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Pavers, pebbles and drainage gravel were used to create a pathway for a steep front yard.
The project
Short and steep driveway that's the only access to the house apart from grass. Had time and an optimistic outlook!
Steps
Step 1
Plan: It was quite a steep slope and so needed to ensure horizontal length was accurate to keep within property line, whist maintaining spacing, comfort, and visuals.
Step 2
Mark out with string lines and marker paint. Bear in mind, risers sleepers are 50mm, and if butting to end of side sleepers this needs to be added to measurements by number of steps. Quantity of sleepers is based of these calculations.
Step 3
Start at the bottom as the riser sits on top of the side sleepers. Initially I really only dug out enough to settle the sleepers on a small amount of road base.
(NB: Levelling is critical but, especially with the side sleepers, level does not necessarily mean the same height. Over 1200 or 1800mm this can lead to lots of swearing! Levelled string lines during construction are a must.)
Sleepers secured with angle brackets and 12mm rebar. I should have driven the rebar through all risers at the front of each step as well as the rear.
Step 4
As the slope angle increased significantly in the top half, extra rebar required, as well as a lot of excavation. We dug out almost four cubic metres and disposed of three cubic metres. The remainder was used to back fill.
Step 5
Drainage: As the soil was quite rich in clay, one 75 mm sleeved ag pipe was set down the middle of the stairs, with another between the driveway and side sleepers. These joined to drain into existing spoon drain. Drainage gravel spread over the top. Weed mat, then covered with drainage gravel. Stained sleepers at this point.
Step 6
A bit too much drainage gravel for the job. Unloaded and spread by hand so no way I was gonna not use it.
Step 7
Paving : Be patient. Ensure levels are good and pavers on each step the same height. Use string lines.
Tools and materials
Materials used in the project:
- Treated Pine sleepers
- Galvanised reinforcing angle brackets
- Galvanised screws
- Road base
- Ag pipe
- Paving sand
- Drainage gravel
- Weed matting
- Grey pebbles
- Adbri Prague pavers
- Wood stain - Charcoal
- Exterior wood bog
- Solar step lights.
Tools used in the project:
- Wheelbarrow
- Drill
- Impact driver
- Club hammer
- Circular saw
- Sander
- Mattock
- Hand pick
- Shovel
- Level
- String
- Skip (3m)
- Mini Digger.
More inspiration for your front yard makeover
Bunnings Workshop member bthederan completed a steep front yard makeover creating new steps using timber sleepers and granite pavers.
Community member Tara carefully planned and implemented D.I.Y. landscaping for a sloped front yard.
Get more inspiration from our Top 10 most popular front yard projects.
