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gap between concrete driveway and stairs

9 years ago

We've got a chunk missing at the bottom of our stairs going up to the main level of our townhouse. There is a gap between the base of the stairs and the driveway. What can I use to fill the gap? The missing chunk is about 2" wide. The gap is about 3/4" at one end and 1" at the other. It seems soil has washed out beneath the base of the stairs, but so far they haven't sunk.

Should I call a mudjacker or just try stuffing it with some roofing tar paper rolled up? At our previous home I've tried the tarry, asphalt roll, about 3" wide and 1/2" thick, but I think it wouldn't be the right thickness and it wouldn't uniformly fill the gap.

Thank you for your opinion.

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Comments (6)

SaltiDawg
9 years ago
It would seem that the driveway/sidewalk has settled relative to the stairs...

This post was edited by saltidawg on Sat, Jul 26, 14 at 18:05
mosquitogang201
9 years ago
Looks to me like the sidewalk has sunk too. See the straight line on the front of the stairs a half inch up? That's where the sidewalk used to be. I'd normally just use regular clear caulk on something like that but you have a big gap. Maybe roofing sealant? Might be big enough just to mix a small bag of concrete. Caulk collects dirt over time so it starts to blend in but the color isn't ever a perfect match.
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What about creating a cove with a cricket at the inside corner out of asphalt instead? I see a few problems with your flashing design that maybe you just didn't elaborate on. First, you are still going to have to deal with failing caulk, so that problem didn't go away. The caulk cracks, the water still goes through. So you are not saving yourself that work. Additionaly, you will have sharp metal edges exposed. Secondly, you are just going to leave the top of the flashing open? Water that does get in now will get trapped for sure. You would need to attach a cap flashing, fastened to the wall and sealed with caulk that overlaps the top of your coved base flashing by a few inches. Then the inside corner presents another problem. How are you going to bend the flashing here and have it sealed? Unless you can find something prefab, you might make one piece turn into more of a bend than a curve as it reaches the corner, create a top and bottom tab at one end. The bottom tab bends upward against the perpendicular wall, the top tab wraps the corner. Then a new flashing on the garage wall butts into the corner and continues on. The cap flashing simply bends the corner.
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Companies named Sika and Sonneborn make products that will work well. Usually available only at commercial roofing/waterproofing wholesale suppliers. But I saw some of the Sika products at Home Depot recently. Lots of folks use silicone caulk. Polyurethane is better. The self-leveling gives best looking results for situations such as yours.
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You should consider trying a high quality self leveling polyurethane sealer to seal the crack. One such product is made by Sika (comes in a caulking gun) is available at Home Depot. I belive it is typically sold in the same area as the concrete products.
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Look for an extended control weed and grass killer that lasts 6 months. It won't be forever, but it should last for most of the growing season. I use it on our limestone patio. Weeds like to grow between the spaces between the pieces of limestone. Be careful not to get it on the rest of the grass.
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oldfixer
9 years ago
Concrete crack filler, in a tube like caulk.
janetl57
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions. I might try mixing some cement, but with nothing to adhere to below (can see open space) I'm not sure how long it will last. The gap is definitely too wide for any type of caulk/sealant without first using some kind of filler.

To clarify, it is the driveway, not the sidewalk that abuts to the bottom of the stairs. I'm hoping we don't have to replace the whole 20x8 foot section of the driveway.
snoonyb
9 years ago
Concrete crack filler, as suggested, has aggregate in it, can be tooled, stacks well and skins quickly.

And can be colored.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
9 years ago
"I might try mixing some cementÃ¢ÂÂ¦"

leakinohno:

If you live where there is a freeze thaw cycle, this is the worst thing you can do. If you fill the gap with cement, you've just narrowed the gap ice has to fill and expand to continue the damage.

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