Concrete walkways and steps for Pasadena homes
The front walk and the steps to the porch are the first concrete anyone touches at a Pasadena house, and on older homes they are often the most worn: original walks heaved by roots, porch steps with a different height on every riser, side-yard paths that turn to mud every winter. New walks and steps fix the trip hazards and set the tone of the front yard.
A Pasadena job: steps, walks and a driveway
One Pasadena house, start to finish: forms and steel for the front steps, the new walk and steps, the side walk and the driveway.
Concrete walkways in Pasadena
Front walks
A front walk runs from the sidewalk or driveway to the front steps. It should be wide enough for two people side by side where space allows, slope slightly to shed water to the lawn, and have control joints at regular intervals so it cracks where it is supposed to. On a Craftsman or Spanish Revival house, the finish and any border are part of the street view; see the stamped concrete page for patterns that suit them.
Side-yard and garden paths
Paths along the side of the house carry trash bins, wheelbarrows and garden traffic. They need to drain away from the foundation and often double as the route a concrete pump hose or wheelbarrow takes to a backyard job.
Concrete steps in Pasadena
Good steps are boring: every riser the same height, every tread the same depth, so feet find each one without looking. Uneven old steps are a good reason on their own to replace a front entry.
- Even risers and treads from top to bottom, with a landing at the door
- Treads that slope slightly forward so water runs off
- A broom or aggregate finish for grip, with a visible edge on each step
- Footings deep enough that the steps don't settle away from the porch
- Room for a handrail where the steps are tall or used by older family members
Garden steps between terraces
On sloped Pasadena lots, steps often run between terraces held by low walls. They are built with the walls as one design so the footings, drainage and heights line up; see retaining walls in Pasadena.
Your walk vs the City sidewalk
The public sidewalk along the street is a separate piece of concrete from your front walk, and in Pasadena the property owner is generally responsible for repairing it. Where a City street tree's roots did the damage, the City has run a program that shares the repair cost. Work in the sidewalk and parkway also needs a Public Works permit. The Pasadena sidewalk repair and street tree guide covers who pays and who to call.
What steps and walkways cost
Walks are flatwork, so they price like a patio by the square foot; the concrete patio cost page has the dated Pasadena figures. Steps are quoted per job, because each riser is formed by hand and the number of steps, landings and the height of the porch vary so much. Where a walk meets a new driveway, both are often poured together; see the driveway cost page.
