The home we just purchased has a series of paver "landings" leading down to the lower patio that were to serve as steps. They were all made different sizes, and they're extremely awkward to walk up (not to mention the framing has heaved and kicked out). I was thinking of fixing this one of two ways.
First, I was going to rip it all out, and just put a sloping walkway with the pavers, but I'm worried about it being to steep of a slope for just a constant run of pavers.
My second option would be to purchase retaining wall blocks, and frame in stairs that would be EQUAL in nice, and use the brick pavers as the treads.
The second option is more costly, since the first one is basically free, but what degree of slope can you effectively have with pavers, or any walkway for that matter?
The maximum grade for a walkway is 4% and the maximum for a ramp is 15%. If a wheelchair is involved the maximum for a ramp is 8%. Ideally it should be less than this.
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In laymens terms the maximum slope for a walkway that is comfortable is a 1' drop or rise over 7 feet.
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Where is the slope? If it is a long walkway rather than a short stretch between sets of steps 5% is fine and would even meet HP accessible access requirements with no railings. An HP accessible ramp is 1:12 or 8.33% which is certainly not too bad to walk up (I only mention accessibility as reference here). If you are talking about a short segment, basically a landing, between sets of steps I don't think I would go over 5% (2%is acceptable for HP landings), but would much rather be lower than that.
Homeowners might need some help with calc's.
To calculate slope:
horizontal distance x percentage expressed as a decimal (0.05 =5%, 0.02 = 2%,...) x 12 = inches of rise
example: 5' long landing at 3% would be Y higher at the other end.
5 x 0.03 x 12 = 1.8"
you can multiply the decimal by 8 if you want to convert to eighths of inches.
Sorry, I should have checked back with this thread.
The walkway distance is 28', but I haven't calculated the rise yet, I have been busy with another project, but I would guess it's probably about a 4' rise.
Why is it not recommended to use pavers as the treads?
Sorry, I should have checked back with this thread.
The walkway distance is 28', but I haven't calculated the rise yet, I have been busy with another project, but I would guess it's probably about a 4' rise.
Why is it not recommended to use pavers as the treads?
yes but caps usually span or sit on more than one block, so any minor settling is bridged by the cap I would think glueing the pavers to the block with them having such a small area of adhesion and the heavy foot traffic it wouldn't last.
I would build the frame out of block so I would essentially only be filling in the middle with the pavers as the treads. Basically looking directly down on these steps you would see blocks/caps in a squared |_| shape, and the pavers would be "inside" as the treads. They would be sitting in a bed of compacted screenings and bedding sand just like they would on a patio.
In laymens terms the maximum slope for a walkway that is comfortable is a 1' drop or rise over 7 feet.
Thought I would bring back this thread again. I finally got around to beginning this project. I ran a string level from top grade to bottom. It's a 28' run with a 34" rise. Works out to about 10%. Is the above 1' for 7' a legitimate rule of thumb? If so, I'm under that, but still, I'm WAY over the 4% quoted earlier. Thoughts?
Thought I would bring back this thread again. I finally got around to beginning this project. I ran a string level from top grade to bottom. It's a 28' run with a 34" rise. Works out to about 10%. Is the above 1' for 7' a legitimate rule of thumb? If so, I'm under that, but still, I'm WAY over the 4% quoted earlier. Thoughts?
For me that would be too steep to be comfortable. Too much for a wheel chair, or a person with a walker, or child on a tricycle. Put in a few steps
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Beer in one hand - Nacho's in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming : Woo Hoo, what a ride!
1:7 is going to be a very steep walk - almost twice as steep as the steepest wheel chair ramp. Perhaps there is confusion between a 7" rise and 1' tread for a set of stairs which is a commonly accepted standard.
We have all been to public places like football stadiums that have some long handicap access at 1:12 (or 8.33%). You can see these things from the blimp pictures, and you've certainly climbed them whether or not you realized that they were HP access. They go 30' @ 1:12, then 2% for 5' and repeat over and over. You definitely know that you would not want to be going much steeper and call it comfortable.
I'd recommend 5% max on the walk and put steps in places that make sense.
Also, if you plan on using solid top wall blocks for riser/tread with pavers inlaid, understand that the top of your paver is level with the bottom of the next riser. You will need to set those pavers before setting the next riser or risk undermining it. You really should made a prototype pair of steps to see how it is going to work out.
Stay aware of what is going to happen on the sides of the steps in order to keep the side slopes from spilling onto your treads or from falling out from under your blocks or pavers. This is often not thought through by people doing their first set of steps built on the ground.
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