Replacing concrete doorstep - which trade?

breeny

Our front doorstep gave up the ghost a few months ago, and with the cold weather approaching, we don't want to leave our basement open to the elements and little critters trying to take shelter.

Thing is, we don't know which type of tradesman to approach in order to fix/replace. We had a general builder in for other work, he had a look and said it was quite a specialist thing, and nothing he does.

Any ideas? (we live in East London if that helps)

PS - did try to post a picture but the forum won't let me. You can see it on my twitter feed (@patrick_breen , and its the latest tweet). Its a polished concrete front doorstep

111KAB

Sounds like a job for a decent brickie to me.

pka_2

Has the concrete slab atually gone as well? Presuably the grating at the front is providing some sort of air vent down in to the basement?

breeny

excellent - thanks for that!

It all seems in tact, it was the lip of the step that gave in and collapsed, and you're right - the grating is for ventilation of the basement

pka_2

A groundworks company or brickayer is probably best placed to sort that for you. I'm not from east london so can't reommend a local one for you i'm afraid.
Looking at it, it will be hard to repair like for like as the concrete slab looks pretty thin. I would recommend replacing the metal grate with air bricks - something like this: http://www.travisperkins.co.uk/p/hepworth-square-hole-airbrick-buff-65mm/867144/3893433. Then concrete can be put over the top to reinstate the lip and finish it off.
Others may have alternative recomendations though.

MX5huggy

Step looks like stone to me, although concrete would be the fix.

The builder has the capability to do this but he knows its a PITA job that will take ages and may require a revisit and you would not want to pay the £500 plus or so to cover 2 days work.

rxbren

as above builder knows
a its expensive
b it can turn real quick into a nightmare with other parts of the stone/concrete cracking or failing