Stairs are generally one of the oldest and most useful inventions in our world, and we could hardly imagine our everyday lives without them. Often they are even architectural masterpieces, designer pieces or just creative DIY projects. Today we would like to present you some original and simple ideas and projects, how you can build a garden staircase yourself. Take a look at our picture gallery and instructions and get inspired.
Common materials used in the construction of a garden staircase
Especially if you are lucky enough to have a garden on a slope, you will definitely need garden stairs that make it easier to climb up and down comfortably. The only question is what kind of stairs you actually want to have and whether you can build them yourself?
Of course, too demanding projects are more a task for professional DIYers or masons. However, many of the DIY garden stairs ideas can be successfully replicated by the not so experienced or even by amateurs with no prior knowledge at all. Below we also have some simple instructions and tips ready to help you with the actual construction of your garden stairs.
Building a garden staircase by yourself is not so difficult after all!
The usual materials needed if you want to build a garden staircase yourself are: Cement, sand, concrete, gravel, natural stones such as granite, slate, limestone or sandstone and wooden beams or boards. Of the domestic wood species are mainly larch, oak and Douglas fir recommended and of the tropical woods rather teak, Bangkirai, Massaranduba and Cumaru.
With all types of wood, however, the same rule still applies: they should be sufficiently impregnated and regularly checked for durability. For very creative also use old objects, such as old car tires. Even quite innovative building materials, such as Resysta z. B., additionally facilitate the construction of an outdoor staircase and ensure perfect walking comfort and optimal longevity.
What types of garden stairs there are at all?
In principle, there are the following types of stairs:
- Billet staircase: the simplest option, but it is not very durable
- Stairs with block steps only
- compact stairs with treads and risers
- Stairs made of adjustable steps
You can get even more detailed information and tips about the types of stairs and the different approaches to building them, as well as about the right ratio between treads and risers, here.
Large blocks of stone are just perfect for building a garden staircase
You will need these tools for almost all DIY projects of stairs:
Depending on the type of stairs, materials and approach, you will also need different tools when building stairs. Here we have summarized the most important of them:
- Spade and shovel
- Rubber mallet
- Folding rule
- Trowel
- Stomp
- Wheelbarrow
- Bucket
- Spirit level
- boards
In the following video you can see how to create a garden staircase:
A project made of larch wood by Konrat Klaunzer
A small guide to the garden stairs:
"Round logs" are about 60 cm long and have a diameter of 12 cm to 14 cm. The steps should be at least 25 cm wide and 4 to 5 cm thick.
One step is connected with stainless steel screws only to the round timbers under it. This way, if necessary, you can also replace individual elements at any time, if a part becomes rotten sooner.
Instead of the round timber one could of course also use squared timber.
I myself am a fan of lark wood, also because it is a domestic wood. I have also installed it on the house, as well as on the garden fence. I have also made a compost box with it." Konrat Klaunzer