TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 The builder gave me two lousy wooden steps from the garage to the house. Only pic I have is under construction before the wooden steps were put in. Needless to say, brick is 1,000 times better. The retired neighbors across the street paid someone to do it. I think it was around $200 or so per step so I'm probably looking at under $500 if I pay someone. I think I can do this myself. I have a nice level and trowel and some common sense. I can copy the design of the front steps to lay it out. I think it'd be a nice, fairly easy project but don't know the pitfalls. Is there more to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Just put in a ramp... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 The builder gave me two lousy wooden steps from the garage to the house. Only pic I have is under construction before the wooden steps were put in. Needless to say, brick is 1,000 times better. The retired neighbors across the street paid someone to do it. I think it was around $200 or so per step so I'm probably looking at under $500 if I pay someone. I think I can do this myself. I have a nice level and trowel and some common sense. I can copy the design of the front steps to lay it out. I think it'd be a nice, fairly easy project but don't know the pitfalls. Is there more to it? Easy enough, if you are careful. THe easiest error to make is getting mortar all over the bricks, leaving a glaze you have to use muratic acid to get off. Keep it all neat and tidy, and take it sloooowww. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 Just put in a ramp... I'm not that old. Yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I do almost everything mahself around mah house, but don't think I'd go there. For $500, pay someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 As far as pitfalls, make certain the bed is flat, level and solid. That is probably the most important part. Any settling of the underlying dirt will spell disaster. If you are good with concrete and forms, you could pour a pad for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 As far as pitfalls, make certain the bed is flat, level and solid. That is probably the most important part. Any settling of the underlying dirt will spell disaster. If you are good with concrete and forms, you could pour a pad for them. There's a solid base of concrete to work on. I like the look of bricks more than concrete is all. At worst, a sledgehammer will fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewer Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Check your local building code to make sure that you comply with required tread width and riser height. Don't want to do it twice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 As far as pitfalls, make certain the bed is flat, level and solid. That is probably the most important part. Any settling of the underlying dirt will spell disaster. If you are good with concrete and forms, you could pour a pad for them. The steps are going from the garage to the house. Even though Timmay lives in the backwoods, he does have a concrete garage floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) I do almost everything mahself around mah house, but don't think I'd go there. For $500, pay someone. +1. Is a weekend day worth paying $500 for? Sure it is. Plus rounding up all the materials and the multiple trips to Home Depot for the stuff you forgot. Edited May 17, 2007 by Ursa Majoris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefjay Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 How about the concrete steps you can buy put together? I mean it's not as nice as the brick steps but easier. two 3 foot steps and two risers will cost you about $125 or so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Even though Timmay lives in the backwoods, he does have a concrete garage floor. That's what he says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 +1. Is a weekend day worth paying $500 for? Sure it is. Plus rounding up all the materials and the multiple trips to Home Depot for the stuff you forgot. Plus mixing mortar, cutting bricks, etc. It's messy, and a lot of work, and for $500, hire a speedy to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 How about the concrete steps you can buy put together? I mean it's not as nice as the brick steps but easier. two 3 foot steps and two risers will cost you about $125 or so? Gay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefjay Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Gay. Now that hurts. The mexicans down the street from Tim have the concrete steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Now that hurts. The mexicans down the street from Tim have the concrete steps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 Holy crap, the filter changed beaner to speedy. Someone call Spain, he's gonna love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 stamped concrete. colored etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 For $500 I'd probably have it done, assuming that includes materials and labor. If he is wanting you to buy the materials, then you might consider doing it yourself if your not going for anything to fancy. By fancy I mean something with a bunch of angle cuts for the brick. Masonry is not rocket science and really pretty easy if there isn't a lot of cutting involved. If you do it yourself though you will probably have to rent a mortar mixer and a masonry saw, which may set you back $100 or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 The beaners down the road had a brick mailbox put in and they still haven't cleaned up the cut bricks and stuff. We're about to go green card on them. stamped concrete. colored etc... That's the patio that's coming up in the backyard. I do love stamped concrete. Not for the garage though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 Holy crap, the filter changed beaner to speedy. Someone call Spain, he's gonna love it. The plural, beaners, is still good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 The plural, beaners, is still good. Classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted May 17, 2007 Author Share Posted May 17, 2007 Classic. I believe Carl's logic behind this is they always travel in groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 I believe Carl's logic behind this is they always travel in groups. no youre thinken of natives.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewer Posted May 17, 2007 Share Posted May 17, 2007 no youre thinken of natives.... No, I'm pretty sure that they cross the border in herds in order to get the group discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.