Stairs & Entryways Leveling in Pomona, CA

Common Entryway Settlement Problems

Property owners may notice:

• A front landing dropping away from the house
• Uneven stair heights
• A gap below the porch
• A sunken walkway approaching the steps
• Water collecting near the entrance
• Cracks around the landing
• A step that feels higher than before
• Separation between concrete and the foundation

Because people use entrances constantly, relatively small changes can become inconvenient.

Why Concrete Near Entrances Settles

Entryways are commonly located beside foundation backfill.

Soil close to the structure may have been disturbed during original construction. If it was not thoroughly compacted, it can continue settling over time.

Other causes include:

• Roof runoff
• Downspout discharge
• Irrigation
• Soil erosion
• Drainage problems
• Poor base preparation
• Plumbing leaks
• Voids beneath landings
• Long-term soil compression

Leveling Front Landings

A concrete landing located directly outside a door needs the correct relationship with the threshold.

If the slab settles, the step from the doorway may become higher and water may move toward the building.

When conditions permit, lifting the landing can reduce the height difference.

Movement must be controlled carefully because the landing may be close to siding, masonry, door frames, columns, or railings.

Correcting Uneven Concrete Steps

Concrete stairs can settle as a complete unit or individual sections may shift.

If the entire stair assembly remains intact, leveling may sometimes reposition it.

However, broken stairs, unstable foundations, severely cracked sections, or attached structural components may require a different repair method.

Each staircase should be evaluated individually.

Step Height Consistency

Comfortable stairs depend on relatively consistent riser heights.

If a bottom landing sinks, the first step becomes unusually high.

If the upper landing moves, the final step may change.

These height differences can make the staircase feel awkward even if the stairs themselves have not cracked.

Leveling the adjoining concrete can sometimes restore a more natural transition.

Entryway Drainage

Water should generally move away from the building.

A landing that settles toward the door can direct rainwater toward the threshold.

This condition may be especially noticeable during heavy storms.

We evaluate the available elevations to determine whether lifting can improve the slope.

Drainage sources such as downspouts and landscape irrigation should also be addressed when they contribute to settlement.

Walkways Approaching the Steps

Sometimes the stairs are stable but the sidewalk leading to them has sunk.

This can create a large rise at the first step.

In this situation, the appropriate repair may be leveling the walkway rather than moving the staircase.

Determining which component actually moved is an important part of the evaluation.

Leveling Around Railings and Columns

Entry areas often contain fixed or attached features.

These may include:

• Metal railings
• Porch columns
• Decorative masonry
• Handrails
• Posts
• Door thresholds
• Stone veneers

The presence of these features can limit how much concrete can move.

Lifting should never be performed blindly simply to achieve a specific measurement.

Preserve an Existing Entrance When Possible

Replacing steps and entry concrete can affect doors, railings, landscaping, and access to the building.

When the concrete remains structurally suitable, leveling may provide a way to improve the area while preserving the existing installation.

Our stairs and entryway leveling service focuses on identifying the settled component, correcting practical elevation differences, and improving the overall function of the entrance.