How to Research and Plan Safe Comfortable Steps

Vital to designing and building entrance steps is sketching and describing the project on paper. This includes deciding upon a basic design, defining a working procedure and measuring the project dimensions.

Building entrance steps should not be a hit-or-miss undertaking. One mistake early on can throw off the outcome and working condition of the finished project.

Research Plans

Here are some ideas to not only kick-start projects, but also keep home construction plans anchored in reality:

• Find product brochures and information from employees at home improvement stores. Some stores also feature weekend classes on step building and on products like interlocking stone pavers.

• Internet sites display idea photos. Some sites such as Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design and Construction near Philadelphia not only feature idea photos, but show step-by-step installations.

• Garden construction books such as the Black and Decker Series also present ideas as well as basic principles of safe design such as slope considerations and riser and tread proportions.

Getting Plans on Paper

• Use a steel tape to measure width, height and distance out from house or soil bank for proposed steps.

• Compute a working tread – riser relationship. Treads (t) are the horizontal upper part of the step – the part walked upon – and risers (r) are vertical heights of each step. A good working formula is 2r + t = 27 inches plus or minus 3 inches. Twenty-seven inches is the ideal for comfort and safety. Too much deviation from 27 inches results in steps that are uncomfortable and unsafe to negotiate. However, because of individual variation in building materials, a little leeway often results.

• Remember those who have difficulty walking, and do not make risers too high.

• Draw scale plans on graph paper by using measurements and computing tread – riser dimensions mathematically. Then check and double-check results.

Estimating Supplies

• Obtain material dimensions from purchase source. Generalized material dimensions copied from books may result in buying too little or too much.

For example: “Autumn Blend” paving bricks are usually listed as 3 ½ x 4 x 8 inches; in reality horizontal measurements are more like 3 ? x 7 ? inches. Pressure-treated landscape timbers are often sold as 6 x 6 x 8 feet, when real measurements are 5 ½ x 5 ½ x 8 feet. Old railroad ties, when found, are not only heavier, but also larger and more variable in dimensions than purchased timbers.

• Compute needed supplies using these measurements and scale plans.

For timber-edged brick steps, compute the total surface area of each tread area. Subtract the area of timbers to obtain amount of brick-filled surface area. Compute rough numbers of timbers and bricks to buy.

Generally, 1 to 1 ½ yards of mason’s sand is sufficient for an average set of steps. Use leftovers to fill in cracks as bricks settle.

Acquiring Supplies

• It is less expensive to buy timbers in quantity and bricks by pallet or “cube.” It is also simpler to buy a little more than run out before the end of the project.

• These supplies are heavy and not easily movable in a station wagon or small truck. Most local suppliers deliver for a fee and advance notice.