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Building garden steps often becomes a necessity when creating easy access to garden level changes.
How you build your steps will really depend upon what the particular scenario is and what materials you use. There are actually several methods of building steps from soft groundwork retainers to more solid construction. What method you choose will depend on your circumstances and what your steps are adjoining too. The two most typical scenarios are; garden steps on a slope and garden steps between two levels. What is the best riser height for outdoor garden steps?The most important thing to consider when working out steps is incorporating a comfortable stepping height. Research carried out on this subject concluded that the ideal step height was around 175mm (7inches). However In landscaping I believe this measurement should be lower. Outdoor conditions mean steps can be wet and generally much more hazardous. Furthermore elderly pedestrians do not have the option of taking the elevator in gardens. I find the perfect riser height for landscape steps should be around 150mm (6inches) which is conveniently the height of two bricks with mortar joints. This fact makes it even easier to set out new steps up along new brickwork. 
How to build garden steps on a slope?Very rarely do gardens provide a perfectly level surface to work with. Natural contours and undulation can make general circulation difficult especially in winter. In some circumstances gardens can have very steep slopes requiring steps to bridge drastic level changes. However most of the time garden steps up slopes are more of an average gradient. More gradual slopes allow you to build steps with less solid construction build ups. Gradual slopes can be based up like patios or paths with steps acting as low retaining walls. The ultimate way to set out your steps on a slope is to work out your overall height by distance. For this example we will use a distance of 10 metres with a level change of 2m.
Building steps up a slope generally requires longer treads and less frequent risers. This means most of the time you are creating a stepped route or pathway.
Consequently it is more costly to surface the all of the steps with a hard material than shorter and steeper steps. The cheapest way to build steps on a slope is by using sleepers as risers. These can be set into the ground on edge and fixed to treated timber posts concreted into the ground. The treads can then be based up like a path with mot type 1 and gravels laid as a finished surface. Alternatively you can use a thick layer of bark mulch or even re-grade the soil around them and turf. 
Bear in mind that for long running slopes you will need very long retaining sides to steps. This is so side on you see still see the material used for the risers. For example if you build the steps with bricks the bricks will have to run a fair distance back into the slope before they are hidden.
This means you will need to install a disproportional amount of concrete foundation for partially visual bricks. Consequently this could make brickwork and even concrete steps on long slopes expensive. However, if you have the budget paving steps over long slopes can be approached as a stepped pathway. These can be very effective. Alternatively brick and concrete can be used to build the retaining risers with the treads based with a cheaper material. A good example would be a brick on edge riser with a free binding gravel tread infill. How to build garden steps between two levels
Ultimately the most common reason for building steps outdoors is to provide easy passage between two levels. Quite often when new patios and decks are constructed there can be profound level changes created. This is especially so where gardens have naturally sloping ground. In landscaping it is very common for clients to wish to re-work existing steps because they are too steep or the treads too narrow. Ultimately garden steps dimensions are constrained by the desired distance of the run, the overall height and the desired riser height. The more run distance you have the more flexibility you have. 
Building garden steps between two levels becomes a much larger project the higher you build. Just like any construction project the greater the size, weight and mass the greater the preparation.
This is especially so with masonry like bricks and concrete block steps. Large structures will have to have retaining wall thickness and be tied into existing masonry. Such large steps will need adequate foundations to take the weight of the structure. Timber steps spanning two levels can be attached to joist work and fixed to posts concreted into the ground. To build garden steps to connect two levels you will need to work out your overall height by run distance. For this example we will use a distance of 4 metres and a height of 2 metres.
How to build garden steps with timber sleepers
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Step 6
Place your riser upright onto the base concrete in the foundation vertically. Make sure the top of your riser is in position and perfectly square on to the proposed steps.
Step 7
When you are happy with the position of the risers wedge them into position and concrete them in. Let the risers go off over night and then start the next one. Eventually you will have a series of solid risers which can be back filled with concrete as you go.
Step 8
Mix up some concrete and fill in the step voids between the steps. At this point you can bury some old hardcore in with the concrete. Make sure you leave an inch from the top of the riser to mortar in the top tread paver.
Step 9
Mix up a 1:4 sharp sand mortar mix and bed your tread pavers onto the risers. You may need to experiment with the amount of mortar applied.
You want a consistent bed under the slab with a slight fall towards the higher riser. You may have to cut the tread pavers depending on the step width you have chosen. This can be done with an electric stone grinder and diamond blade.
How to build garden steps with concrete
The great thing about building steps with concrete is they can easily be moulded into any form or shape. With skilled formwork and shuttering pretty much anything becomes possible.
However most of the time basic squares and straight lines are all that are needed for steps. This means a few concrete blocks and square sections of timber are usually all you need.
The only downside to concrete steps is they usually need to be rendered, painted or clad.
Step 1
Measure the proposed height and distance of the steps to make sure your steps will fit comfortably.
Step 2
If your step does not have a base excavate to a depth of 150mm and lay a concrete base.
Step 3
Create form work and shapes so vertical and plumb risers can be formed.
Step 4
Lay wet concrete to the form work moulds; make sure to work the concrete well to eliminate air pockets. Tamp and trowel the top of the concrete to a level and consistent surface.
Step 5
If you have multiple steps to concrete continue the process in sections until you reach the top.
Step 6
When the concrete is set carefully remove the form work and clad the concrete in whatever finish is desired.
How to build steps with bricks & blocks
One of the most popular and robust methods of building garden steps is with bricks and concrete blocks. Bricks can provide a material which can match into existing surfaces of the home and local landscape. Concrete blocks allow you to erect concrete structures quickly and can be rendered, painted, clad or tiled.
Step 1
Measure the proposed height and distance of the steps to make sure your steps will fit comfortably.
Step 2
Excavate out a foundation for the steps blocks and bricks. The size and depth of this will depend on how large the proposed steps are.
Step 3
Lay the new concrete foundations to the excavated area and work to a consistent level.
Step 4
Lay brickwork or blockwork to the shape of your new steps making sure to build them level and square. If building up against existing masonry walls make sure you tie the steps into the existing structure.
Step 5
Make sure you allow the brickwork or blockwork to cure for at least 36 hours! Fill the new step frame with either well compacted hardcore or sub base. Alternatively for even stronger steps fill with a concrete mix.
Step 6
Once the frame is built clad any concrete faces and lay your treads with whatever material you like.
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Are you planning on building your own landscaping project? Why not visit our essential landscaping tools article or resource page.
Garden step building services
Buckinghamshire landscape gardeners are experts in garden step design and construction.
We have experience in building all types of steps in a number of different building materials. We can build steps in sleepers, decking, brick and concrete. For a free no obligation step building service why not contact us below.
We serve Buckinghamshire, and Neighbouring counties with many local services areas including; High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Amersham, Chesham, Great Missenden and Chesham.
We are also soon opening an Office in Norfolk.
Useful links on Garden step building
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2 Comments
4/23/2023 07:16:44 pm
Nice guide and tips that home owners can refer through. Thanks for it.
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The Author
Paul Nicolaides
BA (Hons) Dip
Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening.
