How to Build Stairs With Pavers

Planning and Preparation

• 1

  Dig a 3-inch hole for the area that will house the stairs. Compact the ground with a hand tamper, a long pole with a flat, heavy base and two handles on the side, or a mechanical tamper available for rent from most hardware stores.

• 2

  Erect a tower of concrete blocks to the base of the door or structure connecting to the stairs. The concrete blocks must sit below the level of the structure by the height of the pavers plus 1 1/4 inch. Measure the distance with a measuring tape between the top of the block tower and the base of the structure.

• 3

  Dig the hole deeper as necessary to obtain the proper height. Repeat Step 2 to verify the height is accurate.

• 4

  Pour a 1-inch base of crushed gravel. Compact the gravel with the tamper. Check the level of the gravel to ensure that the surface is flat, smooth, and leveled from side to side and front to back. Repeat Step 2 to verify the height of the tower now sits at the height of the pavers, plus 1/4-inch below the base of the structure. Add more rock as necessary.

• 5

  Build the basic structure for the steps out of concrete blocks, starting with a base row on top of the rocks and adding one row at a time for each step.

• 6

  Cut several pavers with a masonry wet saw to equal the height of the concrete blocks. Lay the pavers against the face of the concrete blocks to verify the cuts are accurate. Cut enough concrete pavers to cover the face of each step.

• 7

  Place pavers on top of each step to determine if any cuts are necessary to fit the pavers to the depth of each step. Leave a paver on the face of each step to accurately gauge the depth of the step. Leave a slight lip for the pavers on the top of each step extending slightly beyond the vertical pavers pressing against the face of each step. Cut pavers as needed. Lay the pavers to the side in groups according to position on the stairs.

Placing the Pavers

• 8

  Mix mortar and water in a bucket.

• 9

  Spread the mortar onto the back of the cut pavers for the face of each stair to a depth of 1/4 inch with a trowel.

• 10

  Press the pavers into place vertically against the face of each stair. Position the cut side up to provide a smooth surface for the horizontally placed pavers on top of each step. Tap the pavers with a rubber mallet until the pavers are all flush and even.

• 11

  Spread mortar over the backs of the pavers for the top of the steps to a depth of 1/4 inch. Press each one into place, working from the top stair down. Tap the pavers down to obtain a flush, even surface. Check the level as you proceed. Adjust the pavers as needed to obtain the level surface.

• 12

  Spread mortar onto the backs of whole pavers. Press the pavers onto the side of the stairs, working from the ground up. Cut pavers as necessary to fit the structure. Allow the mortar to dry for 24 to 48 hours before walking on the structure.