Stone steps can be built in gardens, as part of dry stone walls or retaining walls on banks, and to reduce erosion on steep footpaths. The dimensions will depend on the gradient, but in general staircase-type steps on steep gradients should be avoided. The minimum dimensions should be as shown.
There are various ways of making stone steps, according to the type of stone available.
- Massive heavy slabs can form the whole step.
- The riser can be formed of a layer, or layers of dry stone work, capped by a single or two large slabs.
- Smaller stone can be set lengthwise into the ground to form the tread, a process known as pitching. This is held by a large slab which forms the riser.
- Rough or cut stone can be used to form the riser and front of the tread, with the rest of the tread of packed gravel or soil.
Construction of steps is further explained in Footpaths – Steps.
Capping stone steps
Fields (1971) gives these rules for making flights of steps up retaining walls.
- Choose slabs which are wide enough for foot room, long enough to tie into the faces of the wall on both sides, and thick enough to bear the weight of a man carrying a load.
- Buttress each step from below with a foundation of smaller stones.
- If building steps up through a retaining wall, build the wall to a head at either side of the steps.
