Control Joints In Concrete Steps

basinbuilders

I have 10' wide concrete steps. There are 6 steps and they are 4'-6" long. Should I put a control joint down the middle or will that cause more non-controlled cracking.

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Hoven

I wouldn't put a control joint there. A control joint is going to make it weaker at that point and probably cause a crack over time. I would however use # 4 rebar. I usually drill holes in the foundation and cut pieces about a foot and a half of 5/8'' rebar and pound them into the holes you drill. The #4 bar I usually put parallel with the riser @ approx 3 in from the face of the riser and 2 1/2 inches or so down into the surface to beef up that edge. With your 10' span I might just use 5/8 all around and maybe 2 pieces on the tred area equidistance apart. There is always time to do it right the second time. Steel is relativley cheap for this size project.

neolitic

I would never tie steps to the foundation
unless they are completely supported
by a foundation below frost!
Never.

As to the rest of the question
I don't understand.
Are they 10' wide and 4'-6" deep treads?
Or 4'-6" wide and 5 treads total 10' deep?
Or......?

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(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Hoven

Sorry, I was assuming there would be a footing for a step this size. And yes I would pin to foundation to avoid tipping overtime. The step and the footing are going to be extemely heavy and for the sake of a couple of pins why take the chance of looking like a fool down the road.