Decorative Steps: THE MATERIALS you choose should blend in with their context. There are many types of bricks, blocks, pavers, walling blocks, and paving blocks which are all suitable. You can use bricks and blocks both for the risers and for the treads; face textures may be smooth, pitted or, in the case of decorative steps cement blocks, resemble split stone. Blocks, although suitable only for the treads, may be smoothfaced, riven, or even geometrically patterned for an ornate appearance.
SKETCH OUT the position and shape of the steps on squared paper to help you to determine how they will look and how they will fit in with the existing site plan erhaps the most important point is to draw side elevation of the steps, which will show ou just how steep they will need to be. bu will have to take into account certain ifety criteria with regard to the format. If le flight is too steep, it will be tiring to limb. Where it is too shallow there is a anger of tripping.
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. |
