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Folks –
I have a set of concrete steps that have been sinking. The upper flight is 2-2.5″ down from the original marks on the walls on either side.
Is there a technique whereby concrete grout is pumped into the void below the steps to float it back up – or is it jackhammer time.
ToolBear
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Replies
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Hi ToolBear,
Any reason why you can't use a backhoe & slings and lift it out of the way and repack the base?
Gabe
*ToolbearI was in the same predicament on my first spec house. We had a set of stairs with winders going up from the garage level to the front door the rise was about 12'. The concrete stairs were poured between 2 block walls. The stairs were finished with 1" thick sandstone and the walls were stuccoed.The stairs sunk about 2" but it was exaggerated because they pulled off the building. There were two reasons they sank. The homeowner installed a sprinkler system that brought all the water to the stairs. The system was left on for days. The excavation probably wasn't done right.We fixed by using both mudjacking and helicoils. I hired a specialty company for this. They dug 3 holes and got under the footing. They bolted a piece of angle to the footing. They drove the helicoils into the ground until the reached a certain torque. They the raised the footing by jacking from the helicoil. They also drilled holes in the steps and filled it with a slurry. I am not sure if they use it to jack the stairs or just to fill in the void. The stair came very close to its original position.The fix was expensive. It cost about $8000. It was a much cheaper fix than tearing the damn thing down and rebuilding it.
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Gabe,
Wish I could. Given the trees, the garage complex next to it, etc., there is no heavy
equipment access. It runs down between two large
planters with retaining walls.
TB
*D -Sounds similar. Steps are between two block wallsof large planters. They have been running water downthe steps and behind the steps for years. I think they washed the fill out. In the winter rains it becomes a set of rapids as it gets water from 5 units above.I'll start researching helicoils. I've seen them used in boat moorings to good effects. Where in the yellow pages does one look for this speciality?TB
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Okay ToolBear,
If a backhoe can't reach the area, next level would be a boom truck, and last a mobile crane.
The cost of any of these is less than 300.00
Any chance one of these would be able to reach?
Gabe
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Gabe -
I was thinking boom truck myself. I believe that might be able to reach. I'd like to borrow yours. We've paid $100/hr for one used in setting ecoblocks.
But not knowing what to do with one when it was there...
You have an idea? Screw eyes into stairs, truck lifts same while Willing Workers pump grout behind?
TB
*I have the same sort of problem in MI. A 4 rise 20' long set of steps has dropped about 3" over 5 years. I know why - the fill was less than desireable.There is a firm that advertises on the radio here. Drill a few holes, and pump some lime slurry under high pressure under the concrete. Gave free estimates. They wanted $325 for my job. Still haven't done it. Wife wants to rip out concrete and install pavers for better look. Have heard good endorsements of the process. E-mail me if your interested, and I'll look for phone number when I'm at home. Don't know where you are, but processes like these seem to be franchises of some sort, so I imagine you could call my local shop and see what's available in your area.
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Hi ToolBear,
Your plan seems okay but I would still only use crushed stone underneath and pack it. If you can anchor into it and lift it with a boom, then its easier and cheaper to have the stone ready and with the porch out of harms way, put in the stone. Less subs involved and no drying time before you put the porch back.
Gabe
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Around here the process is called "mudjacking". Those who have had it done for steps and sidewalks have been pleased with the results. We just had a long stretch of sidewalk raised that was tilted hither and yon from panel to panel. It looks great and the grouted holes aren't very noticeable. Seems like a very valid process.
*What is the magic word for the Yellow Pages to find mud jackers?ToolBear
*Gabe,I like that idea about crushed stone. It should take longer to wash out :-) Lot longer, I hope. And no drying time.I think the rains and the over-watering are what did these steps down. Classic streambed erosion. The fill got washed out the cracks along the bottom. Doubt that it was compacted or engineered.How do you suggest setting anchors for a lift?ToolBear
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Good morning ToolBear,
Not knowing the load and size involved, contact the crane or boom truck company and ask them what they recommend in your case. I always prefer to anchor from the sides but in your case you may not be able to. Are these steps hollow or one solid lump of concrete?
Gabe
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In our phone book (Madison, WI)the magic word is Mud Jacking Contractors. I have no idea if this is a regional thing or not. One of the local outfits says they have a web address http://www.crc1.com, don't know if that would be of interest to you.
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Have seen this done several times with driveways and sidewalks with good results.Am awaiting a chimney reflashing job on a chimney which is gonna be plumbed using this method(it had settled about 3" away from the house) Look in yellow pages under Concrete Leveling. The Franchise in my area is A-1 Concrete Leveling.Considered a legitamate technique in my area based on past results.
Good Luck,Stephen
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Gabe,
I suspect these are/were one solid pour - top flight, landing and bottom flight. They have cracked across at both ends of the landing. Block walls on both sides.
TB
*Stephen,Thanks for the tip. I'm off to see if Orange County offers concrete leveling.I'm also off tomorrow for the NorthWet and my boat. Nice, but no land line or web. I'll try to follow Breaktime from the Anacortes library machines (the latest word in slow. I read a book waiting for pages to load.)I hope in fall, when the rains go horizontal and I head south, that I can get the condo association to jack those steps in time for the winter floods.ToolBear
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Folks -
I have a set of concrete steps that have been sinking. The upper flight is 2-2.5" down from the original marks on the walls on either side.
Is there a technique whereby concrete grout is pumped into the void below the steps to float it back up - or is it jackhammer time.
ToolBear
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< Obsolete Link > Help: uneven pour reminds me -- is there any way to bond a new layer on top of the exiting concrete to level the stairs ... assuming the settling is halted also? Say, with a modified concrete like Top'n'Bond?