Any suggestions for a doorstep please?

[ironer]

Need to replace a concrete door step which is cracked, but otherwise has a very smooth finish, ie like a very good grey kerb stone or paving slab. I'm uncertain that I could get a finish anywhere near as good as the old one if I cast one myself in concrete. Door opening between bricks is 930mm almost any height is OK.

Alternatives seem to be:

- Buy a stone step either new or reclaimed from a terrace house front door step. How feasible is this?

- Buy a ready cast concrete block. Most paving & similar products with a suitable finish seem to be only 900mm wide maximum. Any suggestions please?

- Find out what the trick is in getting a high grade finsih to concrete. Anyone know?

TIA

[Dave Plowman (News)]

You could always tile it? Real marble tiles look good for a doorstep. ;-)

[The Natural Philosopher]

What I do is cast the body or use bricks and top with some Indian sandstone..its pretty cheap really a tons nicer than concrete..

Yes. Polish it as it dries out with a float.

[GB]

Doesn't this become a death trap when wet? Same with the marble?

[Cicero]

============================ I think people are talking at cross purposes here.

The OP said, "........ but otherwise has a very smooth finish, ie like a very good grey kerb stone or paving slab."

Kerb stones and paving slabs don't usually have a 'polished' finish, so one way to achieve a finish similar to a paving slab would be to smooth the surface with a wooden float when all surface water has disappeared.

Cic.

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[Dave Plowman (News)]

These days you'd seal marble which improves the anti-slip properties. But I don't think it's a problem on the average door step.

[Guy King]

The message from "Dave Plowman (News)" contains these words:

They always remind me of the old mining villages in the Rhondda.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Concrete sis a bit porous, so nit a s bad, but yes, ...put a slope on it to avoid it getting puddles, and sand n it when it looks frosty?