Sidewalks & Steps in Binghamton, NY

Sidewalks and steps are where worn concrete turns into a hazard. A walk panel that has lifted an inch catches toes. Porch steps that have settled pull away from the house and tip forward. Step edges that flake turn dangerous in sleet. Binghamton has a lot of this kind of wear: Point2Homes' Census summary puts the median home here at 1945, and many of those houses sit up on raised porches with a long run of concrete steps down to the walk.

The public sidewalk is the owner's job

In many cities, the public sidewalk belongs to the city. In Binghamton it is the property owner's responsibility. The Department of Public Works page explains that City Code section 265-13 requires owners to keep the sidewalk in front of their property free of obstructions, in good repair and safe. If a section heaves, moves or settles more than one inch, the owner has to restore it to true grade. If the owner does not act within 45 days, Public Works may make the repair and bill the owner. Owners must also clear snow and ice within 24 hours after it stops.

Help from the city

The Engineering Department runs a Curb & Sidewalk Assistance Program for owners rebuilding curbs and sidewalks. Here is how it worked based on the city's 2024 posting:

• An engineering inspector looks at the property and measures the eligible square footage.
• The program paid set rates: $4.50 per square foot for 5-foot-wide sidewalk, $4.75 for 6-foot-wide, and $17.75 per linear foot of curb or curb and gutter.
• The owner and contractor agree on the contract between themselves.
• After the work is done and inspected, the contractor submits an itemized statement and the city pays the contractor directly.
• The 2024 application form says work not done within 60 days of approval needs a new application.

Work in the right of way also needs a Street Work Permit, and for 2024 the city posted that these were issued only from April 1 to October 31. Rates and dates can change year to year, so call Engineering at (607) 772-7007 for the current terms. We build to the city's line and grade and prepare the itemized statement the program asks for.

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Your private walks and steps

Everything between the public sidewalk and your door is entirely yours: the entry walk, side paths to the back yard and the driveway, stoops, landings and porch steps. On old houses, steps up to a raised porch are often the biggest concrete job on the lot. Every riser should be the same height and every tread the same depth, or people trip. The landing at the top needs room to stand while the storm door swings open. Because the ground here freezes every winter, what is under a heavy set of steps matters, and steps resting on loose fill will tilt. We check what the old steps sit on before planning the new ones, and we can compare poured and precast steps where both fit.

Warning signs

• A lip where one panel sits higher than the next
• Walk panels tipping toward the house
• Steps or a stoop separating from the porch or foundation
• Chipped, rounded or crumbling step edges
• Risers of different heights
• A rough, flaking surface

Rebuilding a walk

Old panels come out, soft soil is removed and a stone base is compacted. HomeGuide's sidewalk guide says most walkways are 4 to 6 inches thick, thicker for heavier traffic. We pitch walks slightly to the side so water drains into the lawn, pour air-entrained concrete, broom it and tool joints at even spacing. If street tree roots lifted the old walk, we talk through options first, since a new walk over the same roots will heave again.

Railings and winter care

Steps with more than a couple of risers are safer with a handrail, especially in snow. When we pour new steps we can set rail anchors in the fresh concrete so the rail is solid. Shovel before snow packs into ice, use sand the first winter and stay away from ammonium-based de-icers after that.