Your entry steps are the first impression and the last thing guests touch leaving. We build them to code rise and run, anchor them on below-frost footings, and finish with grip texture that handles Gatineau freeze-thaw. New pours or replacements for steps that have settled, cracked or become unsafe. Free written estimate on every project.
Entry steps fail for three predictable reasons. First, inconsistent rise or run within the flight causes trips and falls. Second, a footing that sits above the frost line gets heaved by freeze-thaw cycles, lifting the steps inches out of level. Third, concrete that is not freeze-thaw rated or finished smooth instead of textured spalls and becomes slippery in winter.
Each failure is avoidable at the pour. We set footings below frost, calculate rise and run to code, use a durable concrete mix, and apply a grip-textured finish. The result is steps that look and perform the same after ten winters as they did on day one.
If only part of your flight has failed, step repair may be the answer. For a full replacement, we tie the new concrete stairs cleanly into the existing walkway so the whole approach reads as one piece.
Recent work
The build sequence
How Entry Steps Get Built Right
Measure threshold and grade
We measure the door threshold height above the planned walkway elevation, calculate the number of risers needed, and determine the matching tread depth. Code rise and run are confirmed before any forming.
Excavate and set footing
The footing is dug below the frost line, compacted solid, formed and poured first. This prevents heave from freeze-thaw. Reinforcement is placed at the right depth.
Form the flight with embeds
The step flight is formed to the calculated rise and run. Any handrail anchor embeds are set into the form before the pour so the handrail bolts in cleanly after cure.
Pour, finish and texture
Concrete is placed, screeded level, and finished with a broom or anti-slip texture for winter grip. Edges are tooled clean, control joints are cut if needed, and the steps cure protected.
Winter safety and code
Why Grip Texture Matters in Gatineau
Rise and run are not decorative choices. Code defines a safe range for step height and tread depth because inconsistency causes trips. Every step in a flight must be identical within that range. We design to code and verify before pouring.
Winter grip is equally critical. A smooth-troweled step becomes a skating rink during freeze-thaw; a textured step stays walkable. We default to broom or anti-slip texture on all exterior concrete steps. Coordinate the texture with your patio and driveway so the whole property reads cohesively.
Rise and run, footings below frost, winter grip and replacing failing entry steps in Gatineau.
There is a safe range for both the rise (the height of each step) and the run (the depth of each tread); every flight has to be consistent within that range. We design each flight to fit the threshold and walkway and confirm code compliance before pouring.
Almost always because the footing under them was not below the frost line. Gatineau's freeze-thaw cycle will lift any step that is sitting on shallow fill. New steps from us go on a proper below-frost footing so they stay put.
Not when finished with a broom or anti-slip texture, which is our default for any exterior steps. A smooth-troweled step is dangerous in winter here; a textured one stays walkable.
Yes. Where a handrail is required by code, or you just want one, we set anchor embeds into the form before the pour so the handrail bolts cleanly into the cured concrete. Adding handrails after the fact is messy; planning them in is clean.
Often, yes. We can saw-cut at the join, remove just the failing step section, pour a new flight to the same elevation and re-finish the join cleanly. Where the walkway is also failing, doing both at once is usually the better value.
Homeowner reviews
What Gatineau Homeowners Say About Their Front Entry Steps
Old steps had sunk three inches over twenty years. New ones on a proper footing, code rise, broom finish. Solid through last winter with no movement and grip even on icy mornings.
Z. C.
Gatineau
★★★★★
Replaced inconsistent risers that had been a trip hazard for years. Every step is exactly the same height now; we have stopped catching our toes on the way in.
Q. T.
Ottawa
★★★★★
Handrail embeds set on day one of the pour. The handrail installer found it the easiest install he had done all month. Planning paid off.
Q. A.
Barrhaven
★★★★★
Tied the new steps cleanly into the existing walkway without redoing the walk. Edge joints look intentional, not patched. Saved real money.
X. G.
Nepean
From the blog
Concrete Guides & Articles
Practical reading on planning, finishes and caring for concrete in Gatineau.
