Concrete Front Steps Makeover Using Granite Entry Steps
If you recently stepped up to your home and noticed cracked concrete, wobbly bricks, or sagging wood on your front door steps, it’s likely time for a much needed replacement. Outdoor steps ideas come in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes, colors and finishes – from natural to synthetic. But before you rush to replace your entry stairs with the same material, or something else that’s only going to fail again in a few years, take a moment to consider natural granite as the fail-safe solution.
Aesthetically pleasing, durable, and long-lasting, granite may surprise you as an alternative to the standard wood, brick, and concrete options that quickly come to mind. Here’s why granite steps are better for your concrete front steps makeover.
Outdoor Steps: Solid as a Rock
Made by Mother Nature herself, granite entry steps from Polycor come in solid stone cut in one piece from blocks of granite pulled from Polycor-owned quarries throughout the U.S. Because they are made out of stone formed by intense geological forces and pressure inside the earth, they are a one-and-done solution. They are naturally sustainable, literally solid as a rock, and will never require maintenance or replacement for cracks or chips.
“These outdoor steps will outlast humans,” says Polycor’s design consultant, Steve Schrenk. “They are practically ready-made outdoor steps that you simply set and forget. They’re especially appealing for people in colder climates who are constantly battling freeze/thaw cycles and need to repair concrete every 10 to 15 years from spalling and cracking. With granite, you don’t have to worry about any of that.” When it comes to front door step ideas and outdoor stairs it’s hard to beat granite from a performance and aesthetics standpoint. Makeover concrete steps with ease using prefabricated granite steps.
Whereas concrete has an average of between 3,000 – 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) compressive strength, granite is typically 17,000 psi and sometimes even as high as 23,000 psi – that’s practically 4 -5 times the density and durability of concrete steps and brick step tread. This is what makes granite so hard-wearing in the elements. Freeze/thaw cycles, UV exposure, water, salt, or calcium chloride won’t affect it over time. What could be better for your front door stairs?
FASTER INSTALL
With concrete or other materials, you have to account for several days of preparation and installation to build up the structure with concrete forms or CMU blocks, mixed bagged mortar materials, and allow for proper cure times of the concrete and mortar so it reaches maximum psi strength. All of that adds up to expense for skilled labor and extended time spent without outside steps.
“With granite, because the front steps come pre-cut, you literally just have to pick them up, set them down, and check that they are level. You don’t even have to put mortar or adhesive in between the joints. The sheer weight of the steps alone keeps them tightly in place,” says Schrenk. Granite steps can weigh between 400 and 1,600 pounds, so it’s easy to see how they stay in place.
The only prep work needed is to create a level pad made of concrete, gravel or washed stone with the option of fine, crushed stone on top, which can take merely a couple of hours. Granite stone entry steps can take less than a day to install. Rethink the term prefabricated exterior steps because these are literally next level in terms of the PSI strength of the finished product. And with no alkali-silica reaction from embedded rebar or other headaches that come with precast concrete products, you can confidently set these knowing that they aren’t going to decompose.
Learn How To Install Granite Front Door Steps
Types of Granite Steps
Stone and Finish Options For
7” Steps
LOWER LABOR COSTS
Because there is less labor involved in installing granite steps, labor costs will be lower than other options. Instead of a five to seven-day installation with concrete or other materials, you pay for one day of labor or less.
“The skillset isn’t near what’s required for masonry work where you need to make sure the concrete mixture is right, the forms are set correctly, the concrete blocks are going in level and plumb and the right amount of mortar is used on the joints,” says Schrenk. “With granite front steps, you just need the lifting equipment to hoist them and put them in place.”
The installation of granite steps is so easy you could even do it yourself. “If you have access to equipment to lift heavy objects and experience using it, it’s no problem,” says Schrenk. They are even a good option to replace concrete porch steps or any other outdoor steps design where wood or concrete may be used.
GOOD CURB APPEAL
Granite entry steps come in a variety of stone options to provide beautiful curb appeal to the front entry steps of your home.
