Cobblestone stairslook elegant and are very durable. Of course, as long as they are properly done. Seehow to make stairs from cobblestonesstep by step and what you need to prepare before we start making the stairs. In a moment you will learn how to strengthen the ground for paved stairs, how to correctly measure the steps and how to lay paving stones. We also present samplephotos of cobblestone stairs
Stairs made of cobblestones. Photo Libet
Stairs not only allow for comfortable and efficient movement on uneven terrain in our garden, but also enliven it and make it more interesting. Justlaying paving stones on the stairsis actually relatively simple, but most of the work we have to spend on preparing for this activity.
What to do to make the cobblestone stairs aesthetic and functional?
In order toto make stairs from paving stoneswe must first of all determine the right place, calculate the number of steps, their height and width and the size of the slope of the entire stairs.
The size of the stairs and the size of the stepsshould first of all depend on the function that these stairs will fulfill in the garden. If they are to be a typical, functional staircase, they should be narrow and high enough to be climbed quickly. On the other hand, if the stairs are to be more decorative, for walking rather than quick movement, the steps should be wide and flat.
When designing a cobblestone staircaseit is also worth taking into account the fact that the natural rhythm of human gait is odd. Therefore, the number of steps in the flight of stairs should also be odd. Ideally, they should be no less than three and no more than five degrees in one sequence.
Stairs made of cobblestones. Photo Bush
The type of paving stonesthat will be used to build the stairs should match the existing surface, facade of the building and the style of the entire garden. However, the multitude of types of paving stones is so large that you will surely find a paving stone that will perfectly match our assumption.
Stairs made of cobblestones. Photo Libet
If we are not sure if we can handlearranging stairs from paving stones , alternatively, we can also use prefabricated elements in the form of ready-made stair blocks.Monolithic elements allow for easy, quick and, above all, aesthetic installation of stair steps at the terrace and in the garden.
Please note thatstairs in the garden should be frost-resistant , resistant to abrasion, and their surface should not be slippery. Paving stones have all these parameters, which is why it is such a good material for making stairs. In addition, it is very aesthetic and looks elegant.
Stairs made of cobblestones. Photo Libet
For thishow to make stairs from cobblestoneswe also need to know what parameters the stairs should have, i.e. how high and wide should be individual elements and the entire stairs. It should be remembered that, first of all, level the surface of the stairs so that the water can run off them and not rest on the steps. Water can run down the sides of the stairs, in rebates. Or run downhill, i.e. the stairs will have a slight slope of approx.0.5 - 1%. The height of a single step should be approx. 8-10 cm for flat stairs or 10-15 cm for high stairs. The depth of the steps should be 30-50 cm, while the width of the entire stairs should be approx. 60-130 cm.
How to make stairs from paving stones
Step 1 - preparing the surface for the stairs
Approx. 20-25 cm of topsoil should be selected. Then we fill the defect with sand and cement backfill. In the case of a weaker, more sandy soil, it is necessary to additionally make a foundation of dry concrete, thanks to which the soil will thicken and thus strengthen.
Step 2 - arranging boundary elements
Once we have a properly prepared substrate, we begin to arrange the edge elements of the stairs, which will be an equivalent of the foundation for the stairs. Each edge element should be additionally placed on mortar or dry concrete, which will strengthen and stiffen the entire staircase.
Step 3 - laying steps from paving stones
Once the edges of the stairs are laid, start filling them with paving stones. Place each beech cube tightly next to each other and hit them with a special hammer. Such a hammer should be made of rubber so as not to damage the paving stones. If we do not have such a hammer, we can use a regular one, but then we put the board so as not to damage the surface of the cube.
Stairs made of cobblestones. Photo Bush
Step 4 - gap filling
After laying the paving stones, fill the gaps between the paving stones with clean quartz sand. The surface of the stairs is covered with sand several times and swept so that the material fills the arches between the cubes well. You can also pour water over the stairs to even better compact the sand in the gaps between the ankles. It is not worth using compactors on small stairs as they can damage the surface.
For people who want to makecobblestone stairsfor the first time, it can be quite a difficult task, so it is worth considering hiring specialists. However, if you want to make the stairs yourself, it is good to consult your calculations and the work plan with a specialist.
Katarzyna Matuszak
