Paver steps - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Patricks · 09-24-2008, 09:09 PM

Hello all. I have enjoyed reading the posts. Very valuable real life education. Thank you.

As a new comer to the paver patio business I have a question about paver patio steps. In the past there were either none or the HO just wanted wood.

What is the most solid/quality way to secure them? These will be free standing. I'm just not sure about the back fill in the core.

Thanks for all your help.

Tscarborough · 09-24-2008, 09:12 PM

They should be made solid of a complementary SRW, not made out of pavers, for the best solution. Pavers are for flexible pavements, not stairs.

Patricks · 09-25-2008, 12:07 AM

Understood. I didn't mean build the entire set of stairs out of pavers. The base will be stone wall with the pavers on top in a half circle. I will be at the site tomorrow and can send pictures as well as the inspiration steps that a friend had done. There will be three steps. Is it best then to pour concrete for the center portions?

AtlRemodeling · 09-25-2008, 07:03 PM

Patricks,

We have built a number of steps from paver/block combinations. Usually our base is built out of concrete block and then we use mortar (sometimes hydraulic cement to bond the pavers to the tread and even the riser. I am in the south so we do not have a problem with the cold that you may have in Ohio.

We have also used the SRW as Tscarborough suggested.

Tscarborough · 09-25-2008, 08:02 PM

I don't recall every seeing a set of steps topped with pavers that looked good. They are designed to be visible on the top surface only, not the edge. All good SRW manufacturers produce cap units that can be cut to produce steps/landings. At the very least, consider the caps as an edging with paver infill (the base and body can be solid SRW or poured concrete (plan on a footing).

AtlRemodeling · 09-25-2008, 09:17 PM

Here is one example of pavers as both the risers and the treads that we installed for a client. The owner was delighted with the outcome.

Tscarborough · 09-25-2008, 09:27 PM

Yep, looks great. Nice work.

Patricks · 09-25-2008, 10:13 PM

That's exactly what I wanted to do. Thanks you both for your input. I had seen it done before so I didn't think too much of it. I couldn't find any documentation on the process. Now I am second guessing my self as to how I want to fill the inside for a lasting set of steps.

Having trouble uploading. I have a pic in the folder "example".

WARD · 10-08-2008, 08:54 PM

We are finishing up some pavers where we used a pool coping for the treads that matched the pavers we are using. They turned out looking good. Here is a picture, but I'm not sure how good it is though.