How to Build Steps

Technology advances, new product offerings, and equipment improvements have led to safer and faster step build projects. It’s important for design/build contractors to stay accountable on these updates and to regularly assess whether their current processes and tools are efficient. Anywhere you can uncover opportunities for reducing time and labor can have a direct effect on the business, by opening up capacity for other projects. For optimum efficiency when constructing steps, consider whether you have software, equipment, and training that supports your crew while they are working—and your business as a whole.

A successful steps installation begins with clear layout and a safe installation process. Visit the site, locate the location for the stairs relative to the house, and measure run, rise, and height. Clear the entire area of debris, then determine subgrade elevations so the first layer of base sits on firm ground. Good prep reduces rework.

Start by excavating to plan depth, place open graded gravel, and compact in lifts. Snap a control line and check level in both directions. Dry fit the first step and set riser positions so treads finish flush to adjacent pavements. If replacing old steps, remove and dispose of concrete or stone that was removed, then re establish base and drainage before installing new units.

On site handling and safety

Schedule the truck to deliver when access is clear. Use a cart or machine rated for the work and protect finished surfaces along the path. Keep any vehicle well away from soft soils so ruts do not happen. If loading near cars, mind the rocker panel area to avoid contact. Crew gear should include eye and ear protection, gloves, and dust mask for cut work. Assign a spotter so each person knows where to hang a hand and where not to stand.

Setting and anchoring

With units prepared, lift the step into position, check level, and shim with chips as needed. Where anchors are specified, mark holes, use the correct bit, and perform clean drilling. Install sleeves, bolts, and nuts only after both sides align. Butter contact areas with adhesive and trowel smooth so squeeze out stays to the inside. For poured landings or concrete cheek walls that were constructed earlier, follow the detail to keep joints straight and tight. Repeat for additional risers until complete.

Detailing and finish

Rake backfilling to the left and right, fill voids behind each riser, and compact lightly. Spray the face and tread to remove dust after saw cuts. Avoid tracking slurry onto pavers. Where rail brackets or lighting accessories are planned, lay out conduits before tread units are installed. If the run is tall, add landings so users have easy access and a place to rest a foot. For tricky transitions, watch the training videos and download the cross sections to keep the process consistent.

Time and quality checks

A two person crew can set a modest flight in about an hour, depending on access and materials. Before leaving, test every tread for rock, verify level, confirm edges are straight, and clean the site. Good step installation looks effortless, but it is hard work done properly with the right tools. Whether you serve a single family home, friends and neighbors, or large trucks of commercial jobs across the usa, the same habits apply. Plan well, install carefully, and your steps will perform and look right for years.

Best Practice Construction Techniques

Whether you opt to work with stone or concrete pavers, once you have the cut slabs or pavers on site, the principles behind the construction of steps installation are the same.

Step 1: Remove all the sod and topsoil on the embankment that the steps will ascend. To avoid the steps settling and sinking after construction, excavate down to firm subsoil that has not been disturbed in recent years.

Step 2: Overlay the base soil with geotextile fabrics over the area that the steps will cover.

Step 3: Add a gravel base over the fabric, filling up the slope. Level and compact as necessary, using a hand tamper or mechanical tamper to ensure maximum compaction.

Step 4: Depending on the size of the stone or concrete pavers, you may opt to use a machine, such as the Unilock Unilyft, to put each in place. If placing by hand, small modular blocks will be easier for your team to handle. Place the first and lowest block using a level.

Step 5: Then proceed with backfilling and compacting gravel for the placement of the second step. Compact this in the same way, using a hand or mechanical tamper. Step 6: Add the next paver, and repeat the process. For steps with coping, adhesive is required between the coping and blocks to ensure safety and durability over time. This technique will suit most step build projects. If at any time while you are in the early stages of a project and need some advice, your Unilock Training Manager is available to offer additional insights regarding design, product selection, as well as on-site questions.

Showcase a Simulated 3D Design

Help increase your close rate by incorporating step design into a realistic 3D image. There are a number of landscape design programs available that will accurately display how step projects will look once complete. The use of such design programs will reduce the possibility of scope changes over the course of a project, saving your business time and money. Being able to offer a 3D visual to your customers can save time in the front-end decision-making between you and your customer, particularly if steps are just a small part of a larger project. At Unilock, we offer powerful design assistance via the UVision 3D Landscape Creator. Use this software to sketch out your design and select from our library of Unilock pavers, along with 15,000 other hardscape and softscape assets, to show your customer exactly how their new step project will appear.

Expand Your Product Portfolio

To ensure that you are able to explore and offer a product portfolio that is wide enough to create a polished, yet individual look for every customer, Unilock offers a range of durable, easy-to-use step products, as well as decorative coping. The customer preference may be pure natural stone, or there’s the option of Ledgestone, which is made with Reala Technology to exude the rugged elegance of natural stone yet achieve the reliable durability of a Unilock paver.

Prioritize the Safety of Your Team

In addition to modern, diverse product lines for step projects, you also have access to advanced equipment that can reduce labor costs while also minimizing any physical strain of crew members. The Unilock UniLyft Paver Installation Machine lifts and places pavers into place, fast and accurately. The machine can install up to 700 square feet per hour, lifting up to a weight of 310 lbs. For step projects in particular, this equipment reduces the labor burden on your team and will speed up the construction process.

Upskill the Team with Certification Courses

During your onboarding process, consider investing in certification courses for your staff. They are not time intensive, and yet they will ensure your team is well versed on installation best practices, safety precautions, and more. At Unilock, we offer “Fundamentals of Garden Walls, Pillars and Steps.” This online module teaches core understandings of step construction, including leveling methods and cutting coping. Whatever your upcoming project needs, you will be able to find an online training that covers essential best practices so you can meet and surpass the expectations of your customers.