Your patio can be a relaxing haven, which is an excellent addition to your home. While risers and treads make up the steps, the best types of patio steps make a beautiful outdoor living space. Choosing the best patio steps is crucial to your home’s overall curb appeal.
Read about the best types of patio steps below so you’ll be guided accordingly.
Patio Steps Made of Paving Stones or Stone Pavers
Patio steps that are made of paving stones look fantastic, and it’s worth taking some time to get them right. Paving stones or stone pavers provide support for durable and strong outdoor installations, including driveways, walkways, retaining walls, and decks.
Also, these pavers can withstand the wear and tear of patio steps. Pavers come in different styles and designs, and once you have chosen your paving stones, it’s time to provide adequate foundation and support for your paver patio steps.
Here are some tips and tricks when building paver patio steps:
- Excavate the area (8 inches deep) in which the first patio step will be installed. The desired size of the patio step dictates the width of the compacted subsoil. Compact the soil using a plate compactor or a hand tamper. Make sure to create a flat support surface.
- Cover the excavated area by laying down a landscape, which will aid proper rainwater drainage under the patio steps.
- Mix sand and cement to make a thick paste for the base material, creating a flat surface for paver installation.
- Once you’ve laid every stone, always check the level to ensure that the pavers fit against the ground.
- For professional patio step installation, it is best to hire a trusted and reputable contractor, such as Axel Landscape.
Patio Steps Made of Concrete
A patio will require making steps to get around it. One way to build patio steps is using concrete from or to your patio, or between retaining walls in your garden. When it comes to the principles of making garden steps, it follows the same as anywhere else. The total height required to go up is divided by the total number of steps needed to get from the bottom to the top.
Here are some tips and tricks when building patio steps made of concrete or brick:
- If you’re starting to build patio steps from scratch, you’ll need to begin through “virgin” earth. You’ll need to dig a deep footing (about 125 millimeters) under the bottom riser for better support. Make sure that the footing is hard and level.
- Relatively dry blocks can be laid almost immediately. It would take about a week if you still wait for each patio step to dry before you move on to the next.
- Each patio step should slope downwards to the front (about 6 millimeters), to allow water to run off and drop to the next step rather than spreading on the blockwork’s surface.
Poured concrete steps are applicable if you have a raised porch or patio. The contractor of the patio installation near me will measure the height of your raised porch or patio and create a form to pour concrete in with several steps. Poured concrete steps in common sizes are also available in most cases, which are ready for pickup or delivery.
Simple Brick or Block Patio Steps
For a typical backyard patio, it is usually situated on the first level of your home, and the top of your patio floor is probably not higher than the ground’s surface. In this case, you might want to use concrete blocks or simple bricks as a patio step.
So far, these are the easiest types of materials used in building patio steps. Concrete block or brick patio steps can be installed even without concrete mix or mortar. It is simple to install these types of patio steps by laying concrete or brick pieces on the ground. Just make sure that the patio steps are close enough to your garden patio to be used as steps.
Wooden Patio Steps
For patios with an upper level or patio deck, you may install wooden steps and wooden staircases. Patios and decks located on the upper level usually have wooden steps made of pressure-treated lumber. This wood is usually selected to match the patio deck railing. It also allows you to stain or paint it. However, you have to cover your patio if the steps are made from wood to avoid water damage.
Conclusion
If you want to install garden patio steps, paving stones, bricks, and concrete would be the toughest materials. You can make patio access easier for your guests and visitors if you have an upper-level patio by installing a wooden staircase or wooden patio steps. The floor level and height of your patio would determine if you need to install simple paving patio steps or a large set of stairs.
