A site with a slope does not necessarily mean additional problems. This beautiful view and the opportunity to arrange the territory in an unusual way. For example, to build a very beautiful and at the same time comfortable staircase in your garden to comfortably move around the site and amaze your guests with creative ideas.
If you can find it, buy these flat cobblestones - you don’t need anything else for the stairs in the garden! Natural, very beautiful material, which will last as long as possible and will age beautifully.
Natural stone will fit perfectly into any landscape design and a sloped area will sparkle with new colors. The main thing is that the stones are really flat and comfortable for walking. Granite and marble for garden stairs are expensive, but sandstone and limestone are not durable. You can choose syenite, labradorite, gabbro, quartz, slate slabs. Or regular boulders suitable shape from the quarry closest to you.
One of the simplest and available ways build a garden ladder - use wooden beam for the frame, and fill the steps with gravel, crushed stone, or you can use pebbles. There are many varieties of such ground stairs - from the simplest to the more thorough and complex. They are easy to repair, last a long time, and if desired, wood can always be replaced with stone supports for gravel. Or concrete formwork.
Tile the stairs in the garden - great idea. You should choose tiles specifically for outdoor use, not smooth ones, as for flooring on the terrace, for example.
Usually such ladders are made from half logs for the porch. But if the slope on the site is noticeable, why not connect the levels with a staircase that looks solid and beautiful, and lasts a long time.
As another option wooden stairs for a steep slope. Simple and yet convenient. Such stairs go well with boardwalks where you can create a recreation area.
Staircase from monolithic concrete in the garden it is a serious structure that can be decorated with pebbles, tiles, and stones. Or leave it as is, if you like the deliberate brutality of concrete.
Brick steps look more attractive than concrete ones. Brick is also a durable material, and you can save money on steps by purchasing used material.
Gentle, barely noticeable steps practically merge with the lawn, which became their “ finishing material", not counting the stones. Such unusual staircase smoothly and logically flows into a steeper rise that separates the levels of the site. Or the steps are simply suddenly, unexpectedly highlighted on the lawn, in a small cascade, making it easier to climb to modern cottage and decorating the area.
Whatever material you choose for your garden staircase, try to make it as comfortable as possible, as flat as possible, and don’t forget about nearby lighting.
And a road leading smoothly into steps should lead to these objects. In addition to the direct function of providing access to the building, the staircase in this case solves a wide variety of additional tasks, in particular, it visually highlights the object to which the road is connected: a whole building, a separate architectural element or a small architectural form. A house on a hill, accessed by a wide staircase, looks more majestic and substantial, since the staircase visually enlarges it.
If there is a gazebo located in a low area, for example, next to a small pond, then it is worth using the technique of including a section of stairs in the landscape design in order to visually expand the surrounding space.
Stairs add dynamics to the overall terrain, so if you feel that your site lacks it, then it’s worth creating artificial elevations and providing them with at least a few steps. Even this will be enough to overcome the static and monotonous terrain.
Architecture of garden stairs
Depending on the design of the supports, garden stairs are divided into free and embedded. For free stairs they serve as support. This option in the garden area is not in demand as often; it is suitable for sudden changes in relief, which are found in mountainous areas. Embedded stairs, which have the ground itself as support, are more common in Russia.
It is best to entrust the design of stairs to the specialists of the PozitivProekt company (Moscow), since it will be very difficult for a non-professional to correctly calculate their proportions. The calculations should be based on the steepness of the existing rise. Also, the stairs must be organically integrated into the style and landscape design of the entire site; it is necessary to make this element part of the whole.
When determining the width of the stairs, you should focus on the width of the paths. Usually these values coincide or differ only slightly. In this case, the minimum acceptable option would be a width of 60 cm.
The staircase should not have more than 15 steps. If you need to arrange a very long staircase, then you cannot do without dividing platforms. In a place where the stairs change direction, such a platform would also be appropriate. These sections of the stairs should not be empty. garden bench, pergola, flowerpot - this is an incomplete series of elements that will find their application here.
When arranging a garden staircase, you need to take care of safety; its basis will be the correctly calculated proportions of the steps and the overall dimensions of the object. Garden stairs are structurally different from those we are used to seeing in houses. Their distinctive features– flat and fairly deep steps. If we talk about average sizes, the height of the steps can be 12-15 cm, and the depth will reach half a meter. It is believed that the height and depth of steps are correlated with each other: high steps should be deeper. However, this is not an absolute rule: for example, very low and at the same time exaggeratedly deep steps can be perfectly integrated into the design of the site. This does not contradict safety rules at all, and can look very interesting.
