If you’ve been in a situation where your concrete stairs were giving away, it may have felt absolutely nightmarish. However, it’s more common than you think.
If this bothers you, then you want to learn all about filling void under concrete stairs.
Unless you act on this problem fast, you could even face a major accident! So, don’t procrastinate and fix this issue as soon as you can.
Since we’re here to help, let’s get to the core of this problem together, shall we?
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Reasons Behind Void Under Concrete Stairs
Now before we delve into the details of how to fix this issue, it’s essential to learn why this void forms in the first place.
That way, the next time you’re building a concrete project, you can take some precautionary measures beforehand. After all, it’s not an uncommon fact that prevention is better than cure.
1. Erosion
Firstly, all structures go through erosion. In case your stairs are placed on the exterior of your building, then it’s definitely exposed to all the elements.
Rainwater or the scorching heat breaks down the concrete and can cause it to hollow. As a result, void forms underneath the stairs.
2. Pest infestation
Another reason may be an infestation from pests. If you have a rodent problem in your home, they may burrow through concrete and make it their homes. As a result, your concrete turns hollow.
If you notice mice or find their droppings, then urgently call pest control.
3. Loose soil
Also, if the soil beneath the concrete wasn’t appropriately compressed, it could slide. This may form a void over time and cause the concrete to displace.
Those were our three leading causes behind voids forming underneath the concrete. Now that we have this out of the way, let’s see how we can fix this issue.
Filling Void Under Concrete Stairs: How To Do It?
If you’ve determined a cavity underneath your stairs, then filling the void is a must.
First, you must determine the void that needs to be filled. Once you’ve done and marked it, we’ll need to fill the spot with cement and let it dry.
That way, you can sleep soundly knowing that you have one less thing to worry about!
To determine how you need to go about the task, let’s go through a few of the steps. Just like this scenario, you’ll need to follow some steps to fix a lousy concrete stain job.
Step 0: Gather the things you’ll need
Before you start, gather some of the essential items that you’ll need to get the work done. Simply go through the list and buy what you don’t have.
That way, you can get to work without any interruptions.
- Drill machine
- Slabjacking pump
- Cement
- Fly ash
- Sand
- Expander additive
- Concrete mortar
- Putty knife
This is also a great way to get to work when you want to create a paint poured concrete wall. Now let’s jump to the first step.
Step 1: Drill holes in the base of the step
Once you’ve determined where the void is, it’s time to create some holes in the step’s base. Our aim is to evenly make some gaps in the concrete.
This will allow you to fill the empty space inside the stair with a concrete filling. If you do this accurately, the step will be as good as new.
That’s because once the concrete dries completely, the top layer of the concrete step will automatically become stable. No more caving steps would require!
However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Depending on the size of the step, you may need to create 4-6 holes.
Make sure that you do so, keeping an even distance between them. Another thing, ensure that the holes are all of the same sizes.
Step 2: Create the concrete mix
After you’ve drilled some holes with a drilling machine, it’s now time to create the filling mix.
You may have heard some people say that just using wet sand or concrete is good enough.
We disagree with this. Bare sand or concrete will surely fill the gap, but you won’t get a solid base. As a result, you’ll face the same problem a few days down the road.
Now, what should you do instead? Mix cement, fly ash, and sand in a ratio of 1:1:2. Make sure you use useful quality cement that is durable.
Now sometimes after you’ve filled the stairs with a cement mix, it shrinks after drying. This is problematic as it can also lead to void formation. To avoid such a scenario, also use an expander additive in the mix.
This will prevent any such problems from occurring.
Step 3: Use a pump to fill the void
Here is where a slab jacking pump saves the day. All you have to do is connect a pipe with it and place the end of the pipe securely in the hole.
Next, scoop the cement mix and drop it in the pump. Switch the pump on and you’ll see that the machine does all the work for you. The gaps in the concrete will automatically get filled with the mix.
However, keep in mind that you don’t overfill the gap. Remember to keep an eye on the pump and turn it off when the void is filled.
Step 4: Cover the hole
After you’ve done filling the hole, it’s now time to cover it. To do this, take a little concrete mortar and mix it according to the instructions on the packaging.
Next, take a putty knife and smoothly apply it over the hole until it looks like it was never there, to begin with.
Afterward, if you want your stairs to look fancy, you could also opt for some insulating the concrete floors all the way.
Takeaway
That’s it, folks. That’s how easy it is filling void under concrete stairs.
If you enjoyed our post or have any doubts, don’t hesitate to reach out. Until then, keep rocking!
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