Give Your Dutchess County Home’s Entry Way a Facelift

Is your front entry looking dilapidated? Not only does this create a negative visual first impression of your landscape, but it can also pose a danger to those entering your home. The entry way to your home is the focal point of your entire landscape, it is the place where family, friends, co-workers and others come to enter your home. In Dutchess County, NY we have constant heaving and settling occurring seasonally below the surface of our structures. This can wreak havoc upon a front stoop that is not set upon a proper base. Spruce up your home’s curb appeal and create a warm welcoming and safe entry way.

Common Reasons Your Entry Way is Damaged

1.      Damaged Concrete

Cracked concrete can be caused by a number of things, including normal settling, an inferior concrete pour, or exposure to weather. All these things can result in concrete wearing down and breaking, possibly going all the way down to the porch’s foundation, resulting in a portion of it sinking.

2.      Tree Roots

If you have a large tree in or near your yard, the reason your porch is sagging may be due to the tree’s roots. The bigger the roots are, the more likely they are to reach into areas you don’t want them- like your porch, walkways or patios. Even if the tree has been removed, dying roots will decompose, causing the soil to sink- and take your outdoor space right along with it.

3.      Frost Heaving

Water from rain, snow runoff, and even from sprinkler systems aimed the wrong way can sneak underneath the support system for your patio, porch and front steps. There, the moisture can sit, potentially causing problems. This is especially true in areas like Dutchess County, NY, where temperature swings lead to frequent freezes and thaws. Frozen ice expands up and outward, putting pressure on the concrete leading to sagging.

Pay Attention to The Warning Signs

·         Concrete features may be cracked

·         Surface may be uneven and cause a tripping hazard

·         The area may look slanted

·         The first step may be lower than your paved walkway

Leave Repairs to the Professionals

While quick fixes can be temporarily satisfying—the only way to fix your damaged porch, patio, walkway or front steps is to clearly identify the root cause. Different issues call for different solutions. Let the expert masons at Lehigh Lawns & Landscaping Inc. renovate that old, dangerous entry way you've been meaning to rectify.  It will not only become an enhanced part of your curb appeal, but last for years to come.