Not everyone can boast of a perfectly straight summer cottage plot no differences in height. And sometimes gardeners deliberately create multi-level gardens to make the landscape more interesting and the garden picturesque. In this case, it is quite difficult to do without steps that will help you move between tiers. Such steps can perform not only practical, but also decorative function. If you decide to organize steps in your garden, we offer you a selection of ideas that will help you achieve your plan.
Let's consider the first option of steps, which are suitable for large gentle slopes, since each step is quite wide.
The staircase frame is made from large wooden beams who are going to one-piece design using appropriate fasteners. The voids inside wooden formwork can be filled with pebbles or crushed stone.
Such steps look original; water does not accumulate on their surface, since it seeps through the backfill. The disadvantages include the need to periodically add crushed stone, as it can spill over the sides.
If you liked the technology described above, but need a more compact and simpler staircase, the beams can be replaced with boards and the length of the steps can be reduced. A staircase made using this technology can be made curved more easily.
If you want to approach the construction of stairs in the garden thoroughly, pay attention to more durable and durable materials, brick and concrete.
There are several approaches here. For example, the outer walls of the steps can be made of brick, the cavities can be filled with crushed stone, and concrete slabs can be laid on top.
There is another option. The steps are cast in concrete and the front edge is lined with brick. In this case, you will have to use formwork. It makes sense to use this approach if each step is long enough.
If you want to be original, you can use railroad sleepers to make steps. You can also use sleepers to pave a garden path. Fill the gaps between them with mortar or fill with large crushed stone. It turns out quite interesting.
Sleepers can also be used instead of formwork for pouring concrete steps. The option is not much different from the first, but such steps will look more original, especially if the sleepers are old.
Recently, gardeners have been abandoning concrete-filled garden paths in favor paving slabs. When dismantling old paths, you may be left with many large pieces of concrete, which can also be used to create original garden steps.
If money is not a problem, steps can be made from stone slabs. True, for this you need to have good skills in construction, or use the services professional builders with appropriate equipment.
You can decorate ordinary concrete steps using shards ceramic tiles. Such a staircase will look more fun and interesting.
Remember that the steps do not have to be geometrically perfect. Here is an example of how you can do it interesting staircase using randomly laid concrete blocks.
Garden stairs not only make it easier to move around the site, but also give the garden a feeling of completeness and structure. If you are thinking about building your own garden stairs, there are a few things to consider. This will be discussed in this article.
Not every staircase can be built without knowledge and experience in this field. Certain structures require a serious foundation, the preparation of which only professionals can do. Therefore, to build garden stairs more than one meter high, it is recommended to either hire a specialist or buy finished staircase made of wood or metal, which only needs to be installed.
In general, when building a garden staircase, the following rules must be observed: next principle: steps are dug in the ground, a concrete foundation is poured inside, steps made of the selected material are placed on it. The choice of material for a garden staircase depends on its purpose.
What materials are garden stairs made of?
Concrete, brick, paving stones, natural stone are the favorite and most durable materials for construction in outdoors. Wood or wood is also used for the construction of garden stairs. metal constructions. Moreover, metal can be used to make the entire staircase, and it can also serve only as a frame to give stability, for example, to a wooden staircase.
The simplest version of a garden staircase
The simplest option for building a garden staircase, which does not require serious effort (including a foundation), is to drive planks into the ground as risers, filling the space between the risers with crushed stone. The crushed stone will serve as steps. Of course, this option is as simple as it is short-lived.
Construction of a garden staircase that will serve you faithfully for many years
A durable garden staircase consists of a concrete foundation, stone steps and risers. The foundation plays a determining role in how stable and durable your staircase will be. Risers can be made of brick, concrete or paving stones, the space inside of which is filled with crushed stone. Steps made of sandstone, slate, etc. are placed on top. and fixed with cement.
