Leaving your house at the start of a long day and returning home at the end of one is a rite of passage. The steps that lead up to your front door deal with the weight of yourself and your loved ones going through these motions, in and out, over and over. So of course, it’s not surprising that the front steps of your home can begin to wear down over time. If you’re dealing with a cracked or broken step or beginning to notice signs of wear and tear, then you’ll need some tips on how to deal with this as soon as possible.

Repairing a damaged front step should be taken seriously, as leaving a crack or hole to grow can be dangerous as well as unattractive. Read on to find the vital signs that your stairs need to be repaired as well as maintenance tips to keep them good as new.

Tips: How to Spot Damaged Front Steps and Repair Them

source: unsplash

1- The concrete is crumbling

Concrete is an appealing material for many homeowners and contractors alike. This is for several reasons, but one of the main ones is its durability. If properly cared for, concrete can last for decades and will require little to no maintenance or deterioration. Of course, as with any material that’s used outdoors, when employed for front steps, concrete is exposed to various harsh weather conditions including rain, snow, storm, sun and so forth.

If you’re taking a step down from your front door and notice that the steps are crumbling, this is a definite sign that the concrete is internally deteriorating and will need to be repaired as soon as possible. It may be especially urgent if you notice huge chunks of the steps missing or pieces that have fallen to the side of the staircase or along your front walkway. This might simply be a cosmetic fix, as the steps could still be in good shape internally.

2- They wobble under pressure

As mentioned, your front steps are subjected to heavy foot traffic. You might not notice signs of damage outwardly, but when you step down do your steps feel unsafe to walk on? If you answered yes, this is a definite signifier that your steps are internally crumbling. If there’s just a slight wobble in certain parts of the step, chances are there is a deeper problem going on. This is a structural issue, and repair methods for this may be more complex than for the above problem.