Hi Guys, I have a question on potential bonding issues. I have an existing Concrete Step in the garage that is below the side yard door. The garage floor and step were recently epoxy coated using the Rustoleum product. We are in the process of selling, and the buyers want the step widened about 4" with new concrete (code reasons, etc).

I am concerned about bonding issues, since both the floor and and step are epoxy coated. I'm not willing to sand down/remove the existing epoxy coating.

As an alternative, I wanted to see if it would be acceptable to drill holes in the right side of step, into the concrete floor and foundation wall, and insert either tapcon screws or some rebar/metallic supports. I was hoping this would be enough to support the new step, since it is such a small add on. Picture is below so you can see where screws would go.

What do you guys think? Any issues with this plan?

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Can you build a wood step over/around the existing concrete one making it wide enough?

If they just gotta have concrete I'd do something like you suggested. Drill a couple holes into the slab and a couple into the side of the step and use concrete anchors or rebar to create "pins" to help secure the concrete blob you're going to pour. Of course this wouldn't look good and you (the new owner) will be left with a block of bare concrete in a nicely epoxied room.

 

Sounds like they want concrete.

What do you recommend for closing the gap at the top where the new 4" of concrete and the existing step meet? They also want the new concrete to be epoxy coated, so I guess I can just fill it in with an epoxy concrete patch kit and paint over it?

 

IIWM, I'd cut the price $200 and let the buyer get it done to their satisfaction. Often there is no pleasing people who would nit pick this kind of stuff....

 

I agree. You're in a no win situation if you try adding to the step AND try to make it look pretty like it's always been that way. First off... it's a garage not a formal dining room. And, a house must comply with the codes in force when it was built. No house with any age complies with the current codes. The codes are constantly changed, ammended and expanded.

There is no way you can add on to that step without it being quite noticeable. Paint and epoxies cannot be applied to fresh concrete so any finish will have to wait at least a month and you will not get a finish applied at a different time to match. Also, do you have small portions of the unmixed epoxy used to treat the floor? If not you'll have to buy much more epoxy than you need which possibly is a different manufacturing batch so the color may not be an exact match.

 

You are asking for trouble, trying to please a fussy buyer. Next thing you know, he/she will probably want you to replace the roof, and all of the carpet and window coverings, too. Get a few contractor (written) estimates to have the job done, then use an average of them to drop the selling price, and tell the buyer he's on his own.