Look Out Below!

[KG_Panzerschreck]

I got a pleasent awaking Friday morning when i stepped out onto my front stoop and suddenly my left leg went straight down through the concrete, up to my hip, to the ground below. My other leg shot straight out to the right when it happened. It all happened so fast i had no time to think. Apart from some scrapes from the rebar in the concrete, a few bruises and a few sore muscles, im alright. I think i got off easy considering what could of happened. I could of broken a leg, arm or even my neck.

We have been living in our place now for what will be 7 years in march. The steps are one of those pre-fab concrete units you just set in place. They have been wearing away since before we lived here and each year they have been getting worse. Each time it froze then thawed pieces would chip and fall away. Well enough of it had finally fallen away to point where someone, and im glad it was me instead of anyone else, fell through. Im a tough bastard when it comes to taking physical punishment. If that would of happened to Brandi she would of broken a leg for sure.

Well, here are the pics i took of the steps a few minutes after i calmed myself down and i figured i better take some pics just in case. {Jay, insert your fat jokes here}

[KG_Jag]

Wow--glad that you're OK.

They don't make 'em like they used to.

[KG_Swampfox]

Kent,

I'm glad you got off as lightly as you did....

That could have been serious, good thing your of tough german stock

[KG_Soldier]

Whew. . . that rebar could have caused a nasty gash.

[KG_RangerBooBoo]

Lucky fella to get off as easy as you did.

[KG_Cloghaun]

Looks like a bad concrete mix. Either that or the rebar rusted so bad it caused corrosion from from inside out. Did you use alot of salt on those steps every winter?

Something you can do to help prolong the life of concrete (and save a few $) is do a 70/30 mix of salt & play sand.

I would go with a pressure treated wood replacement for steps. If your handy you can probably just buy the lumber & build it yourself. Some 2x6's & 2x4's & weather-treated screws. Then you can go to any carpet installer in the winter months and ask for some free carpet remnants left over from a job to lay over the steps/porch in the winter.

In anycase I'm glad you're ok.

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Frank, belive it or not, the concrete was good and the rebar was fine. {Trust me, it took all my strength to bend the rebar down out of my skin} The concrete just wore away from the time when people lived here before me used way too much rock salt. Once it was flawed, it was just a matter of time til it went through, in this case, about 7 years, LOL.

As for me ive never used rock salt {Brandi & I take care of the shoveling and yard work for our building} because of the damage it causes. Ive use the Pet safe ice melt mixed with sand. The landlord pays for it so i dont mind using it.

And as far as the replacement goes, we are waiting for the snow to melt, which will be awhile. There are 3 to 5 foot piles of snow piled up everywhere. Once they are gone the old steps will get sledge'd out and he wants to pour a concrete pad to level out a base and drop a new pre-fab unit in place.

[Palantir]

You don't happen to be the worlds heaviest man do you? :)

Whew! Glad you're alright!!!

ps- how did you get those screenshots posted here?

[KG_Panzerschreck]

Well, to put it bluntly, im quite heavy. Im not making excuses mind you, but i belive anyone over 200 lbs or so would of gone through that cement, it had worn away that much. The day before a large section, about an eighth of an inch or so fell off in a large section, which so happened to be right were i fell through.

As far as the pics, I got them hosted at photobucket. If you get them hosted and a site like photobucket, we have instuctions posted here for posting pics. I thought you knew how to do all that stuff?