The front steps on my 1925 bungalow have some minor cracks and flaking (photos #1-3) that I’d like to take care of before they get any worse. What would be the best way to repair the steps to avoid further deterioration? My neighbor’s steps, a similarly-aged bungalow, (photo #4) are in worse shape – apparently a prior owner had attempted a repair that has now crumbled away. Neither of us have any experience with concrete so any advice would be much appreciated.
Replies
Two different goals.
Repair
avoid further damage.
You can do the latter by applying a flexible sealant sold for such a purpose. This will not likely end up looking as you might wish for.
To repair, you need to remove material so that a repair will have solid surface to bond to, and that the replacement material will bond properly. This means work with a hammer and chisel or other suitable tools.
You may get better results by contacting a local masonry professional.
Look up (or search google or other) Concrete repair.
Add a "how do I" if you want more info on the process.
Your local big box home improvement stores have online advice in this area and have products for sale to help.
I've mentioned before here that I've had very good results repairing spalled cement with a product called Planitop x .