Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Immediate repair needed...Large Crack in Cement Front Stoop

I live in Long Island, NY. I have a standard size front stoop (1 Step up) approx 4 X 3 area with a crack running Horizontal from one end to the next and it's starting to sloap down. The stoop is cracked in Half (horizontally). The house is around 45 years old and I beleive this is the original stoop. The previous owners covered the crack with a carpet. The inspector failed to list the crack on my report and I realized it was there when my shoe pierced throught he carpet into the crack, luckily I was not holding my infant. Can I hire a contractor to reinforce the sides of the stoop with steel pins, cement over and Seal? If not, what would be the best least costly method and can you give me a approx cost figure? ---help...

orange159,

Welcome to the forums.

You'll spend about as much (or LESS!) to replace the stoop than it'll cost to try and repair it, and you'll be happier with the final results.

At 3' X 4' it's not that much concrete. If it's in an alcove at the entry (surrounded by 3 walls like mine is), that's even easier -- it's already formed for you, except across the front. Just bust the old one out and go for it. If it doesn't have the 2 side walls, you're still only looking at forming it on 3 sides. Still not that big of a thing.

Thanks for the reply. I have the engineer looking at it again, as well as a contractor. Any idea on what I'm looking at in costs? For a deck over or new stoop?

An engineer, for a concrete stoop?? Am I missing something here???

Replacement will probably be a few hundred dollars. If I had to do mine, it would be about a 6 or 8 hour job, with at least 1/2 of that waiting for the concrete to set up enough to put a finish on it. Maybe $30 for form lumber, and maybe $50 for the concrete. Even if you had to rent a jackhammer to get the old stoop out and buy a trowel and edger, that would only add another $100 to it.

I had the original engineer who "Forgot" to mention on the expensive report I paid for.... go back and look at it because I was good and pissed off he left out a key safety component. His answer was to patch it with a 4$ bag of ready mix concrete. I will take your advice since the stoop is cracked in half, sloping and not expensive to replace. Thanks so much for your help!

Without any more info it sounds like a structural settling issue - footing maybe?

Proper repair vs. replacement is a wash.

If your engineer is willing to put his stamp on his recommended repair, since he has looked at it, maybe all you need is a concrete patch.

Get a second opinion if your not happy with him or if you feel he's back peddling.