Steps to Relocating Precast Concrete Steps

The Concrete Doctors
7 min readJul 21, 2024

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The weight of precast concrete steps is a challenge when it comes to relocation. Precast concrete steps in Edmonton are among the heaviest building materials that may need to be lifted, and they take a lot of time and effort to complete. To avoid causing harm to yourself or others, exercise extreme caution. If you want to avoid making any expensive mistakes when doing this concrete repair, you must have a plan. Even with a group of guys at your disposal, it is not a task that can be completed by hand. The appropriate tools and equipment are needed.

How can The Concrete Doctors help with Relocating Precast Concrete Steps?

The Concrete Doctors is a premier concrete contracting company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving both residential and commercial clients. With over 25 years of industry experience, they specialize in installing, repairing, and maintaining concrete surfaces and products. Their commitment to excellence and dedication to strong customer service set them apart in the industry.

The Concrete Doctors can assist with relocating precast concrete steps through their concrete removal services in Edmonton and St. Albert. Their team of riggers and heavy equipment operators ensures that the relocation process is done efficiently and effectively, providing peace of mind for their clients. Trust The Concrete Doctors to handle all your concrete needs with precision and expertise.

Equipment and Tools You Need to Lift the Concrete Stairs

· Gloves to protect your hands

· To move the concrete steps, use a truck or a light-duty vehicle.

· Forklift for lifting the concrete stairs

· Forklift fork adapter

· Step handling bar for manually lifting the concrete steps

· PVC pipes to facilitate the installation of the concrete steps

· A staircase trolley will make the moving process easier.

How Can Precast Concrete Steps Be Lifted and Moved Correctly?

Even though relocating precast concrete steps can be challenging, it is nevertheless feasible without expert help. You must take the following actions to get the best solution:

Measure the Precast Concrete Steps

The length of the concrete steps should be your first concern because you want to keep them as close to the front door and house frame as possible to avoid doing a lot of heavy lifting. If you get this part wrong, you’ll end up in a lot of trouble.

· Concrete steps are typically 7 inches tall.

· Each step will typically be between 28 and 36 inches wide.

Just to be sure, take out your tape measure and measure the dimensions of your concrete steps. You need to check that the top step is the same level as the floor of your house and the front door for the smoothest transition. Next, you’ve got to factor in the length of the steps.

Since there shouldn’t be a space between the step and the wall of your house frame, this is yet another crucial step in the process. You will need to put in a lot of effort to bring them up to par if the difference is too great. You also run the risk of bumping the step into the wall and causing significant damage, not just to the wall but to the step as well. You can prevent any major problems by planning ahead, taking precise measurements, and considering your surroundings.

Use A Lifting Trailer

Precast concrete steps are extremely difficult to lift because they can weigh up to a ton. However, before you start worrying about lifting, you need to get yourself a good pair of gloves. To protect yourself from the uneven concrete steps, you should choose gloves with the highest level of durability. A sandpaper finish will also be useful, as it helps to improve your grip. Verify that you understand the steps’ weight.

Once you’ve got yourself a good pair of gloves, it’s time to start working on moving the concrete steps.

· Your concrete steps should weigh approximately 700 pounds if they are small.

· Larger concrete steps can weigh between 1500 and 2000 pounds, which is a significant amount of weight to be moving. Using a forklift is the safest method of moving such large weights.

Utilize a forklift adapter.

You will additionally require a forklift adaptor. With the help of this forklift attachment, you may increase the forklift’s lifting capacity. To secure the forks to the bulkhead, just slide them into the forklift adaptor. You can move concrete steps, pipelines, uneven items, barrier walls, and much more with this type of adaptor.

Transporting the concrete steps

Light trailer cars are ideal for moving concrete stairs to the required site since they make the process of positioning the steps the simplest. But, depending on the size of your concrete stairs and the distance you need to transport them, you may also choose to use a trailer or large truck.

Lifting the concrete steps manually

You could manually raise the concrete stairs if you don’t need to move them a long way. You will need a step handling bar in order to manually move concrete stairs. If your concrete step provider has one accessible for you to use, you might inquire about it. Moving the stairs is easier and more efficient with a step handling bar. To ensure that the step handling bar firmly grips the concrete stairs, position it on the steps and screw it into place. With a step handle bar, two people may simply raise the stairs and move a short distance. Another tool that will help you roll the step unit up to the necessary installation location is a step dolly.

Unload the concrete steps at the designated spot.

After lifting and transporting your concrete steps, unload them and place them in the proper location. At this stage in the process, you need to be precise and plan ahead. When it comes time to unload the steps, you’ll have to move them several times. If you don’t know the right way to do it, this step in the process is going to be hard. To unload the steps, you must:

· Get the truck or trailer as close to the house frame as you can. The last point will require the use of a staircase trolley if it is reachable by trailer.

· You must move the stairs to the truck’s edge, which you can accomplish with six small pieces of PVC pipe.

· Lift the steps with the step handling bar and place the PVC pipes underneath them.

· Roll the steps over the PVC pipes until they reach the trailer’s edge, where you can lift them onto the staircase trolley.

If you don’t have a step dolly of your own, the concrete step dealer may be able to provide one. The closer the steps are unloaded, the less work is required.

Make Bars With PVC Pipes On Both Sides Of Concrete Steps

If you don’t have a staircase trolley, you can also use PVC pipes on the floor. You need 6 small pieces of PVC pipe around an inch in diameter. The pipes should be 6 inches long. To create PVC bars, you need to:

· Three pieces of pipe on each side should be positioned beneath the concrete steps.

· Remove the stairs and place them in front as you roll them across the pipes. Before you get to the desired place, you’ll need to repeat this process numerous times.

· When you’ve reached the right location, use the handling bar to lift the concrete steps and remove the pipes.

· The steps just need to be raised one last time and fastened to the wall. After finishing, make sure the steps are level. Pea gravel could be used if any alterations need to be made.

Tips for Precast Concrete Step Lifting

Lifting precast concrete steps involves a few things you should absolutely avoid:

· Never position yourself underneath the concrete steps when they’re being lifted. The stairs could collapse, and you could suffer severe injuries if something were to happen to the forklift, lifting attachment, or machine shift.

· Without a plan and the appropriate tools and equipment, never try to lift concrete steps.

· When attempting to lift steps into place, always measure them first.

· Use protective gloves to reduce the risk of injuries.

· Don’t attempt to lift precast concrete steps manually without a step handling bar.

· Don’t try to drag the steps across the floor, as this will damage them.

· Never attempt to move precast concrete steps on your own.

Book your Precast Concrete Steps Installation today!

Ready to uplift your front with sturdy, high-quality precast concrete steps? The Concrete Doctors offer a wide range of precast step solutions to meet your needs, and our team of experts is committed to providing you with the highest level of service and support. For more information about our precast step solutions and how we can help you improve the appearance and usability of your property, get in touch with us right now.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to lift precast concrete steps, you should feel more confident if you ever have to do it yourself. If you possess the appropriate tools, equipment, and knowledge, lifting concrete steps should be a simple task.

If you’ve not yet purchased the concrete stair you require, get in touch with The Concrete Doctors and ask about our array of custom precast concrete steps. We’ve been manufacturing precast stairs for many years and can deliver a safe and attractive entrance for all types of buildings. Our concrete steps exceed PCI and APA quality requirements, are professionally engineered and designed, and meet the highest standards.

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The Concrete Doctors
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We specialize in concrete repair and service work. We serve a variety of commercial construction and residential customers in Edmonton and surrounding areas.