Steps, I see them all the time, there are beautiful steps out there. Little did I realize that steps are an entire world unto themselves. Where do I start to find out about steps.
We have a sun porch on the back of the house that we are building. It is 16 x 20. We have a door on each of the 16 ft sides. Right now the slab foundation is 4 feet in the air, the contractor said he can bring in dirt and fill to make it an only 20 – 24 inches drop. But he says we need to build the steps on firm foundation not fill dirt, which means lots of steps and lots of money. What about the flowers I wanted by the steps and on the steps? Can we not have concret blocks under the main steps in the fill dirt he brings in and then a beautiful semi circle of bricks for the 3 steps that will show?
I worked on a volunteer project at our hall and learned to “butter bricks” I know this is an art, I can see beautiful steps in my mind, I just can’t figure out how to make it happen without breaking the bank and my very limited budget.
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the steps need their own foundation.. starting at undisturbed earth, pour a footing.. lay block or pour a wall to just below finish grade... then build , pour , or lay your steps from there...
if the steps are masonry.. you need the foundation.. if the steps are wood framed, all you need are footings below frost to undisturbed earth
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Looks like you're having fun with your construction. Just read your question about sheetrock...how many other issues do you have. No, wait, I'm not sure I want to know. :)
When you say the slab is 4 ft in the air...is it open below, or is there a solid fill below? Where are you? He's right about needing a good foundation below the steps, especially if they are brick or concrete. I have to wonder about the plans...what did he have in mind when he installed the doors...were you supposed to jump to the ground? There's nothing wrong with buildign on fill dirt, as long as it is properly compacted, and any frost depths are considered. For a 4 ft set of steps, you're talking about 6-7 steps. A less expensive approach would be a set of wooden steps, but maybe you don't want that. What kind of flowers are going to be on the steps...no, how are they going to be there? Built-in planter boxes, free-standing clay pots...?
Do it right, or do it twice.
If you can live with wooden steps ask you contractor if he can fill, auger two (or three if wide steps) holes, use sonotube and pour pillars for the base of steps. As long as you go down to undisturbed earth and have sufficient depth to be below frost line should not be a problem.
Depending on size (width) of stairs you can pour footing and block up to finish grade. pour a slab and build your brick stairs. If stairs are wide you could fun an additional row of block (E) down middle from porch wall to help support. Use rebar lengthwise when pouring slab. Fill in area with dirt before pour and use packer if you do not go heavy with rebar.
Bounce these ideas off your contractor for consideration. It would be his decision since he is responsible!