If the terrain requires the inclusion of a high and fairly steep staircase, then it should be equipped with railings and the safety of movement along it should be especially carefully considered. Pay close attention to the surface of the steps: it should be smooth and non-slip.
For traditional garden stairs, it would also be prudent to design the steps with a slight slope towards the outer edge to prevent rain moisture from accumulating on them. An angle of 1% is invisible to the eye and does not interfere with movement, but you will appreciate the practical value of such a solution after the first rainstorm.
What material to make a staircase from and how to decorate it
In the selection of materials for garden stairs there are practically no restrictions, priorities here can be set only depending on the preferences of the owners and the general style solution plot. So, on a large plot with a large stone house on a hill, a staircase paved with natural stone or tiled will look solid and presentable. Stone will be the material of choice if there are already objects decorated with it, for example, a fountain or hearth. It would be logical to decorate the staircase with relief natural stone, which goes down to a water source flowing over rocky soil. If you choose special material with visual effect wet stone, then the overall harmony of water and stone will reach its highest point in your composition. To decorate the slopes of a stone staircase, it is good to use flowering bushes, noble marble or granite sculptures, and bright large flowers in classic flowerpots.
In a garden whose landscape design is based on eco-style, the so-called grass staircase will play extremely impressively and originally. This is not very common in Russia, but very decorative option: the gentle steps of the staircase are decorated to resemble natural soil overgrown with herbs and moss. The steps can be more or less correct form. In a minimalist garden, you can rely on strict geometricism. An artificially aged staircase will fit perfectly into the eco-garden, creating the illusion of assimilation with the natural topography of the soil. The decor of such a staircase will be plants that should fit well into the existing grass cover.
Wooden decking in the form of steps will create a special garden atmosphere in oriental style, they will perfectly complement, for example, a gazebo in the form of a Chinese house. The slope of the stairs in the eastern garden can be decorated with bonsai trees or stones of various sizes.
And of course, the material of the staircase and the path that goes up to it should not come into conflict with each other in style. Traditionally, the same material with minor variations is chosen for paths and steps. For example, the texture of the stone, the color of the wood, or the pattern of the tiles and the width of the step of laying them may differ.
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Quite often in landscape design You can find such attributes as garden stairs. They can serve both as decoration and as smooth transitions between at different levels. If you make them yourself, then you can realize any of your wishes, since the choice of materials for these purposes is quite wide. You can make stairs from wood, stone, tile, etc.
But such structures also have their own characteristics.
What you need to know about garden stairs?
The main element of any staircase is the step. Therefore, its calculation must be taken very responsibly. If you make the transition by only 1-2 steps, then this is fraught with injuries.
For correct calculation the height and length of each flight in the garden stairs, you must do the following:
- Two slats are fastened together at right angles.
- One end of the block rests on the place from which it is planned to begin the lift, and the other on the end point, that is, where the structure will end.
- To calculate the length of the steps, the horizontal bar is divided into the desired number of steps. For height, the same procedure is carried out, but with a vertical rail. It is immediately worth noting that safe operation of the gangway is ensured only if the level of one step varies within 11-15 cm, and the length exceeds this figure by at least 2 times.
If the area does not have significant differences, then it is best to make a garden staircase with 4-5 transitions. Also, if there are children or older people in the family, it is recommended to equip the building with railings. In addition, you should take care of the following points:
- When selecting material for the structure, you should take into account that it should not be slippery, otherwise you will have to artificially create a corrugated surface.
- The steps must have a long service life, especially taking into account the fact that they will be constantly exposed to environment: rain, snow.
- The transition must be consecrated.
Variations of garden stairs
There are two types of stairs according to their design:
- Free. In this option, support from retaining walls is used.
- Mortise. In this case, the entire base is laid on the surface of the earth. This solution is considered the most presentable if your goal is to decorate your yard.
Examples of such stairs can be seen in the photo.
Do not forget that the entire structure must fit harmoniously into the style of the garden. For example, wooden stairs are perfect for country style, but using stones and flowers around the perimeter, you can create a romantic atmosphere.
In addition to wood and stone, you can think about materials such as concrete or brick, marble or tiles. There are many solutions. But if your imagination is not enough, then you can get an idea or even combine several of those shown in the photo.
DIY garden staircase: instructions
The most simple option For self-made stairs are considered wood. It is quite easy to process, which means there is no need to prepare any specialized tools. In addition, wood is a natural material, which means it will look great in the garden.
The whole job looks like this:
- Along the perimeter of the square future design a trench is prepared, inside which the earth is thoroughly compacted.
- At the location of the lowest step, two wooden blades are driven in, which will later serve as support for the lower log.
- Next comes the laying of the first beam, while it is placed close to the previously driven stakes. The space that remains behind the log is filled with ballast (5-6 cm) and compacted tightly.
