Step, stoop and patio leveling
Get steps back up to the door and turn a patio that tips toward the basement back the right way.
Front steps are a heavy block of concrete resting on fill right next to the house. When the fill settles, the steps lean out or sink below the threshold. Back patios follow the same pattern, and on a hillside lot a patio that tips toward the house can collect water from a big stretch of yard and aim it at the foundation.
Signs it's time
- A gap opening between the stoop and the house
- The top step sitting below the door sill
- Steps that wobble or feel uneven
- Water standing against the foundation after rain
- A patio broken into tilted sections
Can steps be lifted?
Often. Foam is a common choice for steps because the holes are small and it adds little weight. Steps cracked through, crumbling, or hollow with old wood forms decaying inside may have to be rebuilt.
Why the slope matters
A stoop or patio should fall slightly away from the house. Restoring that slope and sealing the joint against the wall is one of the simpler ways to keep water out of a basement, especially on a lot where the yard already drains toward the house.
Before you hire
- Ask whether the steps can be lifted or need replacing
- Ask how the contractor checks for gas, electric and drain lines before drilling
- Ask whether sealing the joint against the house is included
Pricing comes from the contractor after a site visit, once they've measured the drop and found what's under the slab. We don't quote prices, and the city's own sidewalk rates aren't a guide to what a private leveling job will cost.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
My stoop pulled away from the house. Can it be moved back?
Leveling raises a stoop; it doesn't slide it toward the wall. Once it's level, the gap can be sealed. A wide gap may need a different repair.
Is drilling next to my foundation safe?
Both slurry and foam are routinely used next to foundations. The contractor should locate utilities and drain lines first.
Related services
- Mudjacking and foam leveling
- Sidewalk repair and city notices
- Driveway and garage apron repair
- Joint sealing and crack repair
More background: Sioux City concrete repair guide.
White paint on your sidewalk, or a slab that keeps dropping?
Call and a local concrete leveling contractor will look at it and quote the repair.