how to build stone steps?? - LawnSite.com™

opplandscape · #1 03-23-2005, 11:41 PM

I have a customer wanting natural looking stone steps and pathway for their new house. It's a clean canvas. No lawn - we're doing the whole thing.. We're fairly new at this, but will be able to handle it with some knowledge. What's the best way to build the steps? Where do you think pricing should be? The rise is roughly nine feet and the run is about thirty-five feet??

northmichigan · #2 03-24-2005, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opplandscape

I have a customer wanting natural looking stone steps and pathway for their new house. It's a clean canvas. No lawn - we're doing the whole thing.. We're fairly new at this, but will be able to handle it with some knowledge. What's the best way to build the steps? Where do you think pricing should be? The rise is roughly nine feet and the run is about thirty-five feet??

i have done steps like this before and would figure on 18 steps fourteen inches deep with two small landings[to catch your breath on the way up.]
use crushed gravel called road base or 9A at least four inches thick with 5oz woven landscape fabric underneath.the rise of each step would be a single block of stone 6" by 8" by the desired width[i'd prefer at least 28" but 36
" would be better.] fill behind the riser with gravel and set a matching flagstone 6" wide to give you the 14". on the landings use flagstone to curve the staircase for visual interest. the sides of the steps could be secured with fieldsones or the quarried block stone.
i could do the project for about 4 grand depending on the soil type and stone that the home owner picks. compaction is everything in dry-set stone and must be done in stages probably by handtamper.
good luck.
mj

cgland · #3 03-24-2005, 10:22 AM

We did a project exactly like that this year. We used Limestone castle steps. We dug the area out, placed our first step on compacted aggregate, then backfilled behind each step with stone and leveled and compacted each tread. We did leave a slight pitch forward for run-off. I think I have a pic.

Chris

Bull_11 · #4 03-24-2005, 11:09 AM

Great looking steps, Chris! I'm assuming you did all of the hardscaping work at that site?

cgland · #5 03-24-2005, 02:29 PM

Yes! We did everything ..... the hardscaping, softscaping, and lighting. Thank you for the compliments.

Chris

Sean Adams · #6 03-24-2005, 08:01 PM

Chris....excellent work. My wife wants your number, which bothered me at first.... but then I realized it was becasue of those steps

opplandscape · #7 03-24-2005, 11:28 PM

Thanks mj...that gives me a good idea of what to do...we'll see if the customer likes that look.. Not sure if they'll go for the risers though. I think they want a more natural approach like with solid steps...... I appreciate the reply.

northmichigan · #8 03-24-2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opplandscape

Thanks mj...that gives me a good idea of what to do...we'll see if the customer likes that look.. Not sure if they'll go for the risers though. I think they want a more natural approach like with solid steps...... I appreciate the reply.

the stone risers are called castle stone and are a natural quarried stone that has a smooth top.
mj

opplandscape · #9 03-24-2005, 11:38 PM

Chris - I think that looks more like what my customer had in mind... about what size are the steps? What equipment did you need to handle them? What would you estimate a job like that to run (steps only) customer price?? I'm at a loss on what to charge. I don't want to over charge and of course I'm in this for the money.. Thanks. very nice job by the way..