need to be considered. A cost / benefit analysis is determined so a homeowner can make the best decision for their needs.

Before

Porch & Steps replacement, overlay, and enclosures are on the rise and so far each week in 2011 we have performed this porch repair service throughout Ann Arbor,Canton, Plymouth, & Ypsilanti.  Most porches and steps were and are an after thought in the design & construction of homes.  I am finding that homeowners who are building or buying a new home for the second time, are aware of this past neglect and more proactive in addressing the need for a functional & appealing porch & steps. The winter freeze thaw cycle that is so prominent in the Detroit Metro Area also poses long-term challenges.

After

In this blog post, I wanted to show you the "before & after" pictures to give you a visual of the extreme transformation that brick pavers and modular retaining wall blocks & caps can perform. The long term benefit of this brick paver system is that repair costs in the future are minimal and the appearance, properly maintained, can last for several decades.

Before

Porch & Step replacement, overlay, or enclosures are best performed by a qualified & experienced brick pavers contractor who's sole business is installing, repairing, and servicing brick pavers and modular retaining walls.  Anybody can lay flat work but Porch & Step applications require foresight, experience, and knowledge of the building codes.

After

Make sure your brick paver contractor has a valid Michigan's Builder License when performing your Porch & Steps project.  Most porch improvements or replacements do not require a permit but the codes set forth some guidelines to insure safety & proper function.  An experienced and building code educated contractor will give you the best construction and attention to detail.

Brick Paver Porch and Steps: Total Porch Replacement

Porch replacement using brick pavers

We completed a Brick Paver Porch and Steps installation that not only improved our clients curb appeal, but also made their front porch more functional and safer.  This existing old cement porch and poured concrete steps had begun to settle and deteriorate. The homeowners main concern for safety was that the rises on the cement steps were over 9" each and the treads where only 9" wide.

The first objective for the new design of this paver porch and steps installation was to make the step risers and treads safer.  This would require us to add another paver step to decrease the overall step risers to reach the top of the porch.  Because the new paver steps could not go out any farther into the driveway, the new paver porch needed to have new dimensions to facilitate an additional paver step.

We completely removed the old cement porch and steps with sledge hammers, pry bars, and a diamond blade saw.  We were real close to renting an air jack hammer & compressor but after a pot of coffee and some Tim Horton's Tim Bits, this porch removal moved forward at a swift pace.  The dirt fill inside the old porch was removed to allow for crushed gravel to allow proper drainage.

We constructed the new paver porch using Fendt's Old World Country Manor for the porch walls & paver steps, and we used Fendt's Holland Paver laid in a 45 degree Herringbone pattern for the top landing inset. The newly created rises where a safe and comfortable 6.5" each.  The newly capped paver steps now had a 12" tread for added safety and beautiful finish.

This particular brick paver porch and steps installation was a TOTAL PORCH REPLACEMENT project. There are 2 other applications of paver porches that we perform.  Below is a brief description of the other two pavers porch applications.

PORCH OVERLAY:
When the existing porch's overall structure is sound but the top cement stoop is unsightly, a brick paver porch overlay application can be performed. As long as there is clearance for the door to open with the thickness of the pavers on top of the old cement porch, the pavers can be adhered along the outside borders and the brick paver pattern laid within these borders. A simple paver joint sand or polymeric sand can be swept in all the joints.  The 4-7" thick cement cap face is also hidden by adhering the pavings stones to the face. This technique requires a little strategy and sometimes we need to construct some temporary support until the adhesive sets. This paver porch installation is usually the cheapest of the 3 options listed in this post.

PORCH ENCLOSURE:

BEFORE

AFTER

When conditions allow and the old cement porch can not allow for a porch overlay application as described above, a paver porch enclosure is considered.  The porch enclosure application requires us to construct a modular retaining wall frame around the porch and then lay paving stones within this frame.  In essence, the old cement porch is "buried" and left as a foundation within the structure.  This paver porch application is used for more "cosmetic" improvement then for a structural need.  This option usually costs less than the total porch replacement application because the homeowner saves the removal & disposal cost of the old porch. The old cement porch condition will determine if this application can be performed.

The overall condition of the existing cement porch & steps and the objectives for the design of the pavers porch & steps will determine which paver porch application will work. We evaluate each situation and recommend the appropriate application that meets the customer's need and budget. Paver porches & steps dramatically improve function and curb appeal.

 

Paver porches have become the new trend in today's porch replacement needs of homeowners. Many new home construction plans are designing paver porches. Aside from roof replacement, porch replacements are one of the most common outdoor home improvement projects.

Another Repair of Brick Paver Patio Steps & Porch Step

Brick Paver Steps  Repair

Our continued brick paver repair services took us to another paver patio steps & front porch step reconstruction this past week.  For the sake of not sounding redundant, this blog post will be brief with before & after pics.  My previous post went into more detail regarding the enormous need for paver patio step repair through out Ann Arbor & Saline.

Settled Paver Steps

This raised pavers patio has been in for over 5 years, slowly the brick steps leading into the patio door wall and front porch began to settle & shift.  They were currently in desperate need of repair for safety & appearance purposes.  This client called in the brick paver expert and we began to solve their issue.

Once the base material below is compromised, the complete paver step structure is going to fail. Large gaps begin to allow water to erode behind and below the paver block steps & caps.  The brick paver landing on top begins to sink and tripping hazards begin to appear.

This client's front paver porch steps exhibited the "smiley face" appearance which occurs often when a contractor does not compact the interior base material properly.  They just fill in upwards as they build each step without compacting the base in 2-3" lifts when building brick steps.

Before reconstructing

As we did with the earlier brick paver step reconstruction, we completely tore down the entire structure and rebuilt from the ground up.  Upon tearing down the block & cap steps, we discovered a reason for the paver steps settling.  The landscape contractor did not fill in gaps or holes (see picture) in the modular retaining wall blocks as needed.  This resulted in an inferior step or wall construction that was destined to fail over time.  Open spaces allow for base settling, erosion, and reduces the overall mass of the step structure.  We did relevel, recompacted, & filled all joints and holes.

When properly installed, brick paver patio & porch steps can give years of performance & spectacular appearance. Paver steps do require some basic maintenance over the years but will be minimal in time & costs if addressed in the early stages of settling or erosion. I expect that these newly repaired paver steps will give many years of safety and appearance that a brick paver client expects.

Remember to address the first signs of the brick pavers settling in the top landing, block & caps sagging, or caps coming loose.  Small periodic paver repairs will avoid very costly reconstruction in the future.