concrete steps

[wvguy]

ok .. i have preform concrete steps going up to a brick porch. I want to throw out the garbage preform steps and pour my own concrete steps. The problem its up against the house so how do you create a form for it. how do pros do steps ? I am a paint and stain expert but I don't think paint will work on this one. Hayzee518 is somewhat a wise one maybe he can help me on this one. Thanks for all the advice in advance.

[HayZee518]

you're gonna need to make a form out of 3/4 inch cdx plywood and not spare the bracing from the outside. Once the form is built you throw big chunks of rock inside it to fill up the large space you've just created. When you've made the pour, the whole thing is going to be very heavy!! It is best to do it in two pours or three depending on the height of the steps. Say its six steps. you make the whole form then stick a piece of plywood crossways and brace it for the bottom two steps. pour the mix, wait a day and screed it and finish with a smooth trowel. Remove the plywood. Next day put another piece of plywood cross ways for the next two steps and do another pour. This way the previous pour will be pressing against the bottom two concrete steps as the wet concrete and aggragate is heavy! The concrete is also "green" enough to bond to the next layer etc. After a day's cure remove the plywood and do the last pour - you don't need plywood cross piece here as you're bearing against the brick of the porch.