How do you repair cement steps that have cracked ?

Pamela Murphy
by Pamela Murphy
new England winters are brutal for snow and ice. Our cement steps have cracked. They have sand? Beneath the cement surface so they are pretty solid.
  4 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jun 21, 2018

    Best to Recast your Step or use Clinker blocks and Slabs.........

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Jun 21, 2018

    Here is a simple step-by-step process to repair concrete steps - https://www.twofeetfirst.net/fixing-chipped-concrete-steps/

  • Pmr33619375 Pmr33619375 on Jun 22, 2018

    You can use a concrete caulk that you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. However you need to resolve the problem tat is causing your steps to crack. Usually this is caused by water standing on the steps and then freezing. remember that water expands when it freezes, thus creating cracks.


    When your steps are repaired use a good concrete sealer to help reduce water soaking into the concrete. To a limited degree, paint will work but it needs to be oil based and not latex.


    Phil Rasmussen

    The Mountain Woodworker

    Hendersonville, NC

  • Steve Woodward Steve Woodward on Jun 22, 2018

    they really should be re-poured. The iron post/rail should have not been directly set, as it will leave a tiny gap that water can get in and allow ice to form. ( it appears the cracks start at the iron post) by using a circular hole and setting the post, you can pour in a flexible filler that expands with the seasons to keep water out.


    Not sure what is going on to the back of the step, but that is well beyond a crack, all the loose chunks need to be removed and the entire step re-poured in my opinion at this point.


    If you pour over the top, the cracks are likely to reappear, even if you have enough thickness (over 2/3 inches), as concrete just tends to re-crack. I have found that by laying a motar base (between old concrete and new pour) some of the re-cracking will be alleviated.


    Just remove ALL paint and chunks/loose concrete first. wet (soak) old concrete well, lay a mortar base, ( fairly dry. about the consistency of crumbling bread but NO powdery dry mix!) then pour over the top new concrete as per directions. Nylon mesh netting set in mortar helps eliminate re-cracking as well. Then seal it well!