Retaining walls are a great way to create a dramatic effect in your landscaping, but sometimes you need to add stairs to your retaining wall so that you can reach the rest of your yard from the top. Here’s a guide on how you can build stairs out of retaining wall blocks.
Step 1
Before you begin, you’ll want to make sure that you have everything necessary for the job. You’ll need:
- The right blocks
- The right tools
- The right materials (including metal brackets)
- A measuring tape
Step 2
If you are trying to build stairs out of retaining wall blocks, you’re going to need the right tools. A power saw and hammer will help you get them in place but you’ll also need a level.
Use your level to make sure that your retaining wall blocks are all level with each other. You may want to start by marking the first block with a pencil so that you don’t get confused later on which way it goes if they end up being different lengths from each other. If they aren’t even with each other, then use your saw along the length (or width) of the block until it is cut into two pieces and use these smaller blocks as spacers between larger ones.
Step 3
Next, you want to make sure the blocks are level. This is important because if they aren’t level, your stairs will end up sloping and could be dangerous. To make sure the blocks are level, set your level on top of each block and use it to check that each side is at a 90 degree angle with the ground.
If you’re not sure where or how to measure the ground, there are some tricks that might help you figure out where you need to start from:
- If there’s an existing wall around your retaining wall blocks (like in this example), use it as one of your reference points by measuring down from where it meets your wall block stairway. Make sure you take into account whether or not those walls have rounded corners or flat surfaces when measuring!
- You can also look for nearby trees or fences for additional reference points if none of these other things work for whatever reason!
Step 4
- You should now have a frame built.
- In this step, you will attach the blocks to your frame. Attaching them is simple; all you need to do is place each block on top of a corresponding joist and secure it with four screws from underneath.
- To ensure that your staircase is level, use a spirit level or laser level to check your work as you go along. If something seems off-kilter, don’t worry—you can always adjust it by removing or adding more blocks later on in the project.
Step 5
To make sure the first row of blocks is level, you’ll need to use a level. Hold the level against the first block and move it down until the bubble is dead center in the middle of the two lines on the end of your retainer wall block.
The next thing to do is make sure all of your blocks are straight. If they’re not, you can find out by using a long board along with a pencil or a piece of chalk as a guide. Line up your board with one end of one block so that it’s perfectly straight with both ends and then draw a line along its surface from one side to another. Then repeat this step for every other block in your staircase until you get back to where you started at step 4 above where we created our first row of retainer wall blocks for our stairway project!
Step 6
Make sure you have the right tools. For this project, you’ll need a level, saw and drill with bits. You’ll also want a hammer, screwdriver and measuring tape.
Using your measuring tape, measure out the height of your stair treads (the top part of your staircase). The measurement should be calculated from the bottom of your block to where it meets the flooring material or surface under each tread: think about how much room there will be for people to walk up and down without tripping on any edges around it.
Step 7
Now, you’ll want to make sure your retaining wall blocks are level. You can do this by using a simple leveler and placing it across the tops of two blocks. If they’re not level, use your shovel to dig out some dirt or gravel underneath them until they’re even with one another.
Once you have them all set up, start building! It helps if you have a friend help with this part; having an extra pair of hands will make the process go much faster and easier than trying to do it all by yourself.
Using your shovel again (or any other tool) is also recommended for moving around large quantities of dirt or gravel when you need more material for building stairs on top of your retaining wall; just dig out as much as you need!
Step 8
Now, it’s time to take the stairs off of the block and set them on your ground. You can use a level to ensure that they’re straight. Use a masonry chisel to remove excess mortar from each step, then smooth it with a trowel.
You can build stairs out of retaining wall blocks if you follow these instructions.
You can build a set of stairs out of retaining wall blocks if you follow these instructions. First, make sure that the area in which you want to build your stairs is level. Next, build a platform for your stairs to rest on. The platform should be at least 3 feet wide and as long as you wish the staircase to be; however, it should not exceed 12 feet in length unless otherwise specified by local ordinances or building codes. Once built, place retaining wall blocks (or other materials) side-by-side against each other so that they form steps for the stairway.
Conclusion
Well, that’s all there is to building stairs out of retaining wall blocks. If you want to learn more about other DIY home improvement projects, we suggest visiting our website.
