How to Build a Staircase Out of Cinder Blocks

Clear the ground area where the steps will be located of debris, such as rocks and weeds. Dig a small landing area that measures about 3 inches in depth -- the width is commensurate to how wide you want the steps, thus how many cinder blocks you’ll be using. Length is determined by how many steps you need or how high the stairway needs to be in order to reach the landing. For example, if you’re using 8-inch blocks, a row of four blocks will measure 32 inches wide. Dig the area width as needed.

Tamp the bottom of the footer trench you dug with a soil tamper. If you don’t have one, the broad side of one of the blocks will work. Tamp the soil down until it is level; you can gauge your progress by laying a carpenter’s level across the bottom. Once done, fill the area with a mix of sand and gravel, just enough to cover the bottom. Tamp this material down as well.

Mix quick-drying cement as directed on the package’s instructions and generously fill the trench until the cement almost reaches the soil line. Place the first row of blocks by working from the wall of the structure out to the lip of the first step on the stairway. Add cement to the adjoining edges of the blocks. Tamp down the blocks with the butt end of the trowel and again check their evenness with the level. Repeat until the entire area is covered with a base level of cinder blocks.

Lay more cement on the tops of the first base level of blocks and add the second level but stagger this row so that each block on the new row rests over a joint between the blocks on the row below it. This gives stability to the staircase. Tamp it down and check for level. Don’t forget to stop at the second row about 10 inches or so from the lip of the base level to create the steps.

Repeat for each new level by following the above-described method until you reach the landing platform at the top. Check the staircase for any cracks or gaps -- usually you’ll find some at the joint between the steps and the wall of the structure. Seal these off with as much cement as needed and allow a full 48 hours of drying time before attempting to walk on the steps.