Do-it-yourself repair of concrete stairs and steps

Today, the use of reinforced concrete stairs in buildings of various types and purposes is very common. This is due to both the durability and reliability of the stairs themselves, and the acceleration of construction and installation work during the construction of buildings.

But given the intensity of operation of these elements, over time, various defects begin to form on the concrete surface – cracks, chips, potholes.

The reasons are quite diverse:

• mechanical damage
• exposure to chemicals
• natural aging of materials

 

And this is not just a cosmetic problem, a further process of concrete destruction occurs from small cracks and chips. Chips and potholes crumble easier and faster, moisture and other substances get into them. All this in combination significantly reduces the safe operation period of concrete stairs and as a result leads to complex and expensive repairs. Therefore, the repair of concrete stairs and steps must be carried out in a timely manner and using high-quality materials.

To repair the horizontal surface of reinforced concrete stairs, you can use a special repair mixture Teknogrout EX, it has a high adhesion index to concrete, reinforcement frame and stone. If a more versatile composition is required to correct problems in the vertical and horizontal planes, we will use a Teknorep 300 mixture, which is reinforced with polymer fibers. These mixtures do not shrink, are easy to apply, and are resistant to freezing, thawing, and chemicals.

Before starting the repair, you need to carefully examine the degree of damage to the structure. Depending on their complexity, we further determine the complexity of the work and the materials used.

Visually, we can identify the following types of destruction and damage:

• chips and potholes on the surface
• cracks as a result of shrinkage of the building
• abrasion of the outer layer as a result of long-term operation
• exposure of the reinforcing frame of the staircase

 

First of all, let's consider the repair of the step ribs, since this area is exposed to maximum physical impact, and the external reinforced concrete stairs take on temperature fluctuations and moisture exposure.

The procedure for repairing the edges of the steps is as follows:

• clean the chipped areas with a metal brush
• treat the damage area with a deep penetration primer - after drying the primer, apply Teknorep 300 solution to the repair site, forming even corners
• arrange a waterproof contour for fixing the solution in the product

 

Now consider the repair of the tread of reinforced concrete stairs. They are less prone to chipping, but they take a constant impact of friction and they wear out over time. With a prolonged process, this leads to delamination of the concrete on the tread. Repairs in the form of leveling a concrete step will not only strengthen the structure, but also refresh its appearance.

To do this, we need to:

• clean the steps from dust, dirt and other substances
• make notches all over the tread area
• treat the surface with a primer
• to arrange a vertical formwork
• pour the prepared solution from Teknogrout EX onto the tread and align

 

Please note that the mortar layer should be 12-30 mm. For the arrangement of vertical formwork, we recommend using a plastic board, its width is 250 mm, which is the maximum permissible standard for the height of the steps. If necessary, it is easy to cut it even with a hand saw. The lack of adhesion to concrete solutions of this material makes it possible to produce perfectly smooth surfaces of products. The formwork can be removed after the initial setting, but it is not recommended to open the movement of the stairs earlier than 24 hours.

In conclusion, it can be said that the repair of concrete stairs and porch steps or interstory marches is possible with your own hands, and the level of complexity of the work depends on the degree of damage. Carrying out complex work on the major reconstruction of concrete stairs is still worth entrusting to professionals. And remember that the quality of the work performed directly depends on the quality of the materials used and recommendations for their use.