I was walking to the store today and a neighbor was replacing the bottom three concrete steps down to the city sidewalk. We live on a hill so the sidewalk slopes. So he is thinking of sloping the steps in increments to match the slope of the sidewalk.
The south end [of the sidewalk] is about 3″ lower than the north end. What is the common practice?
~Peter
Replies
That's a lot of slope to match. I've dealt with this issue before by building level steps with the risers calculated to match the center of the sloping surface. If this is a place where there is ice & snow I'd be reluctant to slope steps, no matter what the walk does.
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You don't mention how wide these proposed steps are, but it's almost irrelevant. If I've got this pictured right, I'd have to agree with the notion of building those steps level. It's then only the first or bottom step that has a varying riser.
Since this area is on a hill, people tend to have their wits about them and their eyes alert concerning footing anyway. They'll see the difference coming and adapt their stride to it. But I'd also be certain to provide an sturdy handrail. Hope the area is well lit at night.
I looked at the steps today and they did do them level.
This is best since all the other original remain steps are level. Also Goldhiller is right about the awareness issue. Besides, there isn't too far to fall.
Oerhaps the ultimate solution would be to reslope the sidewalk ramp area but they just had two or three steps to replace.
~Peter
we got steps and slopes all over the place here....
make the steps level......
just one side of the bottom step will be 3" higher (or lower) than the other.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
going up sloped steps is one thing but sliding down em' is another in the winter
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Too late/ earley for April Fool's and not clever enough to be a "Candid Computer" stunt. Sorry. But I can't wait for you or someone to try again! Almost better than the Sunday AM talk shows!
Common practice, and the safest way, is to install all the steps level.