How to Build Garden Steps

Knowing how to build garden steps can allow you to transform the enjoyment and functionality of a garden. 

Whether you’re looking at adjusting a slope for more practical use in wetter months, or building freestanding access alongside a walled garden or down a terraced lawn, this step-by-step guide (no pun intended) on how to build garden steps will help you assess what’s involved, what tools you need and how to get started.

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Essential Toolkit for Building Garden Steps

• Tape measure
• String lines
• Pegs
• Shovel
• Bricks
• Slab
• Mortar
• Gravel
• Concrete
• Spirit level

How Deep Should Garden Steps Be?

The steps will need to be at least 300mm (12in) by 600mm (2ft) in width. If you want the steps to be wide enough for two people walking side by side, then they’ll have to be 1.5m (5ft) in width The height of the rise will need to be at most 200mm (8in). Frost-resistant bricks are mostly used to build garden steps

How to Build Garden Steps on a Slope

Step 1

When building steps into a slope, you first start by measuring the vertical height of the slope and marking it with two parallel string lines. 

Next, attach a string line at the top of the slope and hold it horizontally; measure the height and length of the flight. Then, divide the height measurement by 200mm (8in) to work our how many steps you’ll need. Divide this number by the height to determine each step’s depth. 

Set the lines across to mark the step.

Step 2

Dig the step shapes from the top of the flight, working downwards step by step. Once you have reached the bottom, dig a shallow trench and lay a concrete foundation. 

This strip of foundation will have to measure about 100mm (4in) thick and 300mm (12in) wide.

Step 3

Allow the foundation to harden for 48 hours before laying two courses of bricks onto the concrete strip, and backfill with gravel.

Step 4

Apply mortar, using the trowel to the top of the brickwork. Position the first slab on the mortar bed and tamp down. Using a spirit level, check that the steps are level.

Step 5

Continue to build the second riser on the back edge of the first tread, backfill and lay the slab to form the second tread as in previous step.

Repeat this process until you have reached the top of the flight.

How to Build Freestanding Garden Steps

Step 1

Firstly begin by determining the number of risers, through measuring the height of the flight and dividing it by 200mm (8in). The tread should measure 300mm (12in) in depth.

Step 2

Lay out some bricks on the lower level, so you can envisage how the flight will look.

Step 3

The flight will need a firm foundation to support the step and its risers, so lay a concrete slab of 100mm (4in).

Step 4

Now set up string lines across the slab and lay the first two courses of bricks.

Step 5 

Next build the brickwork off the foundation slab within the perimeter wall to support the other risers in the flight. Fill the first riser with gravel and top it with a layer of fine concrete. Next build the other risers and the perimeter wall until the outline of the flight is complete and backfill behind the risers.

Step 6 

Layer the slabs forming the steps and tamp them down. Check to see if it is level, by using a spirit level.

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