Replacing external doorstep for cotswold cottage

[sofaman]

Okay, so I say cotswold cottage - it is vaguely honey coloured, the chippings are mouldy and the ants have moved in

The old step is cracked and was also moved to replace a gas pipe and I've not been able to put back tidily or level. It was originally level with the inside of the house, the piece inside the door is separate and there was mortar joining the two:

PXL_20220912_124934868.jpg

• sofaman
• 12 Sep 2022

There is a reclaimers nearby where I can either get a few slabs or possibly one big slab cut to fit the recess shape.

What should I mount it on to exactly align with the internal slab and have no movement? Old slab appears to be poured concrete with nothing underneath except hardcore, but I've no idea how that could have been made level.

If I go for e.g. three slabs, which'd be very much cheaper and easier to find, then keeping all three level would be harder?

Often I've seen dropped steps, so level with the interior is not needed. But here there is a recess and the interior piece is a very rough edge. I'd prefer the continuous level but if dropped I guess I'd have to straighten the edge with a grinder and still profile the slabs to match?

 

[tell80]

Remove the remains of the old step.
Remove all mortar bedding thats been left below it - clean out bedding down to the hardcore.
Make a one piece template in hardboard.
The template will go up to, or perhaps underneath, the metal threshold bar.
The new step will slope away from the house
Show the template and above pic to the reclaimer/stone cutter.
Spread 3:1 mix mortar & lay the step in it - lightly tap it down to bed. Keep using your level for falls.

 

[sofaman]

Thanks. For the 3:1 - is that sharp sand? I guess it will need to be thick consistency to hold the weight of the step whilst it sets, but otherwise doesn't need any kind of shuttering (depending on the depth of the step, it'll need to be raised a few inches from ground level)