How to Make Brick & Mortar Steps

Brick and Mortar Steps

Building brick and mortar steps requires precise measurements and a lot of work to ensure that everything is level and stabilized. With a few additional actions to ensure that your steps last a long time, you will have completed a project to be proud of.

Things You'll Need

• Screed
• Cement
• Portland mix mortar
• Bricks
• Trowel
• Reinforced bars
• 2-by-4 inch stock (treated wood)
• Pointing tool
• Hammer
• Nails
• Tamper
• Measuring tape
• Crushed rock

Instructions

1. Make sure that the ground that you are going to build upon is compacted and level. You can use a tamper to do this. If you do not already have a tamper, you can buy one for about $40. Whatever method you use, it is important to begin your project on a solid and flat surface.

2. 

   Measure the area that you want to build the brick steps on. Use 2-by-4 treated wood stock to build a frame to establish the width and length of your bottom layer of brick stairs. Use the hammer and nails to construct this frame.

3. Pour a 1-inch layer of crushed rock into your frame. Use the tamper to compact this rock and make it level. If you are not going to use this crushed rock for reinforcement, this is the time to begin the concrete pour. Mix the cement, and pour it into the frame. Place the reinforcement bars into the cement in a crisscross fashion for the strongest base. Do this while the cement is just starting to dry. Use a screed to make sure the cement is level.

4. 

   Soak the bricks or spray them down thoroughly with your garden hose before using them. This will prevent them from soaking in the mortar they will be laid upon.

5. Place 1/2 inch layer of mortar on the concrete foundation after it has dried. Use the screed again to level the mortar. The screed should be clean and smooth when you use it again.

6. Lay the bricks down on top of the mortar while the mortar is still wet for your first layer of steps. Keep the bricks 1/2 inch apart for the mortar that you will be placing in between these bricks. After all the bricks are down, use your trowel and pointer to fill the joints with the mortar. Once the mortar is somewhat dry, but not entirely so, wash the excess mortar off the tops of the bricks.

7. Follow Steps 4 through 6 again for your second layer of bricks, but one step back. Do this repeatedly until you have as many layers of brick steps as are appropriate for your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding the reinforcement bars to the cement mix will help to prevent heaving from occurring. Heaving is when the ground buckles upward from climate changes. They will also make for sturdier steps.

• Wear protective eyewear when hammering the frame together.