Home and Garden | Patching Concrete Steps - Masonry & Concrete

Concrete steps receive a lot of wear and tear, and can eventually develop cracks or broken edges or corners, which can pose a hazard. Make repairs as soon as possible, to avoid any mishaps. Below shows you how to replace a corner that has broken away.

PROJECT BASICS

Project: Easy
Estimated Project Time: 1 day, not including final curing time
Start Tips: Place markers at the top and bottom of the stairs to notify people that the steps are under construction.
Safety Tips: Wear safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask when mixing mortar, as the cement can burn your skin.
Recommendation: Do-it-Yourself

TOOLS & MATERIALS

Chisel	Mortar mix
Small sledgehammer	Safety goggles
Wire brush	Work gloves
Formboards (section of 3/4-inch-thick plywood)	Dust mask
Hammer	Trowel
Concrete nails	Wooden float
Bonding agent, as needed	Broom, as needed
Bucket

Fig. 1

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Remove loose debris
Using a small sledgehammer and chisel, remove all damaged concrete at the corner of the step. Use a wire brush to remove loose debris. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 3

3) Set some nails
To help a patch adhere, coat the area with a bonding agent or set a few concrete nails to reinforce the repair. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 4

4) Spread the mortar
Prepare the mortar mix in a bucket. Use a trowel to spread fresh mortar over the area, covering any nails you have driven halfway into the old step in step 3. Smooth out the mortar to be level with the form. (Fig. 4)

Let the patch sit for about one hour, then use a wooden float to smooth the surface to match the surrounding area. If your steps have been broomed to make them slip-resistant, perform that step to the patch as well.

Carefully remove the formboards after a few hours or so; do not pry or hammer against the patch itself.

For the next week, keep the area moist by sprinkling it with water daily, and avoid heavy use for another three weeks.