Outside steps

hampshirebabe

I need to put in some steps up to my new French doors. We've got loads of bricks left from taking part of the wall out so we'd like to build the step part from bricks, with some decking boards across the top. My question is what to build it on. The people before us put down a patio of slabs, but they're not on anything, just soil. They've been there for several years and are still nice and flat, so would it be ok to build on that, or take it up and put something else down first?

macman

Put some hardcore and concrete under it and do the job properly. It's only a small area, so not a big job.
Slabs laid straight onto topsoil is a compete botch up, at the very least you need some sand under it to bed the slabs into.

ormus

ideally you would need to lay say 2 inches of concrete as a slab/raft for the step.
that way the step is unlikely to subside in anyway.

after saying all that, a step gets very light useage (weight), and if the soil is well compacted, its unlikely to cause any problem.
if money or time is an issue, then just build it direct onto the slabs. in the past, ive built patios direct onto soil, with no problems. (apart from the usual weeds).

hampshirebabe

That's what I was thinking, just trying to save more time and money.
Thanks

hampshirebabe

Just saw your post Ormus, I think 2 inches of concrete is doable.
Thanks