I have a gap underneath my concrete steps where water is pooling and leaking through cracks in my basement foundations during heavy downpours or when we have had a large amount of snow. I plan on getting the steps replaced and the foundation cracks fixed by Crack-X but as a stop-gap was thinking of putting some form of gravel or other material to help stop the water pooling.
Any recommendations on what I could use to temporarily fill the gap? Thanks.
OK now I know, from now on when I open a 50lb package of salt, pour it into a 5 gallon bucket and seal the bucket up with the lid between using it.
But what do I do with the salt from last year that hardened into big white chunks so that I can use it? Smash it up with a sledge hammer? It would be time consuming...
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5-6 years ago I hired someone to repair the parge coat on my exterior porch/steps that was badly cracked and falling off. I also had some serious pitting in some of the entrance steps, and I asked for advice on fixing the steps but didn't include it in the parge job (so I thought).
Bottom line - part of the parge coat was great, but another part was a different shade of grey and started cracking not long after. But worst of all, I came home to find that he used the second batch of concrete to 'butter' the tops of the entrance steps, complete with some concrete oozing over the edge. OMG!! :-(
So now 5+ years later, how to fix this. It seems my choices are completely rebuild or coat over it. It's been really hard to find someone who will do such a small re-coating job. The contractor I found last Fall wanted originally to resurface the stoop and steps with grey "Crete recap material" . He called me today to say that he's found this great Sherwin Williams product called "H&C Colortop Water-Based Concrete Stain" that he wants to use instead, because he can color match the "grout" in the red-brick-walled raised bed that abuts the stoop.
He's never used the product before but says he's going to put some on his driveway this weekend. It sounds to me like he wants to experiment with my porch. He has no idea how durable this new-to-him product is, he just seems very excited that I can pick a color.
Advice please? I primarily want what will be durable thru hot Maryland summers in full sun, and somewhat icy/snowy winters. What's the best choice - Quikcrete, H&C Color stain, something else? Thanks much!
[img]https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/629x594/frontstoop_bad_parge_e3eb6f56f75011ac1ca29f2635faa471d2b8b6ae.jpg[/img]
[img]https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/485x504/frontstoop_butter_top_steps_b3029b9f28cc49f37a2f984332734e505a1e1e94.jpg[/img]
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03-27-22, 07:13 AM
Gap under concrete stairs
