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Making steps - planning stage

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Posted by popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Sat, Mar 24, 07 at 2:16

I am planning on making 3 steps down an embankment in my garden.

I have piles of sandstone available to make the steps. The pieces are all easy to move.

My question is....when I initially dig out the contour of the steps, it makes sense to me to dig down and remove topsoil, leaving me with a more clay base to build the step on, is this a good idea ?

Once I have done that, am I correct in thinking that I need to get some sort of crushed road base (called quarter minus where I live), to put down on the newly dug step ? Then I am planning on plonking on the sandstone pieces and cementing them together.

Does this all sound feasible ? I have never done this before, and I want to make a good job of it. Something I can be proud of.

Anything I have forgotten ?

Thanks very much
Popi

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RE: Making steps - planning stage

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  • Posted by botann z8 SEof Seattle (My Page) on
    Wed, Mar 28, 07 at 9:56

Start at the bottom and work up. A base of gravel is the way to go. Done right, concrete is not necessary, and in most cases, detracts from the job in my opinion. The top surfaces of the stone should tilt slightly, ever so slightly, back in towards the hill.

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RE: Making steps - planning stage

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Hi popi,
I agree, cementing the stones in place is not necessary and may actually pose some problems. First of all if you do decide to cement wait awhile after setting the stones before you do it. They will most certainly settle and the newly dug soil will compact a bit. You may decide after looking at it for a while that you would like to change it a bet. Also consider that no matter what you do weeds will inevatably grow under your stairs and you may want to remove a stone every so often if you get an especially tough dandlion or some quack grass underneath it. If you don't cement you could also put some cute little rock garden plant in the cracks. If you plan to use plants then be sure to use some other kind of crushed gravel besides lime stone because the ph that limesstone creates is not liked my most plants.
Learned from experience on this one.
Catrina

  
 

 

 


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