Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - crevice between walkway and front stoop
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10-10-00, 09:13 AM
Hi! Our 7 year old house has settled such that there is a 3 or 4 inch crevice/crack in the cement where the front stoop meets the sidewalk in front of our front door. Is it possible for us to fill in this area ourselves, or should we be hiring a professional? I hear ads for "sidewalk lifters," who somehow jack it up, but this sounds expensive. Any advice? Thanks!
10-11-00, 08:35 PM
The repair method mentioned is called mudjacking. Grout is pumped under the steps to lift them. In most cases mudjacking is not terribly expensive nor is it real cheap. A permanent repair may not be advisable right now or maybe not in the original configuration. The problem is movement. I also suspect that the walkway was bonded to
the steps instead of an expansion joint being placed there.
Below is a side view of an ideal state.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">code:</font><HR><pre>
__________
|
_______________ | steps
walkway | |
_______________| |
^ expansion joint
[/code]
A expansion joint is a physical break between the walkway and steps. Typically it would be filled with compressible 1/2" material called black jack (impregnated felt paper). The joint allows the walkway and steps to expand and contract with temperature changes without creating internal stresses within the concrete and it also allows each to move up and down independently of each other.
I think your walkway and steps were constructed as below. (Sorta typical of some home builders). And the break exists where an expansion would normally be placed.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">code:</font><HR><pre>
__________
|
_________________| steps
walkway |
_________________|__________
^ break at bond
[/code]
At some point the steps will need to be addressed. Wether now is a good time or not is debatable. The question is can you live with it for a while? If you can, an immediate solution is to fill the gap with polyurethane caulking. The purpose is to keep water and debris out. If you want it fixed: mudjacking is an option and so is replacement. Neither fix guarantees that the movement will not recur.
the steps instead of an expansion joint being placed there.
Below is a side view of an ideal state.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">code:</font><HR><pre>
__________
|
_______________ | steps
walkway | |
_______________| |
^ expansion joint
[/code]
A expansion joint is a physical break between the walkway and steps. Typically it would be filled with compressible 1/2" material called black jack (impregnated felt paper). The joint allows the walkway and steps to expand and contract with temperature changes without creating internal stresses within the concrete and it also allows each to move up and down independently of each other.
I think your walkway and steps were constructed as below. (Sorta typical of some home builders). And the break exists where an expansion would normally be placed.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">code:</font><HR><pre>
__________
|
_________________| steps
walkway |
_________________|__________
^ break at bond
[/code]
At some point the steps will need to be addressed. Wether now is a good time or not is debatable. The question is can you live with it for a while? If you can, an immediate solution is to fill the gap with polyurethane caulking. The purpose is to keep water and debris out. If you want it fixed: mudjacking is an option and so is replacement. Neither fix guarantees that the movement will not recur.
10-12-00, 05:29 AM
Dear 2000,
That was a very thorough answer and I learned quite a bit. Thank you very much! I think we'll wait until next Spring and then consider the options you mentioned. Thanks for taking the time to reply!
That was a very thorough answer and I learned quite a bit. Thank you very much! I think we'll wait until next Spring and then consider the options you mentioned. Thanks for taking the time to reply!