[VoodooChile]

We are working on estimate where the paving material must be red. The problem is the steps. There doesn't seem to be any riser and coping units that are a true red. We have checked Belgard and Unilock.

Is it possible to construct steps solely out of paving units? There is a picture in the Belgard catalog of circular steps constructed out of rectangular "cambridge cobble" units. The riser appears to be full and cut rectangular units stood on edge, and the coping is cut rectangular units. Would that approach be stable enough? It seems like a stretch to me...

Here's a link if you want to take a look: cambridge cobble steps

Thanks for any input!

[Raj Venugopal]

If you need to use a very specific paver, why not form up a concrete step and wet lay it?

[TrickyDick]

This is not exactly on topic but if you need a specific color DO NOT choose it from a catalogue. In my very limited experience the colors you see in print are far from the color you see in real life.

[Matt Kulp]

Voodoo,
How large of a job is it? If you have quantity you could go to the mfg. and get a specical color blend. There is usually a extra set up fee, but most are willing to do it. Might be worth a call.

[Matt Kulp]

I just looked at the pic from your link, and if you have the color in the paving units that you like, you can use a solid concrete Lintel as your riser and just glue the pavers to the front and top of the concrete.

[VoodooChile]

Raj,
Concrete isn't preferred round here due to frequent freeze/thaw cycles. Dry-laid takes the heaving better. Or at least that's how this market behaves.


The paths and steps total 400 s.f., probably not a special order quantity.

The step would be a half circle--22.5" in radius--that is level with a concrete porch and then a concentric circle step--34.5" in radius--up to the half-circle landing. The step and landing fit inside the pillars of the porch which frame the front door.

In this related thread,
Circular steps it sounds like a tight radius can be a cutting nightmare. Do these dimensions sound too tight?


Using a concrete base for just the steps might be the way to go... The calculations to get that lintel just right scare me, and how difficult is it to form a perfect half circle with a radius less than 20 inches?

There's a picture of the site here: Dawg of the Week #12

[Raj Venugopal]

With a curve that small I'm afraid it would be tiny when done.

Can you imagine lifting a sofa through the front door and tip-toeing over that?

[VoodooChile]

Our current design calls for the half circle landing to span the full 5' 9" between the porch pillars, so its radius would be 34.5" The concentric half-circle step up to the landing would have a tread of 15", so its radius would be 49.5".

I realized that having the step within the pillars would be a serious safety issue, with people on the porch prone to stepping off into empty space at the landing's corners.

At this point the client is moving away from red, and thinking maybe Brussels block in Prairie or Sierra. That should make construction of the steps and landing much easier.

My final concern is that the landing could heave or settle in front of the porch. The client really wants to hide the ugly concrete porch edge and the nasty expansion joint that is cut smack in the center of the pillars.

So would concrete or dry-laid be the best way to go???

Thanks for all the help. We are shooting to get a signature on Saturday.

[VoodooChile]

Spiderlilly sold them the Brussels in "Prairie" this morning, so that solves our color problem.