A concrete walkway lasts in the Twin Cities when it's poured over compacted soil and a granular base, sloped to shed water, jointed at regular intervals and made with air-entrained concrete. Salt near the door, frost heave and roots are common causes of damage. Public sidewalks follow city rules, which differ between Minneapolis, St. Paul and the suburbs.
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Front walks, back steps and garden paths are narrow slabs that get heavy foot traffic and, in a Minnesota winter, a lot of shoveling, ice melt and freeze-thaw. They're often where problems show up first: scaled surfaces near the door where salt is thrown every storm, panels lifted by frost or tree roots, and sunken sections where downspouts have washed soil away.
Common walkway projects
- New front walks from the driveway, street or alley to the door
- Side-yard and garden paths
- Replacing cracked, heaved or scaled sections
- Concrete steps and landings, common on older city homes set above the street
- Widening a walk so it's easier to use with a stroller, wheelchair or snow blower
Building a walk that stays flat
A walkway depends on its base. The soil is compacted, a granular base is placed, and the walk is poured with a slight cross-slope so water sheds off instead of puddling and freezing. Control joints are tooled at regular intervals, often at roughly the width of the walk, so cracks form in a predictable line. Isolation joints where the walk meets the house, steps or driveway let each piece move on its own as the ground shifts through the seasons.
Salt and the front step
The concrete closest to your door usually takes the most salt. That's why front landings and the first few panels of a walk are often the first to flake. An air-entrained mix and careful finishing help, and so does using less salt. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency encourages homeowners to shovel first, remember that salt stops working in very cold temperatures, and use sand for traction then. That advice protects local lakes and your concrete.
Steps
Steps need consistent riser heights and tread depths so people don't trip, and handrails may be required depending on the number of risers. Steps that serve as an exit from the house can fall under the building code, and footings for attached stoops generally need to reach the frost depth your local code requires. Ask the contractor whether a permit is needed.
Public sidewalks
Responsibility for the public sidewalk along the street depends on the city. In Minneapolis, adjacent property owners are responsible for sidewalk upkeep; the city inspects neighborhoods on a rotating schedule, mails repair notices, has the work done and bills the owner, with the option to spread the cost over several years on property taxes. In St. Paul, Public Works maintains the mainline sidewalk without a direct assessment, while owners are responsible for the boulevard walk to their house, the driveway and the apron. Both cities require a city-licensed contractor for concrete work in the right-of-way. Suburbs vary, so check with your public works department before replacing any public sidewalk.
Repair or replace?
- Hairline cracks are usually cosmetic.
- Sunken panels that are otherwise intact can often be lifted. See concrete repair and leveling.
- Broken, heaved or badly scaled panels are usually replaced joint to joint.
Questions to ask
- What base and thickness will you use, and is the mix air-entrained?
- How will you handle tree roots near the walk?
- Is a permit needed for steps or work in the right-of-way, and are you licensed by the city for it?
Have a trip hazard or a new path in mind? Request a walkway contractor.
See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Who pays to fix the public sidewalk in front of my house?
It depends on the city. Minneapolis makes adjacent owners responsible and bills them for repairs it identifies, with a property-tax installment option. St. Paul maintains mainline sidewalks without a direct assessment. Suburbs vary, so ask your public works department.
Why is the concrete by my front door flaking?
Usually it's freeze-thaw scaling made worse by deicing salt, which tends to be used most near entrances. Finishing problems or a mix without air entrainment can add to it. A sound slab may be resurfaced; a badly scaled one is often replaced.
Can I replace a public sidewalk panel myself?
In Minneapolis and St. Paul, concrete work in the right-of-way requires a city-licensed contractor and permits. Other cities have their own rules, so check before any work on a public walk.
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry: residential contractor licensing
- City of Minneapolis: curb cuts for residential properties
- City of Minneapolis: city sidewalk repair process
- City of Saint Paul Public Works: sidewalks
- City of Saint Paul: sidewalk contractor license
- City of Bloomington: residential driveway approaches and curb cuts handout
- Minnesota Rules chapter 1303 (frost depth zones), Office of the Revisor of Statutes
- Hennepin County landslide atlas: Minnesota River valley
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (winter salt and chloride)
- Gopher State One Call (Minnesota 811)
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety: Gopher State One Call