How to fix wooden garden steps?

Andrew123

Hi, 

I've moved into a house in the last few months. One of the wooden stairs down to the lower garden has come away from the support, due to a rotten wooden stake that was holding it in place.

There's another piece of wood below it already, but I'm estimating that it's about 10 years old (just a guess). 

A few questions:

It's in ground - what's the best type of wood to use?

Is it worthwhile using metal stakes to hold it in place?

Do I dig out the gravel/dirt that is currently there first (and sliding down the hill now the steps not in place)?

What do I fill the step in with? (If I need to)

Do I start from scratch and replace ALL the wood? although that seems like a much bigger job?

What kind of screws are appropriate to use - given that they'll be exposed to the elements?

Any other advice? 

Thanks.

Andrew

JacobZ

Hi @Andrew123,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

I don't think there is much cause for concern as the timber looks to be in relatively good shape.

I would temporarily clear out some soil behind the timber that has shifted, so it can be pushed back into place and locked in position.

You can then drive a Jack 60cm Black Premium Ultrapost into the ground and put three Zenith 10G x 25mm Galvanised Type 17 Hex Head Timber Screws through the post into the timber. This will hold the retaining structure in place well 

This should be adequate to hold everything in place as it was previously.

If you wanted to go to the trouble of replacing everything, you would need to use H4-treated timber such as treated pine sleepers.

Any screws or fixings used should be galvanised or coated to protect them from the elements.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob