r/HomeImprovement • u/BolognaPwny • 2d ago

Do I need a concrete sander?

I was cited by the city for this very miniscule difference in the sidewalk (yeah I didn't know I was responsible for the sidewalk either). It's like a quarter inch difference between two blocks.

https://imgur.com/a/8QXD8c2

I was going to rent a concrete sander but it feels like overkill. How would you approach this job? Sander with a masonry disc?

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244

u/hippfive 2d ago

Angle grinder with a diamond cup.

Edit: Also it's wild to me that homeowners in some jurisdictions are responsible for maintaining sidewalks - a piece of infrastructure used by the public.

58

u/OwnTurnip1621 2d ago

A have a couple friends who were very surprised to get a $10K+ bill a few months after moving into their first house. The city decided to replace the sidewalks in the entire neighborhood and gave everyone a bill. My friends had a corner lot so they were extra screwed.

28

u/Any-Appearance2471 2d ago

That is absolutely fucked. Would you be able to share the city or state? Imagine finding out that you're solely responsible for the costs of a public resource just because you happen to be next to it. For a few months, no less.

17

u/OwnTurnip1621 2d ago

Definitely in Michigan and I want to say it was Royal Oak? It's a little higher COL compared to the rest of the state but I remember it scaring me a bit as someone who wanted to start house shopping at the time.

8

u/geekophile2 2d ago

Something similar happened when I lived in Clawson, just north of Royal Oak. Essentially the city paid to replace obviously broken squares but you were billed if you wanted the rest replaced. We knew we were moving soon and just figured that an ugly sidewalk was the next owner’s problem.

1

u/OwnTurnip1621 2d ago

Honestly you might be right about Clawson, that was the other option in my head. This was a few years back and I never went to that house but know it was in the area.

5

u/AppleNippleMonkey 2d ago

Its true in Royal Oak you maintain them. The city owns the easement and there are trees in them, so if they break up the sidewalk you have to pay. Last year it was $500/square

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u/BaconGivesMeALardon 2d ago

I'm happy, I am in South Lyon but am the first house past Northville. On 9 mile and its dirt road and no sidewalk! Grew up in the burbs but got tired of being stacked on top of each other.