- After this, each subsequent step is created in a similar way. In this case, it is necessary to equip the tread with gravel.
- The grooves on the sides are filled with the same earth that was dug for the trench. When laying it, you can sow flower seeds, which will later serve as an additional decoration.
Making a garden staircase yourself is quite simple. If any difficulties arise, you can watch the video instructions, which outline each step in detail.
There are several tips that it would be useful to familiarize yourself with to make the design not only beautiful, but also practical:
- Since garden stairs are located outside, it should be remembered that rain and melt water can damage the material, especially if it is wood. Therefore, it would be better if each step has a slope (1-2%).
- If the building has more than 15 lifts, then it is best to use platforms and railings.
- The color of the staircase material must be selected so that it is visible even in the dark. For example, in rainy weather this will ensure safe operation.
- If lighting is installed, it should be such that all inclinations of the steps are clearly visible.
If you follow these recommendations, the garden staircase will serve not only as an aesthetic decoration, but also fulfill its practical purpose.
The times when a flat piece of land was considered better than a relief one are long gone. It is well known how interesting it is to play with heterogeneous terrain. In this case, steps and stairs appear on the territory, and with them - a feeling of volumetric space
Ladder - element vertical layout garden For all its functional necessity, any staircase is also always decorative, since it emphasizes the plasticity of the relief and seems to expand the boundaries of the garden. The main requirement for a ladder is to ensure the safety of those who walk on it. In addition, aesthetics and compliance with the overall style of the house and site are important.
There are stairs different shapes, and the tread of the step can be rounded, forming a semicircle in a horizontal plane across the entire width of the structure. Garden stairs with several flights, made with turns relative to each other, look interesting. The double-sided designs are original, in which the steps are located at right angles.
There may be several stairs on the site, for example, in accordance with the number of terraces. Often a flight of stairs is also accompanied by an inclined platform - a ramp. This is especially convenient if the area is large and you cannot do without the use of heavy garden equipment - mini-washers, lawn mowers, special vacuum cleaners, etc. However, ramps should not be made steep, as they can become slippery in winter.
The monotony of a wide staircase can be broken by creating stationary flower beds or even small fountains on the steps. In this case, you need to be very careful about the design of the drainage system.
What does it mean?
Tread- horizontal surface of the step that serves as a support for the foot
Riser(rise, step height) - vertical part of the step
Overhang- protruding edge of the step
flight of stairs- distance from one landing to another
Embedded staircase- an option when steps resting on the ground are cut out on the hillside
Free staircase— adjacent to a vertical surface and leads from one horizontal level to another; the support is a specially designed base, most often reinforced concrete
Stair ergonomics
Any staircase, large or small, steep or flat, should be comfortable. This property is determined by the ratio of the height of the steps and the size of the tread. It is optimal when the sum of these values does not exceed the average width of a person’s step (50-60 cm). With properly designed steps, the entire foot fits on the tread, therefore movement occurs easily and freely. The smaller the tread, the steeper the staircase and the more steps it has. Steep stairs look ideal in the front area of the garden, near the entrance to the house, especially if there are two of them and they are located symmetrically, as is often the case in regular-style gardens.
Sloping structures are more convenient. If the terrain of the area is such that it is impossible to create a flat structure, the steps are placed along the retaining wall, that is, across the slope. Another way out in such a situation is to give the staircase descent an intricate trajectory: this will allow you not to overload the space and maintain its compositional integrity.
Build garden stairs, moving from the lower platform to the upper one
There are no hard and fast recommendations as to what number of steps on a ladder should be considered optimal. The steepness of the slope and the style of the space are of great importance here. It is well known, however, that steps in the garden should not be single - in this case, you can simply forget about them, this is especially dangerous in the dark. Minimal amount there are three steps. The ergonomic requirements for such mini-stairs are the same as for multi-step ones.
Step size
In order not to make a mistake with the size of the steps, you need to take measurements directly on the slope using a tape measure. First, calculate the distance between the sites. One end of the tape measure is installed on a stop corresponding to the level of the upper platform; the second is on the lower surface. Let's assume that this distance is 68.2 cm. The resulting figure should be divided by the estimated approximate size of the riser (for example, 16 cm). This will help determine the number of steps. The quotient is unlikely to be an integer (if we take the parameters proposed above, then the result of division is 4.28). The figure is rounded (in our case to four) and the measured distance between the sites is divided by the resulting integer (68.2:4). The result will be the actual height of the steps (17 cm). After this, find the length of the tread according to the formula:
63-68 cm - (17 cm x 2) = 29-34 cm.
