Concrete Porch

Things you can do to update your concrete porch:

• Tear out the existing porch and pour a new one

  In damaged or older concrete entryways, it is especially important to fix sunken concrete and large cracks that heels of shoes can get caught in. If the concrete moves when you step on it, a tear-out is definitely your best prescription. In cases where the concrete is structurally unsound, it is always best to tear out the existing concrete and re-pour.

  In some cases, the builder or prior contractor was negligent in following codes and procedures to make concrete structurally sound. In the below before and after pictures, this concrete porch sunk because the contractor did not dig out the dirt at the foundation location so that the porch could be poured on the solid foundation. In these cases, tear-out is a necessity.

  

  

• Stain your existing porch and stairway - This is a great option if your concrete is structurally sound and has only hairline cracks. The stain will update your look and the cracks will become much less noticeable. To find out more about staining, click stained concrete.

Pictured below: An existing porch that was updated by staining:



• Resurface your porch - A resurfacing compound can be placed over the top of your existing concrete to hide cracks and make it look like new. An integral color can be mixed in the resurfacing compound to have a colored porch, or you can wait until the compound is dry, and stain your porch. Although this is a cheaper option than an overlay, you can not stamp the resurfacing compound. So if you would like a stamped look without tearing out your porch, see "Overlay" below.

  Here are before and after photos showing how a resurfacing compound can cover cracks and chafing in a concrete porch:

  

  

  To find out more about the process of resurfacing, click concrete resurfacing.
• Overlay your existing porch and stairway - An overlay is a thin layer of new concrete poured over your existing concrete to make a new surface. Many choose to do this because they want the look of a stamped and colored porch, but don't want the expense of tearing out their existing, structurally sound concrete. If your concrete has a lot of cracks, though, there is no guarantee that the cracks won't show through the overlay.

  

  To find out more, click concrete overlay.

If you would like a bid on a porch or porch repair project and you live in the Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs area, request a quote.

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