How to Design a Paver Step

Paver steps are landscaping elements that make accessing different areas of your lawn safer than if there were just a steep incline of earth. They can also be used to create transitions from one area in a yard to another, such as from a garden to a patio. When designing paver steps, consider the appropriate location for the steps, the comfortable dimensions for the step and the materials that you will use to build the steps.

Measuring tape
Paper
Pen or pencil
Calculator (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Examine your yard and determine the areas you want to be able to access or the areas where there is a transition between uses of the yard. Also take note of locations where the yard is too steep for walking comfortably or safely.
- 2
  Measure the areas you have identified to determine the total vertical change between the lowest and highest points. For example, if you have a steep area in your yard that has a drop of about 3 feet the total vertical change would be 36 inches.
- 3
  Determine the best number of steps for the area you are designing. For comfortable climbing, risers should be 8 inches or less in height. In our example of a 36-inch drop, if we have 8-inch risers we would need 4 1/2 steps. However, since you can't build 1/2 a step, round it up to 5 steps.
- 4
  Determine the depth of each tread. As a general rule, the height of the riser multiplied by 2 plus the depth of the tread should be between 24 and 27 inches. In our example, a riser of 8 inches multiplied by 2 is 16 inches. That means our tread could be between 8 and 11 inches deep and still be a comfortable design for climbing.
- 5
  Determine the best paver or pavers for your needs based on the measurements you have calculated. Choose all of one kind or shape of paver or mix the types of pavers you use. For example, use all of one kind of stone for the risers and different stones for the treads, or use one type of stone for the steps and bricks to line the sides.

Tips on Paver Care

Bobcat T200 Specs

Paving