Combining materials when building a garden staircase
When building a garden staircase, you can successfully combine various materials, and new technologies in construction provide us with various designs, with the help of which it is quite easy to independently build this work of construction art. However, knowledge and experience in this area can make your stairs more durable and, most importantly, safer. Before the beginning construction work consult a specialist who can give you some practical advice regarding your specific project.
DIY garden staircase options
Wooden garden stairs
Stone garden stairs
Concrete garden stairs
Garden stairs made of various materials
Metal garden stairs
Garden staircase made of paving stones
Wooden garden ladder
Garden staircase made of clinker bricks
Fired brick garden staircase
Garden staircase with gabion steps
Creative eco-design idea - garden staircase made from tires
Landscaping of a garden staircase
Practice has established: a staircase is comfortable and safe if the double height of the step (riser), added to the width of the step (the tread on which the foot is placed), is equal to the average step of a person. The length of a person’s step is approximately 62-64 cm, and a comfortable rise of the leg is 30-32 cm. Based on this, the tread and rise are determined as follows: 2a + b = 64 cm or a + 6 = 47 cm, where a is the height of the step , b - step width. Of course, the size of the steps depends on total height and the steepness of the stairs. First of all, each riser must have the same height, otherwise steps of different heights will become an inevitable obstacle when walking. Given the height difference that the staircase is designed to help overcome, 1 m is practical to provide 10 steps, each 10 cm high. In this case, a convenient step depth will be in the range from 37 to 44 cm. With the usually accepted step length, it should be borne in mind that the total length of the projection of such a staircase onto a horizontal surface will be in the range from 370 to 440 cm. For a staircase in a small garden, this is quite a lot of. If you don't have enough free space, the parameters of the steps must be determined based on the permissible overall dimensions of this structure.
The shorter and higher the staircase, the higher each of the steps, and also, accordingly, the steeper and more difficult the ascent and descent. If the depth of the steps is less than 30 cm, using the stairs is simply dangerous, since the leg will not have sufficient support, and if the height of the steps is more than 17 cm, walking up the stairs is very tiring.
The dimensions used in the construction of stairs inside and outside the house are somewhat different from those used for garden stairs. The latter can be increased somewhat in both length and height in order to adapt them to the conditions of a particular area. For example, make the slope more gentle by slightly moving the upper and lower points of the stairs, thereby slightly reducing the angle of ascent.
As a rule, stairs, like paths, should follow the shortest direction between two points or landings. However, this is not always possible when it is too steep slope or taking into account the landscape designer’s plans. To reduce the slope, the ladder can be positioned at an angle relative to the slope. Using a pole, which is driven into the ground at the base of the ladder, and a cord to hang a straight line, the overall height is determined.
The depth of the steps is determined based on the calculated number of steps and the total length and depth of the stairs.
Sometimes the size of the steps can be determined by the used construction material- such as a wooden sleeper or a finished granite block. In fact, then all that remains is to adjust the depth of the steps on the slope depending on the overall depth of the stairs. This is not a problem, since individual finished steps only need to be stacked one on top of the other, because there is always a certain margin for the top to overlap the bottom.
Road clinker can be used to make a small patio to accommodate garden furniture or decorative objects. The play of colors is noteworthy clinker bricks, which line the semicircular terrace.
Each locality uses the most characteristic natural materials. Here are hand-hewn limestone blocks.
IN in this case small logs serve as guides for the steps, and their covering is made of gravel.
If the garden staircase is built on undisturbed compacted soil, no deep concrete foundation is required. The staircase leading to the house or built on loose bulk soil, needs to build a foundation.
Massive steps made of natural stone
For the construction of a reliable staircase on a natural soil base, natural stone is best suited. Unlike wooden ones, stone steps are not subject to rotting and are resistant to other, even very aggressive influences. However, heavy building material requires considerable effort during installation, as well as the creation of a stable foundation. It can be - as in this case - made of compacted crushed stone.
The staircase is built moving from bottom to top. A rule is used to control the position of the steps. Before starting work, you need to select and accurately set the angle of inclination of the stairs.
