A stone staircase can make a bold statement about you and your property. Unfortunately, natural stone is expensive, and some homeowners find themselves unable to work a project like this into their landscaping budgets. In cases like these, we recommend working with Techo-Bloc products – and you’ll quickly see why!
Techo-Bloc Steps are Perfect for All Properties
Unless you already know that the manufactured Techo-Bloc stairs you’re looking at are engineered from concrete, you’d have no idea that they weren’t comprised of the real thing. The Techo-Bloc designers take pride in creating a product that looks exactly like natural stone, including color, shape and texture.
In other words, you get to grace your property with spectacular stone staircases at a fraction of the cost of natural stone. It gets even better than that, though. Because Techo-Bloc products are manufactured to the highest standard, you can expect that each and every stair riser and tread will be of the same, uniform quality.
While natural stone may feature some chips, cracks or nature-made blemishes, Techo-Bloc stairs will not. And since Techo-Bloc stairs are full color, you can expect the beauty of your steps to last as long as stone – and beyond!
Installing Techo-Bloc Steps: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you’re sold on the idea of using Techo-Bloc stairs throughout your Bergen County property, you’re probably wondering what’s next. Where do you go to find Techo-Bloc products, which are right for your specific needs, and how is a staircase constructed? We’ve got answers to each of your questions in this simple “stepping stone” guide to installing Techo-Bloc steps.
Step 1 – Assess the Project Area
Before you do anything else, you need to think about what you’d like to accomplish with your new Techo-Bloc steps, and how much your property can actually accommodate. For example, will your steps be used to connect multiple levels of a patio, and how many steps will be required?
Or are the steps necessary to make it easier for guests to climb a hill to your front door? This information will play a key role in determining which steps are most desirable and practical for your landscape. Next, you’ll need to figure out how much material will be required, how steep the stairs will be, and how deep the stair treads will be.
Again, this will depend on the elevation change of your property and the size of the area with which you have to work with. Lastly, it’s important that you take the time to evaluate your project area before cutting into the land and installing stairs. Call your local utility provider to make sure that you won’t run into any underground wires, cables, or pipes.
Step 2 – Find a Techo-Bloc Dealer
When it comes to buying Techo-Bloc steps in Bergen County, you’ll find that your options are a bit more limited than if you were buying natural stone. This is because only authorized dealers are able to sell Techo-Bloc products.
Make sure that you take the time to research your options and choose a supplier that has specifically been approved to sell Techo-Bloc materials before making a decision. This will ensure that you don’t end up buying a cheap knockoff or buying from an unauthorized dealer at an inflated cost to you.
If you’re not sure about a supplier, you can check the Techo-Bloc website to confirm whether or not they are an authorized dealer. In addition to finding a company affiliated with Techo-Bloc, it’s also important to narrow your search to your local area. This will eliminate any issues with shipping, transportation or delivery.
Step 3 – Choose Your Perfect Stair Materials
When you visit the dealer of your choice, you’ll be presented with a number of Techo-Bloc products. Which stairs are best for you? York or Venetian? Rocka or Maya?
While part of your decision will be based on aesthetics and personal preferences, you’ll also need to refer back to Step 1. The more flexible your project area is in terms of elevation and depth allowances, the more choices you’ll have.
Step 4 – Riser Installation
Follow product-specific instructions on installing each of your risers. Depending on the block model that you choose for your steps, you may have to install two rows when constructing a riser.
If this is the case, you’ll need to take special care to ensure that connectors are used in the correct position. In either case, make sure that you take the time to thoroughly fill in the spaces behind the riser with stone aggregate and compact before proceeding.
Step 5 – Step Installation
Step modules are only to be installed after the riser row has been secured into place. The joints between the riser and step will need to be staggered. A manufacturer-approved adhesive or mortar will need to be used to secure the steps to the risers.
Step 6 – Seal and Maintain
We recommend that our customers consider completing their Techo-Bloc step installations by applying a coat of sealant to each stair and stair tread. When a seal coat is applied correctly, it can help to add further protection to the covered steps.
This means that your steps will be even more resilient against the howling winds, extreme temperature fluctuations, heavy levels of precipitation, and other acts of Mother Nature that occur so commonly in Bergen County and its surrounding areas. Sealant can also prevent stains from forming as easily and can make it easier to clean your steps.
Finally, a seal coat will lock in the color of your stairs, preventing fading and discoloration. Make sure that you choose a sealant that has been approved for use with Techo-Bloc products. Sealant typically needs to be reapplied every 2-3 years.
DIY vs Contractor
After considering steps required to install Techo-Bloc steps in a Bergen County landscape, it’s important to consider whether you feel as though you’re capable of handling the project on your own or if you’ll need to hire a professional to do the work on your behalf.
We advise that you only consider tackling the job as a do-it-yourself gig if you have experience in landscaping or hardscaping and have completed a similar project in the past. Otherwise, you’ll need to take the time to find a reliable contractor.
After years of selling Techo-Bloc products, we’ve developed relationships with a number of local contractors who have completed spectacular Techo-Bloc installations. We are happy to help you find a company that you can trust and afford.
Buy Techo-Bloc Steps in Bergen County
Ready to install Techo-Bloc steps in your Bergen County property? Braen Supply has all of your needs covered. Feel free to stop by and check out our complete inventory of Techo-Bloc products and to ask any questions you may have.
We’re more than happy to provide you with tips and advice for choosing and installing your stairs. We keep our Techo-Bloc prices low and competitive at all times. Our Techo-Bloc steps can be picked up or bulk delivered to locations throughout Bergen County, all of NJ, NY, NYC and PA.
