Slate steps in the garden

[jrobi]

Hi guys

This is my first post, looks like a great forum, certainly could be useful for a diy numpty like myself!

I would like to make 3 one metre wide steps, up the soil bank beneath this tree

I had thought of placing the slate, then tapering the soil to the side of it, then building a stone wall on the vertical side of each step.
Does this make sense?

Also, would I need to place anything beneath the slate for it to sit on? or could it go directly onto soil?

Many thanks

 

[r896neo]

Hi a few basic pointers to get you started.

Unless you have 6inch thick lumps of slate you will need to create some basic concrete foundations if you want your steps to last at all and also you need to think what you want to use as risers.

Simply grading the soil back at each side leaves a problem area which is difficult to cut if left as grass or prone to washing dirt over your nice steps if left as bare earth.

Ideally you want to retain the edges and then build steps within this rather than lay the treads and build off that as its a poor construction method and more prone to failure.

How about simple cut sleepers set vertically to retain the edges? Here's one i made earlier

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