Concrete steps construction in Kent WA - steps that feel even from top to bottom
Steps sinking, cracking or pulling away from the door? We lift or rebuild them so every step sits level and the same height.
Can my sinking front steps be lifted, or do they need replacing?
Concrete steps construction in Kent is building new steps at your entry, either poured on site from the footing up or set in place as precast units. Sometimes it starts with lifting the old steps instead. Either way, you end up with steps that sit tight to the house and match in height, so going in and out feels the same every time.
Most calls start with a step that's sunk, cracked or started leaning away from the door. The bottom step usually shows it first because it tends to drop the most when steps settle. That uneven height trips people more than one tall step does, so if your bottom step feels off on the way down, it's a good time to have it looked at. The price depends on how many steps you have and how wide they are. It also depends on whether the old ones can be lifted or have to be broken out, poured versus precast, and whether a handrail comes off and goes back on. The schedule turns mostly on the permit, if your job needs one, and on curing, the wait before the new concrete can take your weight. I'll walk your entry and give you a written estimate with each part of the job listed, so you can see where the money goes.
How we build concrete steps, start to finish
I start by looking at your old steps to see whether they can be lifted back into place or need to come out, because steps that are still in one piece don't always need replacing. If they come out, our crew breaks them up and hauls them off. Then we dig out the soft ground underneath and pack a firm base, since steps sitting on loose fill are the ones that settle and tilt. We build the forms and set rebar, steel bars that keep a crack from spreading apart. I measure each rise so the bottom step comes out the same height as the rest, and that's the step I watch closest. We pour and give the treads a broom finish, a light brushed texture for grip when they're wet. Then we leave the steps to cure before anyone walks on them. If there's a handrail, your estimate says who takes it off and who puts it back, so nobody's guessing at the end. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather keep the base work and go plainer on the finish, because a nice surface on a poor base just tilts with everything else.
Steps are often part of a bigger job. On a new house or addition, we plan the entry steps along with the slab foundation building or the foundation installation. That way the steps sit on ground that was prepared for them, not on fill left over from construction.
Why Kent homeowners call D&L Kent Concrete Construction for concrete steps
I measure your entry myself
I come out for the estimate myself to measure and walk the site, and I run the job while our crew does the work. That means the person who checked your bottom step is the one making sure it's built the way the estimate says.
Careful prep since 2013
We've been doing this work since 2013, and we're known for careful layout and prep, the base, forms and measurements you won't see once the steps are poured. That hidden work decides how steps hold up, and I'll tell you plainly to expect a few normal cracks rather than promise you none.
Licensed and insured in Washington
We're fully licensed and insured. Washington requires every construction contractor to register with the state, so a current registration is the first thing to ask about from anyone who quotes your steps.
Kent permits handled for you
In Kent, building and residential permits come from the City of Kent Permit Center, which works by appointment. We check which city or county office covers your address, take care of the permit when your job needs one and keep you posted on where it stands. We're based in Kent and work in Renton, Federal Way, Tacoma and many other cities nearby.
On steps, what matters most is the base underneath and the height of that bottom step. Call (253) 398-9060 or use the contact page to send a few photos of your steps, tell us how many there are and whether a handrail is attached, and I'll set a time to come look.
Get a written estimate for your concrete steps
We reply within one business day to set a time, and the estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation. I'll come out myself to measure and walk your entry. Then you get the estimate in writing with each part of the job listed.
Concrete steps and entries
Questions before you book concrete steps
Should I lift or replace my settled concrete steps?
Lift them if the steps are still in one piece, and replace them if they're cracked through or have pulled well away from the house. Lifting can work on an intact unit, but replacement is often the realistic answer for a set that's broken or badly separated. I check which kind you've got at the estimate, and the quote starts from there.
Are precast or poured concrete steps better for my front entry?
Precast usually suits a simple front stoop, and poured steps suit wide, curved or landscaped stairs. One company's guide notes that precast units are steel-reinforced, lighter and can be installed in about an hour, but they come in limited sizes and look manufactured. If your entry is an odd width or you want the steps to match the walk around them, I'd go with poured.
How much do concrete steps cost in Kent, WA?
Installing concrete steps in the Seattle area usually costs about $700 to $5,500 per job, and that's the going range in the area, not a quote from us. Where your job lands depends on the steps themselves and how much work the old ones need. Your written estimate lists each part of the job, so you'll see your own number before we start.
How do I check a concrete contractor's license in Washington?
Look the business up on the state Department of Labor & Industries' contractor verify tool, which shows whether its contractor registration is active. It also shows whether the workers' comp account covering any employees is paid up, along with any safety violations and lawsuits against the contractor's surety bond. It's worth doing for anyone you're thinking of hiring.
What causes concrete steps to pull away from the house?
Usually it's the ground underneath, because steps often sit on soil that was dug up during construction and keeps settling. As that ground settles, the steps tilt away from the wall, and the gap that opens sends water straight down against your foundation. That's a good reason to have a growing gap looked at rather than leave it.
What is the best way to care for new concrete steps?
Skip deicing salts like calcium or sodium chloride for the first year after the pour, and use clean sand for traction instead, as one concrete guidance sheet advises. The same sheet says concrete exposed to freezing and thawing must be air-entrained, a mix with tiny air pockets that give freezing water room to expand. You can ask any contractor whether your new steps will use that mix.
Foundation work that goes with new steps
- Slab foundation building
When you're adding a garage or a room, a slab foundation laid out around the doors lets us set the entry steps at the right height.
- Foundation installation
If you're building on a crawlspace or basement, a foundation installed with footings and walls built to plan gives the steps at each door something solid to sit against.