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Concrete should be at least 4 inches thick for steps. This thickness boosts stability and prevents cracking and deterioration. After you’ve built your forms out of wood, fill the void with a sand or gravel base for concrete. Use an all-purpose concrete mix to form your steps. After pouring your concrete steps, be sure to screed and float the concrete. 

After you install your concrete steps, and even as they age, applying a coat of paint or concrete sealer to them every one to two years is a great way to keep them looking fresh and new. We also recommend doing light concrete step repair if you notice chipping or crumbling. You can dress up your steps with planters, decorative railings, and other decor to breathe new life into your stoop as well.

In many cases, you will need a building permit for your patio, but it depends on the type of patio. Generally speaking, any improvements to your land considered “permanent” will require a permit. Since a concrete patio is a permanent foundation, you will need a permit. On the other hand, a paver patio or flagstone patio usually sits over gravel and sand, are considered “temporary” improvements, and rarely require permits. To be safe, you should always ask your building department or your patio company if a permit will be necessary.

A concrete base—or concrete footings, more specifically—is necessary for a freestanding pergola build. A pergola is top-heavy and can’t stand on its own, so it will always need some type of base or support. If you’re attaching a pergola to a deck, the deck’s supportive joists will act as the support, so there will be no concrete base or footings necessary.