Why porch steps ice over, and how to stop it

Why do porch steps ice when the driveway doesn't?

Because steps collect water the driveway never sees, and many sit in shade. The usual sources:

• Roof drip. With no gutter over the steps, or a gutter that overflows or holds an ice dam, meltwater falls on the treads and freezes. See what causes ice dams.
• A downspout that empties beside the stoop sends water across the landing or the walk.
• Shade. A north-facing stoop, or one under a porch roof, may not see sun for weeks, so ice that would melt on the driveway stays.
• Treads that hold water. A step that has settled and tipped back toward the house, a cupped or worn tread, or a landing that slopes toward the door all hold puddles.
• Mats that trap water. A solid mat keeps meltwater underneath, where it freezes.

The pattern is the same as black ice on driveways: water arrives during the day and freezes at night. Find the water first.

What should you do the morning of a storm?

1. Clear early. Fresh snow comes off with a push. Snow that has been walked on packs into ice.
2. Clear the full width, right to the edges and the handrail posts, not just a footpath down the middle.
3. Scatter ice melt sparingly. Wisconsin Salt Wise guidance, published by the City of Madison, says a 12-ounce coffee mug of salt treats about 10 sidewalk squares, with space between the grains. By that ratio, a four-step stoop with a landing needs a quarter cup or so, not a scoop.
4. Switch products in deep cold. The same guidance says salt stops working when the pavement drops below 15 degrees; use sand for grip, or an ice melt rated for colder temperatures.
5. Mind the surface. New concrete and older concrete need different care; see the best ice melt for concrete.
6. Put grit where feet land, especially on the bottom step and the landing.

The steps matter beyond your household, too. The Postal Service asks Michigan customers to keep a clear path to the mailbox, including steps, porches and walkways.

Which mats and treads help?

Use outdoor mats made for steps: rubber with open drainage holes or a gritty surface, fastened so they cannot slide. Take indoor-style doormats off the landing for the winter, since they hold water underneath. Grip tape adds traction on wood steps.

Heated stair mats are an option for a short flight with an outlet nearby. HeatTrak, one manufacturer, says its mats melt about 2 inches of snow an hour, are certified to the UL 499 safety standard, and connect through a power unit to an outdoor 120-volt outlet. Route the cord so it is not a new trip hazard.

Does Michigan require a handrail on porch steps?

On most flights, yes. The Michigan Residential Code requires a handrail on at least one side of each flight with four or more risers (Section R311.7.8 in the 2015 edition; your building department can tell you which edition applies to your project). The rail must be:

• 34 to 38 inches high, measured from the line of the tread nosings.
• Continuous for the full flight, from above the top riser to above the lowest one, with the ends returned or ending in a post.
• Graspable: a round rail 1¼ to 2 inches across, or a shape with equivalent grip. A board laid flat on top of posts does not qualify.

The same code limits the slope of treads and landings to 2 percent (R311.7.7) and requires a landing at least 36 inches deep at exterior doors, also sloped no more than 2 percent (R311.3). Those numbers matter in winter: a slight pitch lets water run off, while a tread tilted back toward the house holds it. A stoop with three risers or fewer falls under the four-riser threshold, but on ice a rail earns its place anyway. Ask your building department about permits before adding or replacing one.

How do you fix steps that ice every winter?

Fix the water first, then the steps.

1. A gutter over the steps. Add one where the roof drips onto the stoop, clean it in the fall, and deal with ice dams at the roof.
2. Move the downspout. Extend or reroute it so it empties onto lawn, away from the steps and the walk.
3. Grade the landing. The ground at the base of the steps should drain away from the house, not pond at the bottom step.
4. Rebuild steps that have settled. If the treads tilt back toward the house or the risers have gone uneven, patching will not hold. A rebuild sets each tread with a slight pitch to the front, within the code's 2 percent limit, and gives the water a path away from the foundation.

Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions builds porch and step rebuilds, published at $4,000–$9,000; see porch and step rebuilds.

What should you keep by the front door?

• A shovel or pusher that lives inside, not buried in the garage.
• A small container of ice melt with a measuring cup in it.
• A bucket of sand for mornings below about 15°F.
• Strap-on cleats for anyone who goes out first; see ice cleats and walking on ice.

If nobody in the house should be on icy steps early in the morning, line up help before the storm. Residential snow removal handles the driveway and the walk; ask any company whether the steps themselves are part of the visit.