Support for Wide Steps in Garden - From Scratch

[KirstyAmanda]

Hi there, wondering if anyone could give me some advice on the building of some steps in my garden.

We're using 3 x 2 slabs for the steps, total steps area will be 12ft wide by 3ft high (4m x 1m). We've got sand, type 1 and housebricks, but someone has said we need cement/mortar to keep everything in place (I thought maybe the weight of the 3 x 2 slabs would be enough to keep it all in place)

Wondering if anyone could tell me what the best way forward would be, and rough quantities of mortar/cement for the size of area with applying a layer on the bottom and on the top of the housebricks (if that makes any sense) or if another method of application is required?

Thanks very much in advance!

[Carrerahill]

You need mortar in there and probably some lean-mix to keep it all in place or you will have a mess.

 

You will really need to build a structure for the stairs, probably on foundations of some sort, the cap them, the other issue is the slabs, they need to be solid and if a lip is being formed then the slab can tip if not locked in properly.

 

This is probably a little more work than you had imagined but do it correctly and it will last a lifetime.

 

Think about ground quality, if very loose you need to tie it all up even more so. 

Edited April 30, 2020 by Carrerahill

[KirstyAmanda]

Okay doke, any idea on quantity of mortar? and lean mix? (i have no idea what that is) thanks again

[Carrerahill]

16 minutes ago, KirstyAmanda said:

Okay doke, any idea on quantity of mortar? and lean mix? (i have no idea what that is) thanks again

How long is a piece of string?

 

First thing is first, what are you building the stairs upon? Are you replacing existing, or are you digging into a slope to add stairs? Can you post some images and or a sketch of the proposed and I will give you some advice and qty's.

 

In generally terms a below ground mortar would be 3:1 so 3 buckets of sand to 1 of cement, above it can be 4:1 but you may stick to 3:1 for strength. Obviously all measuring can be altered, i.e. 3 cups sand 1 cup of cement for a small repair, or 3 bags of sand 1 bag cement for a mixer load type thing. 

 

Lean mix is just a lean concrete used as a bound back-fill, say between the brick structure etc. etc. Lean mix is really just a weak concrete that serves no real structural purpose. I'd use a 9:5:1 (aggregate:sharp sand:cement) and always use the least amount of water you can for mixing these, more water = weaker.

 

Mortar is often made using building sand, concrete is ALWAYS sharp sand, building sand is simply a filler and does nothing. Sharp sand is angular and binds up with cement to make a strong mix.

 

If I was going to build a wall of say 20 concrete blocks, I'd expect a little under half a wheelbarrow full of mortar would work for my bedding (bottom layer on concrete foundation) and joints. That is probably about 1.5 builders buckets of sand and about 1/3 bucket of cement, some plasticiser too (makes it so much easier to work with). Then add a little water at a time, get it wrong you will end up with slop, then you need to add heaps more sand and cement and will have loads of waste. Even a cup too much water could trash a 1/3 barrow mix.

 

All depends how much you want to go for in one go. I always tend to mix a mixer load for projects I am doing but a barrow mix is good for small bits. 

 

Watch/view these:

 

 

https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-build-garden-steps/CC_npci_100146.art

 

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by Carrerahill