Blocks from natural stone they must be laid absolutely level, preventing the possibility of them moving under load. This will provide stability to the elements of the steps. It is better to use small crushed stone for backfilling.
Massive steps are so heavy that on undisturbed soils they are mainly installed without an additional supporting base. Important: the upper step must be shifted relative to the lower one.
Such steps consist of a continuous tread. For aesthetic reasons, the step protrudes 2 cm. It is also recommended to support the supporting base of the first and last steps with a concrete foundation.
Such steps, made from edge-mounted concrete risers, can be recessed to almost a third of their height. In this case, the tread surfaces can be paved with small stones or covered with tiles.
Wood is used as a material for making stairs in cases where it is necessary, for example, here, to connect two different levels. In this case, neither preparation of the base nor the construction of a foundation is required. In this case, the existing one is used to support and secure the ladder. masonry. If the arrangement of the steps involves air circulation between them, this will ensure greater durability of the entire structure. In addition, its service life is also extended by thorough protective impregnation wood All details wooden stairs need to be processed and prepared for installation in advance, which will significantly speed up assembly. It also doesn't hurt to have a drawing of the staircase on hand.
1. The upper part of the stairs consists of wooden frame, which is rigidly attached to the wall of the house and supported by wooden pillars.
2. Each of them, in turn, stands on a threaded rod embedded in concrete pillar foundation.
3. The prepared staircase parts are first adjusted and treated with a wood preservative.
4. A wooden block is attached to the masonry as a base for the bottom of the stairs.
5. It requires drilling holes for mounting screws.
6. After the lower part of the ladder is in place, mount and secure the upper part. And after screwing the screws into the joints, you can already walk up the stairs.
Steps with vertical solid risers
For a gentle slope, sometimes such a simple staircase made of boards is enough. Fastening it vertical elements can be done using pegs. Soaked protective composition wooden parts capable of serving for many years.
First, stepwise excavations are made on the slope. Small wooden pegs and a cord help determine the slope of the future staircase and the position of its steps.
While building one step at a time, using a water level, their position is monitored and, if necessary, adjusted. And only now can you drive in the support pegs.
Significantly cheaper than steps made of natural stone, but steps made of concrete blocks are also durable and reliable. In addition, using wooden formwork you can make them yourself. The formwork is carried out in accordance with the selected dimensions and shape of the steps. Since the formwork can be used repeatedly, the steps are made sequentially. To obtain concrete, take a mixture of cement, sand and gravel (1:3:6). If desired, add to the solution special dyes, you can achieve the desired color accents.
The prepared formwork from boards with a bottom is filled with concrete. Once compacted and smoothed, the casting is left to dry for 48 hours. The finished steps, as usual, are mounted in sequence from bottom to top.
The times when a flat piece of land was considered better than a relief one are long gone. It is well known how interesting it is to play with heterogeneous terrain. In this case, steps and stairs appear on the territory, and with them - a feeling of volumetric space
A staircase is an element of a vertical garden layout. For all its functional necessity, any staircase is also always decorative, since it emphasizes the plasticity of the relief and seems to expand the boundaries of the garden. The main requirement for a ladder is to ensure the safety of those who walk on it. In addition, aesthetics and compliance with the overall style of the house and site are important.
There are stairs different shapes, and the tread of the step can be rounded, forming a semicircle in a horizontal plane across the entire width of the structure. Garden stairs with several flights, made with turns relative to each other, look interesting. The double-sided designs are original, in which the steps are located at right angles.
There may be several stairs on the site, for example, in accordance with the number of terraces. Often a flight of stairs is also accompanied by an inclined platform - a ramp. This is especially convenient if the area is large and it cannot be done without the use of heavy garden equipment- mini-washers, lawn mowers, special vacuum cleaners, etc. However, ramps should not be made steep, as they can become slippery in winter.
