Need Advise - Concrete Steps

[ddawg16]

The below pic is of the existing steps by the side kitchen door. I want to extend the steps out...especially next to the house....it's real annoying to have to stand down on the second step to unlock and open the door. So, the questions are:

1. How much rebar do I really need? I drilled holes in the exising step in both the horz and vert axis with the intent of pushing 3/8" rebar into them, and tieing that to a long bar along the width of the step.

2. How long do I need to let the concrete set before I can remove the form and do the final finish on the rise portion of the step?

In the near future we will cover the steps with some type of stone...slate maybe? TBD.

 

[timgr]

Why not cover the whole porch in decking and frame up the steps you want? Seems simpler and more DIY-friendly than trying to cast concrete steps. Plus it finishes the job without having to do the stone makeover later. Composite decking or epe will last a long time...

 

[volvo]

.
I agree, just frame up from what you have a make it the way you want it out of wood type decking products. Design it on paper or as I would, design as its being built, you know what you want.
Good luck ...H