Do I Need A Footing For This?

ruskent

I am going to do a job with a few steps in the walkway. Customer wants cultured stone risers. Can I just pour a 12" wide 5' long slab and veneer cultured stone to the front? Or do I need a footing?

tkle

No footing needed. I would be concerned with it holding up due to constantly being kicked. You might want a small footing for the step itself.

raskolnikov

Hey ruskent,
Are we talking palace or home? I say veneer the slab/footing and smile the whole time you're doing it. All you're doing is making pretty what we all do anyway. How many times have you been called to make a concrete set of steps what they aint? At least you can allow for the wrapping paper now!

D.

Tscarborough

That will be a floating step, and so long as the conditions allow it, it should be fine. Which means it probably won't.

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stacker

my only concern when a customer wants stone on the risers is the moisture factor.unless the step has a lip covering the stone,i advise againest it.
without the covering,moisture can and will get behind the stone and more than likely pop off during the freeze thaw cycle.
i have never had a problem with stone coming loose from normal wear and tear of walking up and down steps.

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ruskent

The limestone cap will overhang 1"

tkle

My concern with the phony stone is not one of it coming off rather it getting scratched or chipped from getting kicked. Some has color all the way through it, some has color only on the top layer and the scratches really show up.

Tommy C

I'd pour a footing for certain.

stacker

rusk,
with the cap i dont see any problem at all.
there will be no need for a footing for the stone,since it is self supporting.just as you would not need a footing if you were installing the stone on a wall.
tkle,
most stone product is made from same material as a light weight block.haydite,portland cement,and coloring.there is a base color,which is mixed with the above material,and that is all the way thru the product.the veining,or accent colors are placed in the mold before the mixture is poured in.
if the product is made properly,then it is hard to damage by just kicking it.now of course if you stand and kick in the same spot with steel toed boots,you might damage it.but normal kicking from walking up and down the steps will not damage it.no more than you would damage brick.

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tkle

Corning has the color throughout. El Dorado doesn't. Perhaps that accounts for the price difference.

Tommy C

There is confusion in this discussion.

Ruskent is asking if the STEP needs a footing, not the cultured stone itself. Of course the cultured stone doesn't need a footing. But the step itself does need a footing, or it will heave with the frost, potentially causing a height discrepancy with the walkway that it borders.

JimE

In my experience, no footing needed. Good luck, Jim.

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Tscarborough

Corning is not colored thoughout, but they do use either a light or dark base.

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J&A IslandWide

I Agree, you need a footing

tkle

That's what I meant.

Brock

Depends on if you want to be sure your work lasts. If you are the guy that guarantees the work until the check clears then I think you will be just fine without a footing.