How to Build Garden Steps

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Garden steps can be a wonderful addition to your home. You can build them without professional help by following these steps.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Paintbrush
Hacksaw
Electric drill
Wheelbarrow
Lumber
Rebar
Tape measure
Level
Shovel
Square circular saw
Safety glasses
Handsaw

Step1

Cut two three-foot-long timber sleepers. Sleepers are wood elements that support the floor. These will serve as the foundation for the steps. Use a square to make a cut line on all 4 sides of the timber. Support timber and cut along your layout marks on all 4 sides. You may use a crosscut handsaw to finish the cut.

Step2

Coat the cut ends of the sleepers with wood preservative.

Step3

Dig 2 trenches to accommodate the sleepers. Make sure they are level.

Step4

Drill a half-inch-diameter hole 6 to 8 inches from the end of each sleeper. Use a hacksaw to cut rebar (steel reinforcing bar) into shorter lengths. Drive them through the holes and into the ground below.

Step5

Cut timber stock into pieces corresponding to the width and number of steps.

Step6

Place the timbers for the first step on the sleepers. Secure them with timber spikes driven down into the sleepers below.

Step7

Cut additional sleepers to fit behind the step, and secure each one with spikes. Fill in around and between the steps and sleepers with drainage gravel. Continue to add steps, sleepers and drainage gravel as you build the stairs.