In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to create durable, beautiful stone steps.

Project details

Skill

Cost

Estimated Time

Steps for Building Granite Front Steps

  • Measure and mark the porch for the location of the new stone stairs.
  • Dig out the dirt in front of the porch to a depth of 24 inches, or until reaching well-draining soil.
  • Add about 4 inches of ¾-inch crushed stone to the bottom of the hole. Spread the stone evenly with a shovel.
  • Compact the stone base with either a hand tamper or gas-powered compactor.
  • Add another 4 inches of stone, and compact again. Repeat until the hole is completely filled with compacted stone.
  • Cover the compacted stone base with landscape fabric.
  • Spread about 2 inches of stone dust over the landscape fabric, then compact it with a hand tamper. Be sure the stone dust is a bit higher in the back to provide the proper pitch to the steps.
  • Lay two 4x4s across the stone dust bed, then set the first granite step into place using a forklift, if necessary.
  • Use a long pry bar and third 4x4 as a fulcrum to lift one end of the granite step and pull out the 4x4. Repeat to remove the opposite 4x4.
  • Check to ensure the step is centered on the porch and the correct distance from the front of the porch.
  • Install short granite fillers, called cheeks between the rear of the step and the porch. Tap down the cheeks with a rubber mallet.
  • Fill in the space behind the step and between the cheeks with crushed stone. Compact the stone with a hand tamper.
  • Cover the compacted stone with landscape fabric and stone dust. Compact the stone dust with a hand tamper.
  • Use a small sledgehammer to drive a ½-inch-diameter x 18-inch-long rebar pin alongside each granite cheek. Leave about 2 inches of each pin protruding from the ground.
  • Slide the second granite step into place on top of the first step.
  • Check the pitch of each step with an 18-inch level. Be sure the steps pitch down slightly away from the porch.

Tools and Materials

Related

How to Build Steps with Landscape Timbers

Tools & Materials

  • Wheelbarrow
  • Pointed shovel
  • Hand tamper
  • Wrecking bar
  • rubber mallet
  • sledge hammer - 3-pound
  • level - 18-inch