Settled Brick Porches and Steps: Repair, Rebuild or Redesign?

Brick porches and front steps are some of the first things people notice when they approach a home. Unfortunately, they are also among the masonry features most likely to crack, settle, separate, and become unsafe over time.

At Roanoke Masonry, we repair and rebuild brick porches, masonry steps, walkways, landings, and entryways throughout Roanoke, Virginia and the surrounding area.

Many older homes around Roanoke have brick steps and porches that have been exposed to decades of moisture, freeze-and-thaw cycles, soil movement, and normal wear. A small crack may not seem serious at first, but once the base begins settling, the entire structure can start moving.

Common warning signs include:

• Cracked or loose bricks
• Broken mortar joints
• Steps that lean or slope
• Large gaps between the porch and the house
• Sunken walkways
• Cracked concrete underneath brick
• Loose or damaged bullnose brick
• Uneven step heights
• Water collecting near the porch
• Sections of masonry pulling away from one another

In some cases, damaged mortar and a few individual bricks can be repaired. But when the foundation or concrete base underneath the masonry has shifted, simply replacing cracked brick may only hide the real problem.

That is when rebuilding becomes the better long-term solution.

A proper porch or step rebuild starts from the bottom. Damaged masonry is removed, unstable material is taken out, and the base is prepared so the new structure has solid support. From there, the porch, landing, or steps can be rebuilt with brick, block, concrete, natural stone, pavers, or a combination of materials.

Homeowners are not limited to recreating the exact same design.

A deteriorated brick porch can become an opportunity to dramatically improve the appearance of the front of the home.

We can incorporate features such as brick borders, contrasting paver inlays, natural stone, wider steps, new concrete landings, decorative walkways, retaining walls, and other custom masonry details.

Older homes can especially benefit from combining traditional materials with a cleaner updated design. The goal is to make the new masonry look like it belongs with the architecture of the house rather than looking like an addition that was installed years later.

Step dimensions are also important. Older masonry steps are often narrow and uncomfortable to use. When rebuilding a set of steps, there may be an opportunity to increase tread depth, improve the rise of each step, and create a safer entrance.

Roanoke Masonry handles much more than brick repair.

Our masonry services include brickwork, stonework, concrete, block, granite, retaining walls, walkways, patios, porches, steps, repointing, masonry restoration, and complete rebuilds.

Whether you have a few deteriorated mortar joints or an entire porch that needs to be removed and rebuilt, we can evaluate the existing masonry and help determine the best approach.

If your front steps are cracking, sinking, separating, or simply making the front of your home look dated, replacing them with a custom masonry entrance can add curb appeal while solving the underlying structural problems.

Roanoke Masonry proudly serves Roanoke and surrounding communities with professional brick, stone, concrete, and masonry construction.