We are in the process of updating the front porch on our 1920s bungalow. We will need to redo the stairs and I am wondering what is more historically accurate - wood or concrete stairs?

thanks

the ones I've seen in southern California are huge mass-concrete with matching ugly red or green hideous paint.

In suburban Chicago, we have both. The bottom step is concrete and the rest going up are wood. We've tried to figure out if this was original but have not come to a conclusion. Our house is brick and we have brick sides/ 1/2 walls to our stairs (sort of to act as "handrails") that have limestone caps. Other brick bungalows near us have all concrete and some have all wood. I know, this isn't much help. You may want to stay consistent with the materials of your house.

Here on the coast of Oregon wood was the material of choice. Perhaps this was because almost everyone worked for a mill .

Our 1920's bungalow in Northern California has concrete stairs and porch. We are in the process of covering it with 6x6 quarry tile though, some of the houses in California have the quarry tile (Greene & Greene) and we are doing it so we don't have to continue to maintain the concrete porch painting. Some might not agree but we have thought about this at length and decided that this will continue to be somewhat historically correct, although not original to this specific house.

The rule of thumb that I've heard from the former architect on the board of our local historic district is; wood porches have wood stairs, concrete porches have concrete stairs. But, of course, sometimes wood porches were later slathered in concrete.

Our 1913 Sear Kit in Wisconsin has concrete porch and steps.
Carolyn

My bungalow, and most in my area have concrete steps, with brick "wraps" on each side. They look very nice, but the brick and mortar in a lot of these are starting to deteriorate due to age, and exposure.

Our 1890 Craftsman bungalow has concrete steps (front and back) with brick pillars on either side. The other bungalows in our neighborhood (Craftsman and Prairie) also have concrete steps with the brick pillars.

My brother is in landscaping and does a lot of stone work. Here in Michigan the concrete paving bricks are very popular, so we took down the rickety wood steps and he did new ones in the brick pavers. The actual original steps were concrete and very badly decomposed. I know this because somehow they hauled this 3-ton chunk of concrete over into the side yard all in one piece, where it still sits until I can figure out how to get rid of it. I may just pile some river rocks around them and make them into a rock garden. After my brother finished I made some new railings. You can see them at www.picturetrail.com/rickcarns Click on the "Holly, MI" album.

Rick, The steps and railing looks great. Could I get your brother's contact info? My sister in Birmingham will be in need of a patio late this summer/early fall and would need help on stone choices etc. Thanks.

My house is originally concrete - here in San Antonio. Local contractor, when I looked into re-doing the sidewalk, appreciated the concrete porch and apron leading to the sidewalk. He said it was very cool and he would prefer not to replace the apron. I agreed..... Apparently, the texture on 1927 concrete is much different than modern concrete.

Someone put a really good post on reproducing the old concrete finish using color concrete additive and set retarder.

I live in a 1914 craftsman in Portland, OR. I have a wood porch with concrete stairs.
The concrete stairs look like they were a kit - they have built in nubs on the tread (traction once upon a time?) and there is a company name stamped onthe side. Maybe the form was a kit and you just poured them in place. Don't know if my house was a kit house or not. I'll have to take a picture of the stamp some time - I thought it was interesting. (That being said. If I ever get around to it I would like to take these out and install wood )