Until recently, every day when I went out from the terrace to the garden, I was sliding. I also raised the proverbial eagle twice. All because the area leading to the garden is sloping and becomes extremely slippery after rain. One day I promised myself that I would build a staircase to my green paradise. It's okay to say, but it's not easy to do. I did it, and it is this feat that I want to show off to other gardeners.
Design is the basisI started with a design. I must admit that there were several of them. I perfected each of them until the drawing I attached to the letter was created.
Building stairs step by step
- The first job was digging the space for the steps. The average depth is about 40-50 cm. The soil in my garden is not very permeable to water, because there is a large river flowing in the area. Therefore, I used construction gravel as the first layer under the stairs. As a result, the whole structure sticks better and the rainwater does not wash the steps.
- The second stage of construction was covering the steps with sand. It is a good ground for a concrete screed. I tried to keep at least 10-15 cm of concrete under each step. Thanks to this, I can be sure that the stairs will withstand really heavy loads.
- The only thing left for me to do is lay the clinker in a color matching the shade of the terrace tiles. Be careful, because with large surfaces, the tiles may move, and the cement mortar is easily crushed by rain or frost. That's why I used a metal mesh. I spread its sheets on each concrete step and only then put the cement binder under the clinker tiles.
- For a staircase to be durable, it should end with a concrete foundation. It is best to let it into the ground to a depth of 60-80 cm. We will avoid landslides and the displacement of the sand and gravel layer.
Using the stairs
My stairs are already 2 years old and they serve us well. I'm glad I made a safe descent to the garden. I remember how, after the construction work was completed, my wife had the structure “picked up”. She dissolved in praise and did not spare kisses. What could be a better way to be happy in marriage?
Franciszek Praszyński
GARDEN RECIPE
Non-slip stairsAdditional protection against slipping, especially in winter, there are anti-slip strips. Available in most DIY stores. Appropriate sanding can also be used on external stairs. It is best to make them with a special machine on the edges of the steps.At the ends of the stairs, incisions in the form of grooves parallel to the descent are also used. They are fitted with rubber belts to prevent slipping.
