Concrete Steps removal

[Raekwon]

We are looking for someone to move or remove concrete steps going to our side entrance as we seem to have mice coming into the house from somewhere underneath.

Last year we found a hole and we were able to stuff it with steel wool and spray foam but either we did a piss poor job or there is another hole. we are in a cul-de-sac surrounded by fields and neighbors that seem to be breeding grounds for mice so we are thinking of just removing the steps completely and building a normal wood steps.

I have no idea where to start looking to have the steps removed so any advice would be helpful.

[CaptainCrunch]

Canwest concrete cutting comes to mind.

Or 3 sticks of dynamite

[Northendzone]

seems like a somewhat expensive step.

have you considered some of those ultrasonic mouse things they sell at home depot. they supposedly emit a sound mice find annoying.

[CaptainCrunch]

Buy an outdoor cat

[Raekwon]

The ultrasonic mouse things do not work and neither do my 2 cats. We poison the hell out of them, trap them but we just want to not have them inside at all. They are limited to under our sink as its near the outside hole and where the traps are set, we can tell the poison is working because their poo is blue but they will never stop coming in.

I spoke to a guy in my office who explained how the steps are installed and they really need to be lifted out so I'm guessing some kind of a forklift or crane.

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Buy an outdoor cat

lol, there are plenty of feral cats running around our neighborhood also. The problem may be with our neighbors who seem to be hoarders/pack rats. One day I noticed a mouse trying to get out of their house through front window and that's when I noticed about an inch of mouse crap in their window between their screen and window. Its quite disgusting.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Canwest concrete cutting comes to mind.

Or 3 sticks of dynamite

Blowing stuff up is always the funnest way.

[northcrunk]

Glue traps, work wonders. If you can deal with folding them over and stepping on them to kill the mice.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

The ultrasonic mouse things do not work and neither do my 2 cats. We poison the hell out of them, trap them but we just want to not have them inside at all. They are limited to under our sink as its near the outside hole and where the traps are set, we can tell the poison is working because their poo is blue but they will never stop coming in.

I spoke to a guy in my office who explained how the steps are installed and they really need to be lifted out so I'm guessing some kind of a forklift or crane.

Your 2 cats may be more inclined to kill mice for you if you stopped locking them under the sink and poisoning the hell out of them. Their blue poo should have been a hint.

[DoubleF]

Have you spent time to ensure there aren't piles of stuff on your property? I know you can't do anything about your neighbors or the fields nearby, but the only times I have ever seen mice on my property is when I am doing yard work, create a pile of brush or grass or leaves or something and then leave it for a few days because it started raining or something half way through. They like those piles. I think other things such as bird feeders or certain types of vegetation on your property may attract them. However, I believe that mint will be a deterrent.

Instead of poison, apparently chopping up cork and soaking it in grease from cooked meat will work as mice can't digest cork and it will cause them to die.

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Rodents-Naturally

Just because you replace the steps, doesn't mean you may be mice free. Maybe a combination of the two?

[calgarywinning]

Any puncture on your outside will be found on your inside. Cheaper to tear away the drywall, etc underneath the steps to find out what's going on than destroy perfectly good stairs.

If you really want to see what's under the stairs get a camera/line cam and record. You are pretty much going to see some hot air release where it shouldn't be. Hot air attracts rodents and creates a highway of access. As I say, this can totally be cleared up on the interior side of your home. Also, you can remediate the external by backfilling, substrates, rocks, etc in the places they were entering. This will shut them down quick.

[Raekwon]

The hole is covered on the inside by the stairs to the basement, we tried to fill the hole we found and could see but it was nearly impossible to see and get access to. We are taking the steps apart Saturday, couldn't get our hands on dynamite so sledge hammers and a big hammer drill will have to suffice.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

The hole is covered on the inside by the stairs to the basement, we tried to fill the hole we found and could see but it was nearly impossible to see and get access to. We are taking the steps apart Saturday, couldn't get our hands on dynamite so sledge hammers and a big hammer drill will have to suffice.

Couple cases of beer, a few buddies and a couple Hilti's will take care of that step for ya.

Did it a few years back on a buddies place, a lot of work.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Why would you want to demolish the steps? They're way better than any crappy wood stairs you'll have to put in and require maintenance.

Just dig a hole next to the steps and then under the steps to expose the hole and let you patch it. Way easier than smashing the steps - those things are a beast to break. Lets you back fill under them too.

Locate lines before you do this.

[Raekwon]

I thought about digging but to get under it enough to get in and then find someone that actually wants to crawl into that (I'm not going in there) I figure it might cause some instability. Those stairs are not attached to anything just supported by two brackets attached to the house. If there was nothing beside them I could have probably slid it out from the house enough to fill it but a fence stops that Idea.

These steps also have steps on both sides and is the only access from the front to backyard and is a real pain getting the lawnmower over them everytime. In the end I could get another set of prefab concrete that are smaller with steps going away from the house as opposed to parallel like they are now. This seems like the best option.

[RyZ]

2 guys and a sledgehammer works as well. Its a hard afternoon but you wont need to work out for the rest of yhe week.

[puffnstuff]

Man I just had a flashback...to when my Dad had an epiphany...he could get rid of the concrete steps my Mom hated AND he had a way to punish 14 year old puffnstuff for a horrendous error in judgement. Took me 2 weeks to demolish those steps.

[undercoverbrother]

[Raekwon]

I smashed through the side tonight and it turns out it's solid all around so moving it away from the house would have been the only option anyway. Wasn't too difficult on one side but it's not going to be fun

[keratosis]

Steps are rarely solid all the way through. Just to much mass to be supported without piles. Even then....