A set of steps is helpful for a slope in your yard that receives a lot of traffic because they make the transition simpler and looks much nicer than a maintained patch of grass. How to build timber steps on a slope is a common issue when building new steps. Many homes have terraced gardens with slopes designed into the landscaping.
It may seem impossible to make stairs on a slope or rocky garden. There are many ways to build those steps and gain access to your property’s upper levels. Building them takes some consideration, planning, and careful execution. Let’s review landscape timber ideas.
What Materials You’ll Need
It would help if you had the proper tools and materials to build a series of steps on a slope. For your steps to be secure and long-lasting, you must have the required materials and tools.
Material and Tools:How to Build Steps with Timbers?
- stakes
- Marker
- String level
- Shovel
- Work gloves
- Sledgehammer
- Level
- Digging tools
- Rubber mallet
- Straight board
- Measuring tape
- landscape timbers
- Miter saw
- Power drill
- 1/2-inch diameter rebar, 2 to 3 feet long
- 10-inch landscape timber screws
- 3/4-minus gravel
How to Build Timber Steps on a Slope : Steps To Follow
Follow these a few of steps to attain your goal.
Stake the Slope’s Base
At the bottom of the hill, where the first step should be placed, drive a stake and a pole into the soil. The pole or stake needs to be longer than the summit of the hill.
Mark the Stake’s Height
Mark the stake’s height by laying a stage of board straight to the pole from the top of the slopes. To determine the exact quantity of risers required for all the steps, divide this length by 5 1/2 inches.
Take the Soil Out
To make place for two 3-foot sleeper timbers that run perpendicular to the stair treads and serve as a surface to place the treads, it is necessary to take off all the soil at the slope’s base by cutting three feet into the hill and 5 1/2 inches in depth. To secure the staircase to the slope, the timbers reach deep into the hill.
Predrill the Pilot Hole
Two timber sleepers that are 3 feet long should have a ½ pilot hole predrilled four inches from every end.
Place and Arrange the Timbers
Place two three -foot-long timber sleepers into the excavated location, with the ends sticking out from the slope and the timbers’ tops line up with the ground at the hill’s base.For a staircase that is 3 feet wide, space the outer part of the timbers 3 feet apart. The sleepers must be flush with the ground because the 1st point will be fixed on upper side of them.
Drive the Rebar
To secure the sleepers in the ground, drill two to three feet of ½ “ -diameter rebar into the sleepers’ pilot holes.
Build an Escalator Tread
Lay 2 to 3-foot landscaping timbers across the sleepers from left side to right, with one placed precisely back side of the front timber to generate an 11-inch-deep stair tread. The front escalator tread timber should line up with the front corner of the sleepers. And the side stair tread timbers should line up with the outer corners of the sleepers. To secure the tread timbers to the sleepers and complete the first tread, drive 1 ,10” landscaping screw into either end of each tread timber.
Dig as Needed
To make room for the second level of sleepers, dig the slope to create a three-foot gap directly below the 1st timber treads. Place a three-foot sleeper right on upper side of each first-level sleeper. With ten-inch landscape screws spaced four inches from every end, attach the second level of sleepers to the first level.
Complete the Gaps
Spread 3-quarter “ minus gravel evenly around the treads and sleepers, filling any open spaces. This will help the burden of the top stairs by bringing the gravel flush with the first stair tread. While offering more excellent drainage all around the landscape timbers, gravel generally restores the excavated soil.
Place and Fix the Timbers
Across the second level of sleepers, place a three-foot-long landscape timber, matching the front corner with the front side of the sleepers & the backside of the 1st step tread. Put another three-foot large landscape timber behind it, and fasten the ends with ten-inch screws into the below.
Complete the Landscape Timber Steps
Create the remaining stairs until you get to the upper side of the slope. Instead of putting in sleepers halfway up the stair tread height, fill the empty areawith gravel for drainage. To construct your landscape timber steps, cover the remaining gap with soil and grade.
Safety Tip for Timber Landscape Steps
Lay a paving slab in front of the lowest step to prevent damage to the grass at the bottom of a set of steps. Cut a suitable-sized and profound piece of turf, then lay the slab on a 25 mm-deep sharp sand layer.
Bottom Line
It’s essential to take time and adhere to the proper procedures while installing steps on a slope. The measures could not be safe if you hurry up with your construction and don’t use suitable materials. Before building stairs in your garden, make sure to measure their slope.This will enable you to choose the appropriate step placement angle for safety and landscaping timber ideas. Hope so this guide about How to build timber steps on a slope has helped you a lot.
