Concrete Steps in Summertown & Southern Middle Tennessee

Concrete steps see more concentrated wear than any other part of your property. Every person walking in and out of your home lands their full weight on the same small area, and steps are fully exposed to rain, ice, and direct sunlight. Steps that are poorly built — inadequate footings, inconsistent riser heights, smooth slippery surfaces — are both a safety hazard and an expensive problem to fix later.

We build concrete steps on proper footings that extend below the frost line in Tennessee (minimum 12 inches in this part of the state). The footing supports the full weight of the steps independently from the building foundation, which prevents the common problem of steps pulling away from the house as the soil settles. We tie into the foundation with rebar dowels where appropriate, but the steps must be structurally independent.

Consistency in riser height is critical — building code requires risers to be within 3/8 inch of each other in a set of stairs. Uneven risers are the most common cause of trips and falls on stairs. We form each step precisely and verify measurements before pouring. Standard residential risers are 7 to 7.75 inches, and treads are a minimum of 10 inches deep. We can adjust these dimensions within code limits to work with your specific elevation change.

Every step surface gets a broom finish or equivalent non-slip texture. We also form a slight pitch on each tread (about 1/8 inch per foot) so water drains off rather than pooling and freezing in winter. For front stoops and landings, we maintain the same drainage pitch and ensure the landing is at least 36 inches deep — wide enough to open a storm door while standing on the landing safely.