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paulz
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# Posted: 20 May 2021 12:01pm - Edited by: paulz
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As I mentioned yesterday, I've got these used 6x6s just given me, and my plan is to make dirt stairs up to a shed. Want to figure it out right, pick and shovel takes it's toll on the old bod. If done right it shouldn't be too bad..
So, in general, more important to make the top of each step level with the bottom of step ahead of it, rather than worry about the spacing between steps? I figure I'll put the boards halfway in the ground and use the dirt I dig up to back fill to the step below.
Any advice? Any volunteers? It's a beautiful day..
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frankpaige
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# Posted: 20 May 2021 01:56pm
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Heck Yeah! Always have advice. Let me get my chair, cooler w/ drinks cooled. Make sure I got shade. I will be right over.
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jhp
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# Posted: 20 May 2021 01:58pm
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Advice:
Decide if you want steps all the way up to the door ahead of time. If you do, figure your step height for each "stair" at about 8". If you've got 7 6x6's there that's 7x8" = 56" = 4.6' of elevation.
Looks like from where the pic is taken to the top is more than 4.6' up...I think you'll need some more 6x6's.
If you're just worried about part of the slope, leaving a short slope at the beginning or end you're probably ok.
From a purely planning perspective I would say the most important factor is to try to keep each rise in elevation, and the distance between steps the same as the one before it.
Stairs get weird feeling when there is a change between heights (6" on step 1, then 8" on step 2, then 7" on step 3) or there is a large-then-small-then-large gap between the landings that will mess with your stride as you go up.
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paulz
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# Posted: 20 May 2021 06:52pm - Edited by: paulz
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Great advice jhp! At least until Frank gets here. Lots of shade..
I'll be cutting those posts in half, to about 28", so more like 14 pieces but yeah, probably 15' of rise or so. I do have some old 2x6PT I could nail together..
It's not an even slope so the space between steps will have to vary if the step heights are kept the same, which it sounds like is the better option.
There are some cheap railroad ties I could get, that would make the steps taller, but I hear they are a problem to deal with.
Thanks!
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paulz
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# Posted: 28 May 2021 02:02pm
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Roughed in, still jockeying them around. Once they're settled in I'll drill and stake with rebar. Only I and the dog go up there, and so far he's going around (he's familiar with my work) so no rush.
Wasn't a project I was planning on but when the free posts came along I didn't want to have to store them. And I have slid on my butt several times going down previously so worth doing.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 28 May 2021 02:13pm
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Ime, even if they aint quite even 'treads' a two step shuffle between makes that ok, just try to keep the rise close so you dont trip yourself, especially when carrying stuff.
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paulz
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# Posted: 28 May 2021 03:27pm
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These are about a step and a half.
I tried measuring, calculating, but in the end the hill is not an even slope, steep at bottom, flatter in the middle and steep again at top, so the run has to vary to keep the 6" rise even.
Going up one step no problem, going down, especially carrying something, yeah, two steps.
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lburners
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# Posted: 28 May 2021 07:00pm
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Very cool. Im situated on a hillside so will file this in my mental rolodex.
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paulz
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# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 04:58pm
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Sure am glad I got these in, been up and down them 50 times in the last week putting solar panels above the cabin. I haven't spiked them in but they've taken a pretty good set in the wet ground.
Buddy appreciates them too.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 21 Dec 2021 07:17pm
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I have used steps in dirt made from 6x6 that had a run of roughly 2ft and front to back where level. Man where they terrible to walk on. You non level front to back treads look way easier to walk.
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paulz
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# Posted: 23 Dec 2021 09:13am
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Yes I have walked those long run/short rise stairs on hiking trails, one footstep flat, next one up. Not much else you can do on low slopes I guess.
I had hoped to use level front to back but with a slope around 100% they would have been right next to each other. Railroad ties might have worked that way, these were old fence posts a friend gave me. They are a bit hap hazard with the varying slope and curves but easily negotiable. Better than sliding down on rump as I did several times prior.
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