How to Put Pavers onto a Concrete Staircase

Dressing up old concrete steps does not require demolishing the concrete. Covering the concrete with pavers creates a new look while utilizing the stability of the underlying concrete steps. The only requirement is that the top step needs to have enough clearance to fit the concrete paver and approximately 1/8 inch of mortar. Installing the pavers is a little more difficult than laying pavers for a walkway or patio as cuts will be necessary to properly fit the pavers to the steps.

Pavers
Masonry wet saw
Marker
Dry mortar mix
Water
Bucket
Notched trowel
Level
Rubber mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Dry fit the top step with the pavers. Install the pavers across the vertical face of the top step. Lay out pavers across the top from the back of the stair to over the vertical pavers. Mark a horizontal line across the pavers on the top of the step indicating where the blocks need to be cut to properly fit the stair.
- 2
  Cut the pavers with a masonry wet saw available for rent from most hardware stores.
- 3
  Mix a dry mortar mix with water in a bucket to a consistency of peanut butter.
- 4
  Spread the mortar across the vertical face of the cement steps with the notched trowel. Drag the notched edge of the trowel across the mortar to create grooves to better adhere the pavers to the cement. Install the pavers across the face of the step, leaving no spaces between the blocks.
- 5
  Spread the mortar across the top of the step and the top edge of the vertical pavers in the same manner. Install the cut pavers across the back of the step. Install full pavers for the remainder of the step leaving no spaces between the blocks.
- 6
  Repeat the entire process for each step, working one step at a time down the length of the concrete steps.

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