Widening Concrete Steps

by Allan Alexander
(Sault Ste. Marie Mi.)

Q: I have a set of concrete steps in front of my house , 4 steps high. I wish to leave them there and add to the width. I will drill and put lags into each step on the way up. They are 6 ft. wide and I want to add 4 ft. to that. I am going to just build pad or step on step on the way up. More material I guess but easier for me. I just want to know what mix to use. Would five to one be OK ? Thats five cement gravel and one cement plus the water.

Thanks , Al

A:

Hi Al,

Thank you for visiting.

To add to your steps, I recommend these ratios: 1 cement: 2 sand: 3 gravel. With this professional-grade mixture you always get powerful weather-resistance. This may be because with this mixture while you get a concrete that is very strong. At the same time it allows for "movement" within itself so that it adjusts to different climatic conditions without being "snapped" (cracked and fissured) by them.

Best regards,

Alan
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