What can I do if my front steps are sinking?

This is a question we’ve seen posted on the internet. The answers we found were surprising. What we found could only have come from someone who had a limited knowledge of available options for this problem. That is the challenge of the internet. You have a question and you search for answers on the internet. When you find what you are searching for you believe that you have found the answer. It is the internet and everything on the internet must be accurate right? Would it come as a shock if you were to discover that not every piece of information you find online is correct?

The internet does not always return the right answers!

Here is the question: Our front entry steps are concrete and have sunk about six inches over the years. What are the options for fixing this?
Here were the answers that were given:

• rip them all out and build them again
• dig underneath and jack it up, pour a new footer and set it back down
• leave it and build something over the top
• pry it up with a big bar and shove some bricks and stone dust under it
• using a jack for a car, dig down a bit and jack up the front to make it level. Place a large pressure treated beam underneath it for support and then remove the jack

Wow. Pretty shocking. These solutions are nowhere in the ball park of what could and should be done with sinking concrete steps. As a consumer, how do you know what information to trust when the internet is giving you these answers?

Here are three things you can do to authenticate information on the internet

Tip #1 Check the date of the information
A lot of people using the internet for information and tips don’t check the date the information was posted. If the information is a few years old, chances are the information is old as well. Technology and solutions can change with time. Make sure you have the most up to date information that is available for your search.

Tip #2: Keep searching for other solutions that make sense
When posing a query for the internet, use your common sense. If something seems a bit farfetched to you, move on and locate information that seems more palatable. In this case, prying a step up and shoving bricks underneath is not a solution that warrants much consideration. If the information seems a miss, refer to Tip #1. You’ll find the information is probably old. Trust yourself and keep looking!

Tip #3: Talk to experts in the field to for validation
In this situation, once you gather your information, find reliable sources to check your facts with. A good concrete lifting expert will want to look at your steps in person or will ask you to send photos. A concrete raising expert will be able to educate you about their solution and provide a detailed estimate for the work. Ask for referrals and visit their website. Make sure you do business with a company who can back up their work. It’s always best to go with the person you trust will do the job the right way the first time.

The internet has moved from being a search engine to an answer engine. But take care to run down the answers you do find online with local experts. The internet may be able to point you in the right direction, but a good expert will be able to get you there with confidence!