Sidewalks & Steps in Grand Rapids, MI

Sidewalks and steps take more abuse than their size suggests. A front walk gets shoveled and salted all winter, and a concrete stoop sits right where roof runoff lands. In a city where, by Point2Homes' summary of Census data, 37.5 percent of homes were built in 1939 or earlier, many walks and stoops are decades old: roots have lifted them, they have pulled away from the house, or the top layer has flaked down to loose stone. A trip edge on a walk or a wobbly step is a safety problem, and it is usually the first concrete job on an older property.

Private walks and the public sidewalk

It helps to know which concrete is yours to change and which is under city rules. Your front walk, side path and stoop are private. The public sidewalk along the street and the driveway approach are in the right-of-way. In Grand Rapids, building, rebuilding, removing or repairing a sidewalk, approach, curb or retaining wall in the right-of-way requires a Sidewalk/Drive Approach Permit, issued only to holders of a City Sidewalk Builder's License. The permit is $75 for a one- or two-unit home with under 200 square feet of concrete work and $175 above that, and it is valid for 60 days.

The city also inspects public sidewalks, with a goal of covering every sidewalk on a 15-year revolving cycle. Inspectors mark squares that need replacing with a black or white mark; a white mark means the square is scheduled for replacement during an upcoming road project. Residents have 24 hours after snowfall stops to clear their sidewalks. If you have a question about a marked square in front of your home, the city takes reports at 311 or 616-456-3000.

Walks that drain and stay level

A walk needs a firm, drained base and a slight cross-slope so water runs off instead of sitting and freezing. HomeGuide's sidewalk guide notes that most walkways are 4 to 6 inches thick. We dig out soft soil, compact crushed stone, and place joints at regular spacing so cracks form in straight lines. Where tree roots caused the old walk to heave, we look at rerouting the path or cutting the walk differently, since roots will keep growing.

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Steps and stoops

Poured concrete steps are formed in place to fit the entry. Precast steps are made off site and set in place. HomeGuide lists poured steps at $200 to $500 per step and precast at $100 to $350, with a set of five poured steps around $1,000 to $2,500. Poured steps can match an odd-sized door, wrap around a corner or tie into a walk; precast is quicker when a standard size fits.

On older houses, the stoop often sinks or tilts away from the foundation, leaving a gap where water gets in. Depending on how bad it is, the fix may be lifting the stoop, resurfacing it, or tearing it out and pouring new steps on a proper base. HomeGuide lists concrete step repair at $300 to $800. Railings are priced separately; HomeGuide gives $20 to $250 per linear foot.

Step sizes that feel right

Steps feel safe when every riser is the same height and every tread is the same depth. Uneven steps are one of the most common reasons people trip on old stoops. When we form new steps, we measure from the door threshold to the finished walk and divide the height evenly. HomeGuide notes that a staircase taller than about 5 feet typically needs a landing.

Winter care

Use sand or a de-icer that is labeled safe for concrete, and avoid products with ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate. Do not salt new walks or steps their first winter. Shovel early so snow is not packed into ice. Keep gutters and downspouts working so roof water does not pour onto the stoop.