[Fine Edge]

Hopefully will be building a decent set of steps soon.
These will end up covered in natural stone and have some small sides that run from top to bottom with 3 sets of columns / lights.

I'm going to form and pour the steps out of concrete and have factored several sets of piers and mucho rebar all tying this thing together since these steps span 28' and 8 1/2' of grade.

The question is:..... How many of you have experience with forming and pouring large set of steps and was there anything that you would do differently for the next one.
Guess I'm looking for anything unusual that I haven't thought about since these are gonna cost someone well more than my truck.

[ianc]

I have formed them out of wood and braced like crazy - short story is that no matter how well you brace them you still get some bowing on the kickplate, And it requires some prep work before laying the flagstone. So now I pour a full footing then a top slab, Then I use concrete block and hollow out the top/backside then fill with concrete - always stays true
http://www.beaverton.ca/0923_012.jpg

If you do it out of wood without a full footing - I usually drill some sono-tubes below the frost line - lay down 2" stryofoam SM - then add re-bar
http://www.beaverton.ca/1116_018.jpg
http://www.beaverton.ca/1116_009.jpg

If you do the wood forming process - brace-brace-brace

~ian

[Fine Edge]

Nice pics of the bracing. I'll make sure we overbrace if needed.

[llawry]

whatever you do make sure that the steps meet your local building code. I am in the process of re-doing my entire front entry due to code violations. The stair tread and rise must be within tolerance and any transition or change such as a landing must also be to code. also don't forget code requirements for handrails and the like. its within a new homeowners right to have this fixed at the expense of the contractor if done incorrectly even years after the work is completed.

[Stonehenge]

llawry - if it's a new construction home, it will usually be inspected with everything else when it comes time to get the occupancy permit.

[Fine Edge]

Thank goodness it's an existing home!!

[llawry]

stonehenge - not to put to fine a point on it but here in Oregon you are only required to have one ingress-egress complete and to code to get a certificate of occupancy and final inspection on a new home construction. My steps were completed a year after these dates and were never inspected by the local building inspectors. There are laws on the books that require the contractor to perform the work to code but if they know the system they can get around it as long as no one calls attention to the deficiency. The statute for recourse is 2 years after discovery.

[Fine Edge]

We don't allow inspectors around our work site; that's how things get messed up!!!!