Riser height is the vertical distance from the top of one step to the top of the next, a dimension that building codes keep consistent because uneven risers are a leading cause of stair falls.
In depth
People climb stairs on muscle memory. Building codes typically limit riser height to about 7-3/4 inches and restrict variation between risers to about 3/8 inch, because even a small surprise in step height is enough to cause a fall.
Settlement quietly rewrites riser heights. When a stoop or bottom walkway slab sinks, the first riser grows taller than every other step, often by an inch or more. The steps may look fine, but the geometry is now outside code and genuinely hazardous, especially for older adults and kids.
How Acme applies it. We restore proper riser height by lifting the settled stoop, steps, or walkway slab back to its original elevation, a same-day repair that removes the hazard without demolishing and re-pouring the steps.
Related terms: Change in Level, Trip Hazard, Sunken Concrete, Concrete Settlement
Frequently asked questions
How much riser variation is too much?
Codes generally allow only about 3/8 inch of variation between risers. If your bottom step is noticeably taller than the rest, it is outside that range.
Can you fix step height without replacing the steps?
Usually, yes. If the stoop or adjacent slab settled, lifting it back to grade restores the original riser heights in a few hours.