How to Tie in Steps to Different Elevations

Draw several designs featuring a series of steps that transition from one elevation to the other. Plan to cut into the hill at several spots to create terraces. This not only gives you more usable yard space, but it breaks up the movement up the hill into manageable flights of stairs. Try to mix "wet" landscaping, using mortar for concrete terraces and stones embedded into mortar for stairs, with "dry" systems, which are dry-stack stones, railroad ties or paver systems. Choose materials based on the architecture of the home and the various usages needed.

Create walls from railroad ties set either vertically or horizontally. If set on the vertical, they must be anchored into the ground at least one-third of the way. Horizontally, they can be stacked like bricks. Carve out some of the slope with a shovel or bulldozer. If the hill is very steep or if you're planning on a high wall, it's best to hire a building engineer.

Measure the height and the length of the change in elevation from one terrace to the other. Each step should be between 8 and 12 inches in rise, so figure out the number of steps needed for each set of steps. Determine the materials you want to use for each set, which can differ. Don't plan to put all the steps in one line. It's more visually appealing to place them in a zigzag pattern as the steps go down the hill. Use a combination of railroad ties, paver stones, chunks of concrete and stones embedded in mortar to create your steps.

Create terraces by leveling off an area. Put down stabilization fabric. Add six inches of gravel and compact it with a shovel or compactor. Spread an inch of sand on top of the gravel. Place the stones on top and fill in the voids with a layer of sand. Build up the stones, stepping back the top layer from the edge to create a step off the terrace and onto the next flight of stairs.