Steps in retaining wall

[JL-DIY-123]

Bit of a novice so any advice very welcome. I’ve recently moved in to a house and I’d like to cut in to this existing rendered retaining wall in the garden, to add some steps.

The lawn is actually only 30cm higher than the patio, so I think only one step would be required?

I plan to cut in to the wall leaving 11cm in height behind to act as a base for the coping stones (4cm) which I will place on top, so the step is half way between the patio and lawn. I would lay some more of the coping stones in to the lawn to act as a landing. Does this sound like a sensible plan, and is there anything I should look out for? Any structural concerns cutting in to the wall?

The wall and house both already have some hairline cracks to the render (it’s not blown) so I was already planning to get in a professional to sort these, will it be hard for them to also patch the render on the edges of the wall that I’ve cut in to, or is that not something to worry about?

Finally any advice on kit to perform the cut, I have a angle grinder and circular saw which I could get a fresh diamond tipped blade for, but I suspect renting a petrol Stihl saw may be recommended instead?

Thank you in advance!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

hat's the wall made of? Rendered blockwork?

 

[JL-DIY-123]

hat's the wall made of? Rendered blockwork?

Unfortunately I’m unsure as we’ve only recently moved in. I know it’s a concrete based render and have measured the wall at 25cm deep.