Stone choices include:
- EASTERN GRAY™ granite – a light silvery grey with black flecks
- CALEDONIA™ granite – a dark, warm beige grey
- SAINT HENRY BLACK™ granite – a deep black with mega-crystals
All come with split face edging and a thermal flame finish to make the granite non-slip underfoot.
Front entrance steps made from granite outperform the competition with the added natural beauty of genuine quarried stone, easy installation, and lower maintenance costs. When you’re ready to take the next step in creating an attractive, lasting entrance to your home, it’s clear why granite entry steps are better.
GALLERY
Front Steps Ideas
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Granite Entry Steps
How are Granite Entry Steps made?
Granite Steps are solid pieces of stone that are cut to specific dimensions from
quarried blocks of granite. They have solid interiors with no rebar or other foreign materials inside that can rust or deteriorate. These ready made outdoor steps have a naturally superior density that will last longer than typical concrete steps made from poured concrete or concrete block and mortar.
What is the performance of Granite Entry Steps compared to other step products?
Due to the fact that these steps are manufactured from 100% natural granite they
benefit from the geologic forces that formed them. Granite is an igneous stone that is formed by extreme heat and pressure. The minerals of quartz, feldspar, mica and schist have been locked together in the process resulting in an incredibly strong building material. If you have walked along mountain trails and stepped on granite outcrops you understand how how resilient granite is and how long it will last. Whereas concrete step products have a lifespan of 10-15 years, granite will never require replacement. They will last for centuries and outlive multiple generations before they would show any signs of degradation. The rest of the house would deteriorate around it and the steps would remain, that’s how strong these steps are!
How do I know how many steps I need for my project?
Measure the height from the bottom of the threshold of the entry door and divide by
7 inches, taking into consideration the height from the final step up into the doorway as well. Calculate the number of steps required to reach from the door down to the steps foundation in 7″ increments and mark where the base for the steps will need to be leveled. This is where you will begin building off of once you start installing the granite steps.
What is the care and maintenance of granite entry steps?
Granite Steps are very durable and will stand up to the regular wear and tear of foot traffic and
rain, freezing / thawing conditions, snow, ice and UV rays. They will not degrade or lose their color because they do not have any dyes or pigments added to them. The color you see is the inherent color that the minerals within the stone naturally possess. Simply sweep or blow steps regularly and use a pressure washer as needed to remove any build-up of organic debris. Watch Polycor’s how to video on care and maintenance of natural stone to see demonstrations of the best materials and techniques to use when cleaning and maintaining your natural stone surfaces.
How slippery are granite entry steps when they are wet?
During the manufacturing process of producing granite entry steps a final finish is created by
applying a concentrated, extremely high heat flame to the surface of the granite with propane torches. This finish is called a thermal or flamed finish which causes the heated minerals to lightly pop from the surface and leaves a rough, frosted texture that feels like sandpaper. As a result, the surfaces of granite entry steps have a very high slip resistance, meaning that there is a high degree of grip to the soles of shoes and boots – even when wet! When shoveling snow and using salt on ice the texture will still be on the surface of the stone and will not degrade.
How Are Granite Entry Steps Installed?
Out of all the front door steps designs, installing granite steps is one of the least complicated. It is a straightforward process that does not require any internal structure or framework to be constructed or built to support the stonework. The steps are completely self-supporting thanks to their incredible density and strength so you won’t need to mix or trowel any mortars. They’re a one-and-done solution that won’t require replacement or maintenance – they will outlive us all.
Aesthetically pleasing, durable, and long-lasting, granite is a superior alternative to the standard brick, concrete and synthetic options often used. And unlike concrete that has a 5,000 psi compressive strength, granite is 4 times that with an average of 20,000 psi. This is what makes granite stand up to the elements, especially in colder climates were freeze/thaw cycles take their toll on concrete and mortars. With granite, you simply don’t have to worry about any of that. Here we will walk you through the procedure of successfully installing a set of granite entry steps in front of a home.
