 This stone porch has had surgery but you can't see it - a kind of nip/tuck for masonry. It's a common problem with older homes and even some new ones around Raleigh.The footing for the steps isn't attached to the porch or worse yet, there's no footing at all. A footing is just a concrete substructure that provides a solid base for masonry. That Sinking Feeling. Over time, without a solid footing, the steps may separate from the porch or the porch may separate from the house or both. If the porch drops or pulls off the house, it's certainly not a pretty sight, not to mention a safety hazard. However, the more urgent problem is that water may collect behind the porch causing moisture damage to the home. This is when anxiety sets in. Typically, the steps pull away from the porch and drop maybe 1/2" on one side and 1" or so on the other side. There might be a small crack between the steps and the porch as seen in this photo:  This scenario probably won't keep you up at night. Although, the worst case we've seen probably would. It was a job that had a 20' long porch at the front of the house with no support along the back.The exterior of the house had been constructed with 6" thick building stone that sat on top of the unsupported back edge of the porch. The porch buckled under all the weight. The stone on the exterior of the house dropped 6" in some places. The window sills on the first floor cracked in half. When it rained, water flowed behind the porch and into the basement through the foundation. The drainage pattern in a yard and events like hurricanes and drought can impact whether masonry will shift too. During Hurricane Fran, which swept through Raleigh in 1996, this house had 5' of water in the basement. You can imagine the time and expense involved in fixing these types of problems.  Masonry Makeover. Getting back to the bluestone porch above - here's what it looked like before it was reconstructed. The porch was off-center and in disrepair, but it was firmly attached to the house. To recenter the porch in front of the doorway, it was rebuilt several inches to the left. The landing was built from 2" thick cut pattern variegated bluestone. The loose steps were pinned to the porch with rebar and then covered with 3" thick single pieces of bluestone. The risers were built from local granite. Once the original steps and porch are secured, the new stonework can correct for level and risers of varying heights. When done well, these types of repairs should be permanent and invisible. Now, if only we could say the same for celebrity face-lifts. Visit our portfolio to browse other stone steps, porches and staircases. Your comments and questions are welcome below. Like us on Facebook © European Stone Masonry LLC |
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