Concrete Steps & Walkways on the North Shore
Front steps and walks take the worst of winter: freeze-thaw cycles, shoveling and salt. Crumbling or uneven steps are also a trip hazard. We connect you with independent local contractors who can repair, resurface or replace steps, stoops and walkways.
Signs it is time
- Steps are crumbling, cracked or pulling away from the house
- Uneven or tilted walkway slabs
- Loose or missing railings
- Treads that hold water or ice
- Surface flaking from salt
How the job goes
- Assessment. Repair or replace, based on how sound the concrete and footing are.
- Remove and prepare. Damaged concrete is removed and forms set to consistent rise and run.
- Pour and finish. Air-entrained concrete with a textured, non-slip finish.
- Railings. Railings reinstalled or added.
Why doing concrete right matters here
Winters, salt and safety make the details count.
Freeze-thaw and salt cause scaling
NRMCA says exterior concrete exposed to freezing and deicers should be air-entrained, properly finished and cured to resist surface scaling.(NRMCA Concrete in Practice: Scaling concrete surfaces (PDF))
Uneven steps are a fall risk
CDC reports more than 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older fall each year.(CDC: Facts about older adult falls)
Call before you dig
Dig Safe is a free notification service; utilities then mark their buried lines before excavation.(Dig Safe: Notify before you dig (811))
Check registration and licensing
Massachusetts requires home improvement contractor registration for many residential jobs, and a construction supervisor license for certain structural work.(Mass.gov: Check a home improvement contractor registration, Mass.gov: When is a construction supervisor license required?)
Further reading: NRMCA Concrete in Practice: Scaling concrete surfaces (PDF) · Mass.gov: Check a home improvement contractor registration · Mass.gov: When is a construction supervisor license required? · Dig Safe: Notify before you dig (811)
Every job is different. The pro you speak with will explain their own approach and pricing. North Shore Concrete Pros does not perform, supervise, or guarantee any work.
Concrete FAQ
Repair or replace?
Surface damage can sometimes be resurfaced. Steps that are separating from the house, settling or cracked through usually need replacement.
Why does this matter for older family members?
CDC reports that more than 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older fall each year. Even, well-lit steps with railings reduce trip risk.
What deicer is safest for concrete?
NRMCA recommends using deicers in moderation, avoiding them on new concrete in its first winter, and never using ones containing ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate.
Related services
- Concrete DrivewaysFree quotes from independent local contractors for new and replacement concrete driveways in Wakefield, Reading, Melrose, Stoneham, Peabody and the North Shore, MA.
- Concrete PatiosFree quotes from independent local contractors for plain, broom-finish and stamped concrete patios in Lynnfield, Saugus, Woburn, Wakefield and the North Shore, MA.
- Foundation Crack RepairFree quotes from independent local contractors for poured concrete foundation crack repair and waterproofing in Peabody, Woburn, Wilmington, North Reading and the North Shore, MA.