Concrete steps construction in Hilo HI - an even, sure-footed climb to your door
Who builds concrete steps in Hilo, and what goes into the job?
Mainstay Hilo Concrete Construction handles concrete steps construction in Hilo. We pour steps in place or set precast ones over a packed base. I come out, measure your entry and help you pick between the two. Then I work with our crew to build a flight where every step is the same height and depth, so nobody catches a foot.
Most calls about steps start with something you trip over. It might be a step that's sunk away from the house, a crack across a tread, chipped edges, or one step taller than the rest. Usually the problem is underneath. The old base was raked smooth instead of dug out and packed, so it settled with the dirt and took the steps with it.
We take out the old steps, clear the dirt, stones and roots, and pack sand or gravel to a firm, even grade. Then we either set precast steps or build forms and pour around rebar, the steel bars that hold the concrete together. Steps that land on a new house pad tie into our slab foundation building or foundation installation work, so we plan the two together.
Rain shapes how we build here. Where the Hilo soils are found, the ground is deep, well-drained soil weathered from volcanic ash. Rain there averages about 145 inches a year and the soil stays moist most months, so each tread gets a slight forward pitch to shed water. If your timing is flexible, June through August is usually the driest stretch.
What a set of steps takes
- Taking out the old steps
- Digging out and packing the base
- Precast units set or forms poured
- Every riser and tread matched
- A slight pitch to shed rain
- A textured finish for grip
What to weigh before building concrete steps
What sets the price
The number of steps, their height and width, and tearing out the old ones move the price most. If you have to trim, trim extras and keep the base, since the base is what keeps steps level.
What the schedule turns on
Weather sets the pace, because we hold off in heavy rain and skip the midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top. Precast steps also have to wait on delivery.
Smooth or textured finish
We'll suggest a textured top, either a broom finish, which drags fine grooves into the wet surface, or a wood float texture, because smooth concrete turns slick when it's wet.
Concrete steps questions from Hilo
How much do concrete steps cost in Hilo?
Concrete steps usually cost about $100 to $500 per step across the US. That's the going range nationally, not our price. Yours depends on how tall and wide the steps are, whether they're precast or poured, and what has to come out first. I'll write up your number after I see the entry, laid out to show what's included and what isn't.
What is the best way to choose between precast and poured concrete steps?
Go with precast if a standard size fits your entry, and go with poured if it doesn't. Precast steps cost less because they're hollow and easier to assemble. Poured steps cost more but come in a much wider range of sizes, so an odd height or a custom fit points to poured. I'll measure and help you weigh it right there on site.
How long do concrete steps last?
Concrete steps usually last 30 to 40 years with proper care and upkeep. That kind of life starts with what you can't see, a packed base that won't settle and a cure that isn't rushed, so that's where we spend our time.
How long does it take before I can walk on new concrete steps?
Stay off new poured steps until they've cured, and I'll tell you the day they're ready for feet. Curing is the wait while concrete hardens. We keep it slow on purpose, because a poor cure can lead to shrinkage cracks, scaling and a flaking top. Precast steps skip most of that wait, since they're cured before they arrive.
Who issues building permits for concrete steps in Hawaii County?
The Hawaii County Building Division issues building permits, and its office is at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, in Hilo. Its permit packet is dated 2013 and says you need a permit to put up a new building or structure. The current rule for your steps is worth confirming with the county. We look into it while we plan, and when you need a permit we handle the county paperwork and tell you what it involves.
What license should a concrete contractor have in Hawaii?
Hawaii's contractor license list has its own class for cement concrete work, so that's the license to ask about. The state's licensing board says a license that isn't renewed by its expiration date counts as unlicensed, and the contractor can't practice, so ask whether it's current. We're licensed and insured.
Concrete steps near you
We're based in Hilo and build concrete steps in Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park and other cities nearby. Pick your area below, or call (808) 229-1132 if yours isn't listed.
Other concrete work
- Concrete driveway building
- Concrete patio construction
- Stamped concrete services
- Concrete sidewalk building
- Garage floor concrete
- Decorative concrete
- Concrete retaining walls
- Concrete floor installation
- Concrete pool decks
- Slab foundation building
- Foundation installation
- Concrete parking lot building
- Concrete footings
- Foundation raising
- Concrete cutting
Get a free estimate for your steps
Send photos of your entry, the number of steps and whether you lean precast or poured. Expect a reply within 1 business day. Then I come out for an obligation-free estimate.