Preparing the base for a set of front steps
Begin measuring using 7” increments to account for the thickness of the steps and top landing, in relation to the door threshold and the base material. Here we will demonstrate how to install steps using a 4” concrete pad as a base. Granite entry steps can also be installed on a densely graded aggregate base as well.
Size the concrete or aggregate base accordingly and make sure it’s centered on the door. The finished pad should extend 6” beyond the front, left and right sides of the finished set of steps. This pad measures 72” wide and 87” front to back. Four steps plus the landing equals 35” in height, using the 7” increment rule, and the measurement from the top of the landing into the door threshold was also 7”.
How to handle and lift granite steps
At 160 pounds a cubic foot, granite steps can get quite heavy so it’s helpful to lift with a helper (a 13” x 60” x 7” step weighs about 525 lbs). Always go for the team lift when maneuvering steps into place. For large or oversized steps and landings that exceed your lifting capacity, it’s best to enlist the help of a backhoe or loader along with a set of nylon straps or a vacuum lifter.
Lifting equipment will be necessary to hoist oversized pieces into place safely and with precision. Instead of using straps, we’ve opted to use a state-of-the-art vacuum lifter attached to a chain and set of forks for this demonstration.
Measure and check for level often
Measure early and often throughout the process in order to ensure all components are fitting properly at each level. Before you begin, verify the measurements of all of the steps and fillers. Granite is a natural material and can have slight thickness variations. If there are differences in thickness it’s best to reserve these step and filler pieces for the first, bottom layer since it’s the best location to make adjustments and not have any visible shim work in the finished product.
Install the first course of granite steps
For this project the concrete pad was pitched away from the home. If the pad is level, it is recommended to pitch the first tier of steps and fillers away from the home to allow for proper water runoff from the steps. Allowing for 1/4″ of pitch over a 4’-0” of length is sufficient.
Begin by setting the longest pair of step fillers (6’ in this case) onto the concrete or gravel pad perpendicular to the home foundation. Evenly space them opposite of each other so that the measurements from the outside edges of the split face granite are equal and match the length of the step to be installed on top of them (5’ in this case). Check for level.
Use the vacuum lifter (or straps) attached to a loader with chain rated for the weight to lift the material. Center the vacuum lifter pad and allow it to reach the necessary pressure, keeping your hands and feet carefully out of the way. Set one of the 5’ steps flat on the pad, directly in front of the two step fillers, aligning the outside edges of the step flush with the outside edges of the fillers. Check that the top of the fillers and step are flush with each other and level. Use plastic shims (for concrete pads) or additional gravel (for aggregate pads) to align the height of the step to the height of the step fillers if they are out of level with each other. Continue to verify levelness of the first course.
Install the next courses of steps
Once the first level of steps and fillers are in place, properly pitched, and tested to ensure there is no movement, it’s time to build the second tier of steps. For the second tier we’re using two 5’ step fillers. Repeat the same procedure used for the first tier’s filler pieces. Check for level and place another 4’-0” step as was done previously. This step will overlap the one below it by one inch to tie everything together. If shim work is required, place them towards the inside of the filler or step edges at this time.
Continue the process with the third and fourth tiers (or however many are being used for the project). At this point, if the installation procedure has been followed properly, the final step should be stable and not move, since the first two layers have been stabilized during the build. If the top step has some rocking or movement use plastic shims where needed to firm it up.
Install the step landing piece
The 3’ x 5’ landing is final step of the installation that everyone is waiting for. Secure the vacuum lifter and slowly and carefully lift the piece up and into position just above the last tier of steps.
Assure proper alignment and slowly lower the piece into place checking alignment as you go. Once in place, release the lifter and check that the landing is properly seated. Now you can triumphantly stand on top and claim your dominance over your set of granite entry steps!
When it comes to a set of outdoor stairs it’s impossible to beat granite entry steps from a performance and aesthetics standpoint. And Polycor Hardscapes & Masonry is your go-to resource for durable North American quarried stone products.
