Finally getting new front steps

 Hubby is out taking down the old crumbly cement steps that were way to small and falling apart. We found in the old days they used way to much rock and not much cement. Now you need more cement to last longer, but to remove the old he had to rent a jack hammer and work like crazy. As he did loosen the rocks I would gather them and place in the rock garden.  End up with quite a few rocks after he was done.

Contractor came and then he laid out the boards for the cement to be placed in.  Had to make sure it was nice and tight so the cement would not run out, as we were making these steps 6 inches deep with cement.

Cement truck arrived and began dumping all the fresh made cement.  Was a lot of fun to watch the process of getting new steps. Grandson came over to lend a hand. He worked hard helping out but also learned a few tricks in the process.

The hardest part was trying to get the cement nice and level.  They used a long board and slide it across the top and then used levelers to make sure all was level. 

Grandson used a flat tool that he was told to keep sliding across the top to form a smooth surface.

 The boards on the steps were a great idea until the work was over and they had to be removed.  The contractor forgot when he lifted them out to smooth the area where they were and now after all is said and done we have ridges that show the board.

 Here he is trying to give the steps a little bit of a slope so the water will run off.

Now just waiting for it to cure. Love how big it is and how much fun it will be to decorate for holidays. Nice and smooth and looking good.

Well, after a month or so we found the contractor did not come back to smooth any of the areas that the boards were or to finish the outside edges. Everytime we call he is busy. Lesson learned the hard way. But we still love the new steps.