Hi all,

I have a set of four steps leading up to my house. They are made of large blocks of solid sandstone (I will call these treads for lack of a better word) sitting on a brick support structure. Unfortunately, the brick support structure is not holding up and the sandstone treads and now tilting the wrong way such that they no longer shed water. I want to pull off the treads, redo or repair the brickwork, and then put the treads back on.

The problem is that I have no idea how to move the treads. They are about 6' long and about 8"x10" on end. I estimate that they will weigh roughly 500 lb each. How on earth do I get them down, and then when I'm done, how do I get them back up there?



Sorry for the bushes in the photo.

 

A bobcat loader rental with forks.....that would be about the only way I know....

 

I don't think that's how they got there originally (in 1921). There's gotta be a way.

 

Lots of muscle power
Got any strong friends

 

Tread is the proper term.

Yes, it can be done without the use of a skid loader or other motorized machinery if you have enough overhead clearance and/or how much space you have in front of the steps or to the side of the steps. You can do it by yourself if necessary, but a helper (no brute strength needed) makes things a little easier.

Can you post a photo of the surrounding area and/or describe approximately how much space you have in front of the steps (from the bottom of the steps outward away from the steps) and to the side (from the steps toward the camera in the current photo)? The bushes may be an obstacle.

The reason I ask is because one method involves ramps (think ancient Egyptian ingenuity).

Regarding overhead clearance, is there a porch roof over or near the steps (a photo would help a lot to answer this question)?

Please provide the requested info and we'll go from there.

 

It's raining right now, but I will try to snap a photo when the rain stops. Meanwhile, there are about 5 (maybe 6) feet between the stairs and a nearby flowerbed in front of the steps. To the side there is maybe about a foot of flat bed before the bed takes on a 45 degree slope for 2 more feet, then sidewalk. I'm not enormously attached to my snowberries.

Yes, there is a porch roof near the steps. It does not really overhang the steps very much, but it is there.

Thanks for your help!

 

Okay, that helps, but I'll wait for you to post a photo if you don't mind - it will make it easier to see a solution.

 

Alwayssummer, did you find a solution? I would have checked in sooner, but I have been out of town a lot since the last post.