Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 1/29/2009

Question
My original steps were concrete faced with brick.  The brick was coming off and an area mason put a skin coat of fiberglassed concrete over everything that looks like the devil.  I would like to replace the steps with new poured ones.  Can I kind of break off the top couple of inches of the old ones and then just form around those to create the new ones?  Any tricks to watch for in this process?

Answer
Hi Steve, you can. But believe me it would be easier to rent a big jack hammer and take out the whole set of steps and redo them than to try and take two inches off and then pour a topping around the old stuff.  Plus if after a few years this topping begins to fall off you will have to redo them again.  Most steps are hollow inside and filled with dirt so once you break through the steps themselves the tear out isn't as daunting as it seems.  You can even use some of the left over rubble for fill inside the newly formed steps to keep the concrete costs down.  I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com