How to Build Temporary Block Steps

Planning your porch

• 1

  Measure from the bottom of the doorway to the ground. Record each measurement as you make it. Measure the width of the doorway and add 24 inches -- this will give you a porch with a 1-foot margin on each side of the doorway. Now measure from the base of the doorway outward. Stop at the point you wish the stairway to begin. Six to eight feet should be adequate in most cases. Using chalk, mark the outline of the porch you wish to construct.

• 2

  Clear the area designated for the porch by removing all grass, rocks and debris. With the shovel loosen and break up the soil beneath the grass. Use a piece of 2x4 board about 4-feet long to even out the land in front of the house. Check to see if the ground is level using a level. Make the surface as level as possible.

• 3

  Create a layer of concrete base, if you desire. This step is optional. You may wait until you install the permanent porch to do this. Mix the concrete with water to create a smooth-pouring mass. Spread the concrete over the leveled dirt surface. Let the base dry before adding any concrete bricks on top.

• 4

  Calculate the number of 8-inch bricks you will need to cover the surface. These bricks are normally 7 5/8 inches, leaving a margin for the concrete that will cement them together. Your local home improvement store is a good place to look for blocks at a competitive price. Blocks can have two or three space openings.

• 5

  Place the blocks with their flat surfaces down and horizontal, starting at the base of the house. Work from left to right and from the house toward the street. Stop when you reach the edge of the dirt or concrete base designated for the porch. Lay the second layer on top of the first layer. Adjust each brick to fit snugly next to the previous one. Use a light layer of concrete to connect the bricks if you wish. Continue the process until you approach the edge. Stop one brick short of the edge each time. You should not need more than two or three levels at most.