The monotony of a wide staircase can be broken by creating stationary flower beds or even small fountains. In this case, you need to be very careful about the design of the drainage system.
What does it mean?
Tread- horizontal surface of the step that serves as a support for the foot
Riser(rise, step height) - vertical part of the step
Overhang- protruding edge of the step
flight of stairs- distance from one landing to another
Embedded staircase- an option when steps resting on the ground are cut out on the hillside
Free staircase— adjacent to a vertical surface and leads from one horizontal level to another; the support is a specially designed base, most often reinforced concrete
Stair ergonomics
Any staircase, large or small, steep or flat, should be comfortable. This property is determined by the ratio of the height of the steps and the size of the tread. It is optimal when the sum of these values does not exceed the average width of a person’s step (50-60 cm). With properly designed steps, the entire foot fits on the tread, therefore movement occurs easily and freely. The smaller the tread, the steeper the staircase and the large quantity it has steps. Steep stairs look ideal in the front area of the garden, near the entrance to the house, especially if there are two of them and they are located symmetrically, as is often the case in regular-style gardens.
Sloping structures are more convenient. If the terrain of the territory is such that it is impossible to create a flat structure, the steps are placed along retaining wall, that is, across the slope. Another way out in such a situation is to give the staircase descent an intricate trajectory: this will allow you not to overload the space and maintain its compositional integrity.
Build garden stairs, moving from the lower platform to the upper one
There are no hard and fast recommendations as to what number of steps on a ladder should be considered optimal. The steepness of the slope and the style of the space are of great importance here. It is well known, however, that steps in the garden should not be single - in this case, you can simply forget about them, this is especially dangerous in the dark. The minimum number of steps is three. The ergonomic requirements for such mini-stairs are the same as for multi-step ones.
Step size
In order not to make a mistake with the size of the steps, you need to take measurements directly on the slope using a tape measure. First, calculate the distance between the sites. One end of the tape measure is installed on a stop corresponding to the level of the upper platform; the second is on the lower surface. Let's assume that this distance is 68.2 cm. The resulting figure should be divided by the estimated approximate size of the riser (for example, 16 cm). This will help determine the number of steps. The quotient is unlikely to be an integer (if we take the parameters proposed above, then the result of division is 4.28). The figure is rounded (in our case to four) and the measured distance between the sites is divided by the resulting integer (68.2:4). The result will be the actual height of the steps (17 cm). After this, find the length of the tread according to the formula:
63-68 cm - (17 cm x 2) = 29-34 cm.
It should be remembered that the treads on the stairs are always one less than the risers. Then the total height of the span with four steps and a tread length of 32 cm will be:
4 × 17 + 3 × 32 = 164 cm.
Diagram of a backfill garden staircase
Holding the tape measure at the level of the upper walkway and using a plumb line or level to transfer the measurement to the lower walkway, measure a distance equal to the resulting height of the flight of stairs. If it turns out that there is not enough space for steps, you can reduce the height of the span by reducing the length of the tread by 2-3 cm, or recalculate by calculating new size riser
The width of the garden staircase most often corresponds to the width of the paths it connects, and it should not be less than 90 cm. Dimensions landings are chosen based on the parameters of the staircase, but in no case are they made longer than flights of stairs. A span height of more than 3.6 m (about 20 steps) causes discomfort when climbing, so when long length For stairs, it is recommended to arrange rest areas at least every 3.6 m.
All steps of the staircase must be identical in their parameters, the permissible deviation of values is no more than 1 cm. For water drainage, a slope of the tread is provided: the front edge should be 3-6 mm lower than the back.
Steep stairs, as well as structures over 70 cm high, require railings. The height of the railing is usually 85-95 cm, provided that it is measured above the overhangs of the steps.
