My brick front stoop is two steps, 7 inches and 11 inches. Obviously,
that second step is too tall. I see two options.

Add a layer of split bricks to the first step. This would make the
first step 9-1/8" and the second step 8-7/8".

Or make a new first step (on top of the current concrete sidewalk,
using two layers of bricks) and add a layer of bricks to the current
first step. This would make the first step 6-1/4" and the next two
steps 5-3/8" each.

Obviously, the second option is better ergonomically. However, I
don't know if I can do it myself. I can figure out enough to know
you need a special adhesive between the concrete sidewalk and the
mortar for the first step. And you need to angle the bricks slightly so
water runs off. But I'm unsure about whether I need drainage holes or
how to make them. And perhaps there's something else for this second
option that would require a professional and more money I don't
really want to spend.

So, would the first option really not be good enough, or do I not need
anything special for the second option so I can do it myself?

Hire a mason to fix it right. He will tear down what you got.


wrote in message
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My brick front stoop is two steps, 7 inches and 11 inches. Obviously,
that second step is too tall. I see two options.

Add a layer of split bricks to the first step. This would make the
first step 9-1/8" and the second step 8-7/8".

Or make a new first step (on top of the current concrete sidewalk,
using two layers of bricks) and add a layer of bricks to the current
first step. This would make the first step 6-1/4" and the next two
steps 5-3/8" each.

Obviously, the second option is better ergonomically. However, I
don't know if I can do it myself. I can figure out enough to know
you need a special adhesive between the concrete sidewalk and the
mortar for the first step. And you need to angle the bricks slightly so
water runs off. But I'm unsure about whether I need drainage holes or
how to make them. And perhaps there's something else for this second
option that would require a professional and more money I don't
really want to spend.

So, would the first option really not be good enough, or do I not need
anything special for the second option so I can do it myself?

You can hire someone or in this case, since materials are pretty cheap,
if you want to mess around on your own you won't hurt anything or spend
much money. Bricks and mortar are cheap, it's just your time IOW, and
the reult can't be worse than what you have now....

Drainage holes = ?

On 2006-02-09, wrote:

My brick front stoop is two steps, 7 inches and 11 inches. Obviously,
that second step is too tall. I see two options.

Add a layer of split bricks to the first step. This would make the
first step 9-1/8" and the second step 8-7/8".

Or make a new first step (on top of the current concrete sidewalk,
using two layers of bricks) and add a layer of bricks to the current
first step. This would make the first step 6-1/4" and the next two
steps 5-3/8" each.

Did you mean to say one step of 6-1/4" and two steps of 5-7/8"?
Otherwise, your math is off.

Anyway, three steps of 6" is vastly better than two steps of 9". As
far as I know, no building code would allow two steps of 9". So
definitely go for three steps of 6". The building code I'm familiar
with allows at most 3/8" variation in riser height, so you would be OK
(barely) with your 6 1/4" and 5 7/8" steps. You might try to get them
closer together, e.g. 6 1/8", 6", and 5 7/8".

As to how to execute this with brick, I don't really know, hopefully
someone else will answer that part of things.

Cheers, Wayne

On 9 Feb 2006 07:37:19 -0800, "
wrote:

My brick front stoop is two steps, 7 inches and 11 inches. Obviously,
that second step is too tall. I see two options.

Are you sure it is done sinking? (Is that what caused this?)

I should have kept better track of mine, but I think it took over 10
years to reach bottom.

The three steps is much better.

Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.