My front concrete steps have seperated from the main porch/stoop (also concrete) and have sunk approx 1 inch. It appears that the original porch and stairs were poured, and then the second part (part you walk on) was poured on top of the first. There was a crack/overhang where the 2 portions were at. I attempted skim coating on quickcrete w/an acrylic bonding agent. That has also since cracked. This is also now causing drywall issues inside the door way area - tape is buckling and causing cracks.

Not sure how they are connected to each other (steps and drywall). Not even sure who or what type of company I would call to have the old stairs looked. Need some serious help. Thanks..

 

A concrete contractor should be able to help you out with the stairs. Poured concrete stairs tend to settle and separate from the house because they are poured on fill and were not tied in properly to the foundation. I'd be surprised if it was causing the drywall problems inside.

Bill

 

The problems started last year when the switch for the sump pump failed, and the pit filled with water (I wasn't home during this timeframe). After that, the steps dropped approx 1/4 inch. Drywall at entry way from stairs then had a floor to ceiling 'ripple', where the tape in the corner 'buckled and shifted'. Had a home inspector come in, and the only thing he was able to figure was that the water weeped back into the ground, causing re-settling of that part of the house. Since May, the stairs have now sunk an additional 3/4 - approx - and you can see more of the 'ripple'. Home inspector had stated that when they pour bi-level's foundation, there is some concrete that gets extended from the house for the stairs - but he wasn't real sure.

 

Most builders did not extend the foundation under the exterior stairs. The better ones did but the not so good ones poured on what is called the over-dig. This is the area that was dug out in order to build the foundation then back-filled after the framing was done. To me this sounds like the problem you are having.

Bill

 

Ok - finally have some info on this. In original post, the '1st pour' was foundation from the house out, and down the outer portion of the steps. The '2nd pour' was the actual steps/pad. The front door also had started to stick in a weird way.

It turns out that I had a cracked foundation, and cracked footing. These issues were uncovered after a concrete contractor took out the steps and pad (crack was hidden behind the pad), and had been filled on the inside (under the inside steps) w/caulk of some sort. It also turned out that the builder had run the drain tile on top of the footings, so the footings have been dealing with water & freezing.

Near the bottom of the steps (house is on a slight hill, sloping towards the bottom of steps), the footings weren't "step'd down", and aren't deep enough. To get to the outside crack, the foundation that supported the pad and steps was cutout. Door stopped sticking, crack apoxy'd, footing apoxy'd w/rebar running horizontally for support, and now have a 3' retaining wall next to the house, so that this essentially lowers the footings below the freeze line. I have no front porch or steps, but will be installing pavers in spring.

Final question: Since it appears that the drain tile was installed incorrectly during the build, and my contractor lowered the part that was excavated to the correct level (which luckily is also at the same location as my sump pit) - do I really need to get the remaining drain tile dug out, and also lowered to the same? Since the lowest point for the drain tile (to my knowledge) is now at the sump area, and it's also at the bottom of the hill/slope - I'm thinking that I wouldn't gain anything from doing this. Any suggestions?