Installation of railings
Steep and long stairs in the garden require the installation of railings. Their average height is 90 cm. The railing consists of vertical posts and a supporting part, which is grasped by hand when in use. The supporting part will be comfortable if it has a width of 3 to 5 cm. The distance between the railing and the nearest vertical surface (for example, a wall or hedge) should be at least 9 cm; in addition, 4 cm above and below the supporting part of the railing must also be free. The material for creating the railings is chosen based on the style of the garden. In classic estates, balustrades look good - they are made of concrete or, as is increasingly being done lately, from artificial stone. In Art Nouveau gardens, wrought iron railings with characteristic plant motifs are especially impressive. In general, when creating railings, you should try to use the materials from which small architectural forms on the site are made - gazebos, benches, bridges, etc.
Hello everybody!
How to get to an object that is at a height beyond your reach? How to collect fruits from the very top of a tree or paint a house? Such questions, most likely, have visited you more than once; it was for these purposes that a special device was invented, which is called a Stepladder.
Stepladders are perhaps the most popular and necessary stairs; they are used in everyday life and in other areas of activity.
This article will describe the manufacturing method ladder, With detailed photo report.
To make the stairs we will need:
Materials:
Two beams 60*40 mm;
- timber 50*35 mm;
- self-tapping screws;
- dye.
Tool:
Wood saw or other available cutting tool;
- Sander;
- drill;
- hammer;
- axe;
- mount.
Let's start by taking two vertical strings with a beam cross-section of 60*40 mm, we take its length at our discretion, in this case the length was 3.6 m.
In order to make the stairs strong and the upper edge of the steps to be horizontal when tilted, we make special notches, apply markings in the places where we plan to install the steps, take the distance between the rungs to be 30 cm. We use timber for the steps with a section of 50 mm, according to these dimensions We make markings and apply them on both sides of the bowstring. Next, mark the depth of the notch - 15-20 mm. We connect the resulting marks with an oblique line, as shown in the photo.
Then, using a sharp ax and a hammer, we remove part of the wood at an angle, but before doing this, we need to make a recess along the marked line with a hacksaw, this is so that the timber does not split in a place that is unnecessary for us.
We use the ax as a plane, leveling the angle of the notch.
In a similar way we make notches on both bowstrings.
Next, using a grinding machine, we process the surface of the timber.
We need to carefully align the notches we made.
Now we paint with paint inner part notches. Set them aside until completely dry.
Next, we take a beam with a cross section of 50*35 mm for the steps, it needs to be slightly modified. We take a plane and use it to remove the chamfer. We perform the same operation on each block.
Then you need to make one of the sides of the beams the base one; to do this, take a corner ruler and apply markings using a pencil.
When everything is ready, using cutting tool sawing everything off jagged edges, after that we treat the surface grinder, smooth the ends.
Now you can move on to making the upper and lower rungs of the stairs. In order to distinguish the top and bottom of the staircase, it needs to be made with a slight narrowing. The top part should be shorter than the bottom. We take the width of the stairs to be 65 cm at the bottom and 55 cm at the top. You can take other sizes at your discretion. Using a tape measure, mark the length.
Using a square, we apply markings in the place where the future step will be cut.
Let's start cutting.
When the steps are ready, we process the ends with a grinding machine.
Next, we find the center at the edges of the beam; to do this, we need to step back from each edge by half the thickness of the string (20 mm).
Then we make holes for self-tapping screws at the marked centers. The self-tapping screw should fit freely into this hole.
We make a countersink using a larger diameter drill.
Now we install the top and bottom crossbars, placing and aligning them in the notch. We make the ends of the steps flush with the side parts of the bowstrings. After this, through the existing holes in the steps, we make a mark of the place where the hole will need to be drilled. They are needed so that the screws do not split the wood when twisted. The holes were made with a drill 0.2-0.3 smaller than the thickness of the screws.
Now you can fix the step in its place, but before that you should paint the pressing side of the crossbar.
When the stairs are given required dimensions, we add the missing steps, to do this we lay out the prepared bars in the notches, aligning the base ends flush with the side parts of the bowstrings.