It should be remembered that the treads on the stairs are always one less than the risers. Then the total height of the span with four steps and a tread length of 32 cm will be:
4 × 17 + 3 × 32 = 164 cm.
Diagram of a backfill garden staircase
Holding the tape measure at the level of the upper walkway and using a plumb line or level to transfer the measurement to the lower walkway, measure a distance equal to the resulting height of the flight of stairs. If it turns out that there is not enough space for steps, you can reduce the span height by reducing the tread length by 2-3 cm, or recalculate by calculating a new riser size.
The width of the garden staircase most often corresponds to the width of the paths it connects, and it should not be less than 90 cm. The dimensions of the landings are chosen based on the parameters of the staircase, but in no case are they made narrower than the flights of stairs. A span height of more than 3.6 m (about 20 steps) causes discomfort when climbing, so if the stairs are long, it is recommended to arrange rest areas at least every 3.6 m.
All steps of the ladder must be identical in their parameters, tolerance sizes - no more than 1 cm. For water drainage, a slope of the tread is provided: the front edge should be 3-6 mm lower than the back.
Steep stairs, as well as structures over 70 cm high, require railings. The height of the railing is usually 85-95 cm, provided that it is measured above the overhangs of the steps.
Installation of railings
Steep and long stairs in the garden require the installation of railings. Their height is on average 90 cm. The railings consist of vertical racks and a support portion that is grasped by the hand when in use. The supporting part will be comfortable if it has a width of 3 to 5 cm. The distance between the railing and the nearest vertical surface(for example, a wall or hedge) must be at least 9 cm; in addition, 4 cm above and below the supporting part of the railing must also be free. The material for creating the railings is chosen based on the style of the garden. In classic estates, balustrades look good - they are made of concrete or, as is increasingly being done lately, from artificial stone. In Art Nouveau gardens, wrought iron railings with characteristic plant motifs are especially impressive. In general, when creating railings, you should try to use the materials from which small architectural forms On the site there are gazebos, benches, bridges, etc.
Stairs are a very beautiful decorative element of the garden, which can decorate it even regardless of the topography of the site itself. They are absolutely necessary where there is at least a slight difference in the landscape or there are retaining walls in order to move from one horizontal plane to another tier.
On a completely flat area, you can also make several steps, which will give the garden a special, unique charm and attractiveness. In any garden there is a place from which you need to go down and up, for example, from a path to a patio. In some areas with a slope, you can arrange a couple or three steps or even a staircase.
If there are no elevation changes on your site, stairs arranged in a special way will help add dynamics to a monotonous, flat garden. Even one step can change the mood in the garden, creating an interesting transition from the lawn to the flower garden. Steps can also lead to decorative elements of the garden - a bench, sundial, statue.
A cute staircase made of gravel or wood will give you the opportunity to explore the entire territory garden plot - green lawn, sunny lawns, a quiet pond, vegetable beds, a gazebo and flower beds.
Each staircase corresponds to a specific architectural style and special structure. Not only the marble staircases of the main entrances of mansions can attract attention, but also the touching wooden steps which will lead to the country house.
Paths, stairs and retaining walls must form a single composition in the garden, which should be practical and beautiful. For example, if from the house to the utility block there is a beautiful, but walking along steep slope path, then walking along it will not be very convenient. But if part of the path is replaced with a staircase made of the same material as the path, you will get a convenient duo for movement.
Stairs in the garden should match its style. If you have a garden in a regular or french style, then it is subject to strict symmetry. Such a garden is characterized by a poorly defined relief; the composition of the entire garden is located in one plane.
The territory can be decorated with terraces with retaining walls connected to each other by stairs. In gardens of this style, stairs are a very strong decorative element, so their design and design should be carefully considered.
One of the main decorative elements The garden is an entrance terrace, which offers a magnificent view of the house and the garden as a whole, and a wide front staircase leads from the terrace to the house.
The English or landscape style is distinguished by smooth lines that will imitate the natural landscape. Picturesque ponds and plants planted in tiers, winding paths - all this features landscape style. Alternation of hills and flat areas too characteristic landscape garden.
Connecting elements can be stairs and paths that naturally fit into the landscape. It is better to make stairs from natural material: natural stone, wooden cuts, you can combine pebbles and wood.
Stairs to Japanese garden it is more difficult to design: here each architectural element has its own symbolic meaning, and all buildings fit into a carefully processed natural landscape. Mandatory elements of the garden are hills and ponds. Therefore, you can’t do without stairs and steps here.
The staircase must be in harmony with the surrounding buildings and the style of the house. Constructed from wooden saw cuts or logs, it will fit perfectly into country style garden
IN victorian style there should be a staircase made of concrete with tiles, which, for a harmonious finish, is equipped with beautiful forged railings.
