Eight Steps: Steps can be built of a variety of materials including paving, bricks, wood and sections of tree trunk. If you have a collection of pieces of stone, all different sizes, you can use them to make crazy-paving steps (top left). If using logs, you can either cut them into disks (bottom left) or use them whole with stakes in front to keep them firm (bottom right). You can also use planks and lengths of square wood (top right); if you can find them, railroad ties make attractive steps.
Steep flights should include a handrail—at about hand height steps, 2%ft—on each side, which extends about 12in beyond the flight, where it might possibly be linked with existing fencing or railings for a more unified scheme. Alternatively you might prefer to build a Wall (at handrail height steps) at each side of the flight.
Flights comprising more than 10 steps should be broken halfway with a landing which provides a good resting place and can also break a fall. Take this into account when calculating the number of treads that you require.
The treads should slope slightly toward the front—a pitch of about lAin is adequate —so that rainwater will drain off rapidly. This is particularly important in winter, when ice could make the steps slippery and dangerous. For the same reason, choose only block treads with non-slip textured faces.
Masonry steps can appear incongruous in an informal garden and wooden steps are often more appropriate. Cut-in steps are more suitable for this type of garden, and using sawn logs as the risers is a quick and easy way to form an attractive flight.See Also Some Steps:WORK OUT how many some steps you will need to make by measuring the vertical height of the slope. To do this, drive a peg into the top of the slope and a pole as tall as the slope height at the bottom. Connect the two with string. Set the string horizontal using a level, then measure the pole from ground level to the string. This is the slope height.
Divide the figure by the depth of a riser plus tread of the some steps you plan to use. This gives the number of some steps you can fit into the slope.
Garden some steps need not always conform to a straight format. Where you have enough space, consider creating a flight composed of circular or segmental treads to scale a graceful shallow rise in the ground, perhaps leading to a formal terrace beyond.
Mark out the shape of the some steps with an improvised pair of compasses made from a length of wood attached to a stake with string. Cut out the rough shape of the circular treads and cast cement block foundations beneath. There is no need to make the foundation block round; just cover the corners with soil after you have built the some steps.
Use bricks or blocks laid on mortar to form the curving front edges of the treads, and fill the circles with gravel or cobblestones. You could even lay turf for a grassy flight of some steps, but it is important to bear in mind that these would be very difficult both to maintain and to mow satisfactorily.
On The Other Hand See Flight Of Steps Can:You can also make up a single riser from two or more slimmer logs stacked on top of each other. As an alternative to using round logs you can obtain old railroad ties sold specifically for use in garden construction. Fix the railroad tiess with stakes, as for logs, to create a more formal yet still rustic flight of steps can. Turning the flight of steps can within the slope is easily done by simply fanning out the logs or ties.
When using wooden steps, be wary of the treads becoming slippery after rainfall. A good way of keeping a gripping surface is to staple chicken wire on top of the wood. Keeping the steps clear of moss and lichen will also reduce the risk of a slip.
On a large flight of steps can—more than, say, about 10 steps—it is advisable to cast a cement footing in a trench at the base to support the bottom riser and prevent the entire flight of steps can from sliding down the bank. Dig the trench under the position of the bottom riser, about twice the front-to-back measurement of the riser, about 4in deep. Ram rubble into the base of the trench and top up to ground level with fresh cement. Compact the cement, level it and allow to set overnight before building on the surface.
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