Building a door step using a slab... any help, please?

Charlton_King

I've just had a new front door put in and the rise from the outside is now too great for comfort (especially when I have elderly parents visiting!) - I need to put in a fairly low step just outside. The thought occurs that a simple solution would be a standard paving slab or perhaps two, one alongside the other.

I don't want to lay these loose but do a reasonable cementing job, both to achieve a more pro finish and to correct for the minor slope leading away from the house.

Could anyone advise me how to go about this? I've never done anything similar before. Do I use mortar, plain cement or a concrete mix to set the slabs in? Are there any rules or things to watch out for? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

martinthebandit

What are you laying the slabs onto?

Wookey

What do you currently have at the door? If you already have a solid base in place then you could build a small row of bricks either flat or on there edge to give you the height you need to set the slabs on, once they are set fill the void with some concrete. Once the concrete has set bed the flags down on a bed of cement, ensure that there is a slight fall in the slabs towards the front to turn rainwater away from the door.

Charlton_King

martinthebandit wrote: »

What are you laying the slabs onto?

Some very heavy corporation-style paving slabs, 90x60, solid and in place for many years.

tacpot12

If the rise is quite small, and the slabs quite thick, you might get a way with putting a dab of mortar at each corner and under the centre of each slab. You can buy ready mixed mortar for about £5 from Wickes and B&Q, and this should be enough to lay one, or perhaps two slabs (I think Wickes allows you return unused items for a refund, so I would get two bags and return one if you don't use it). Use a rubber mallet to tap at the corners, and a spirit level, to set the slabs at a very slight slope way from the house.

martinthebandit

Charlton_King wrote: »

Some very heavy corporation-style paving slabs, 90x60, solid and in place for many years.

Here ya go
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Blue-Circle-Ready-To-Use-Slablayer---20kg/p/153707

Or you can make your own sand and cement mix

Mr.Generous

Done this recently on a job, used 2 600 x 600 slabs side by side, 1 looks too small in front of a door. Fixed with sand cement 3:1 mix with a splash of waterproofer in the mortar, remember to leave a gap on the door side so you are in no way bridging the damp proofing on the house.

If you don't have any waterproofer put a squirt of washing up liquid in your mix to act as a plasticiser.

Cash-Cows

http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur01.htm

Mistral001

I would slope the existing ground up rather than putting in an additional low step. A low step could be a tripping hazard.

Charlton_King

Thanks to all who replied. A simple enough sounding job but actually a bit tricky to execute!