RECOMMENDED DIMENSIONS FOR GARDEN STEPS
Minimum width of steps for one person is
2' 6" but 3' 6" is better, allowing for carrying
things or on a long flight of enclosed steps
allowing use of a handrail placed on wall.
Minimum step width for two persons is 4' 6"
but 5' 0" is better, particularly on stairways
enclosed on both sides. More than four steps
may require handrail; fewer usually don't.
BREAK STRAIGHT LINES WITH CIRCLES
Relieve the monotony of a long straight
walk by inserting circular steps. Used in
those shown here are risers of cinder or concrete blocks mortared to a concrete base
before being filled in with brushed aggregate concrete, which is also the material
used in the brick-edged walk. Bricks set in a
radiating pattern in steps lend interest.
. . . what materials are best?
The choice of material will be governed by many factors. First of all
the style of house and garden in which the steps are to be built must
be considered. The materials must be compatible with those used in
the retaining walls, house walls, terrace paving, walks, and other adjacent features. If the general effect desired in the garden is natural and
informal and the house is also informal, the steps may be built of rough
stone brought in from fields and hills nearby or bought from stone
suppliers. In this case, do not use too many different kinds of stone or
too many varieties of texture, or you will end up with a little bit of
masonry which looks like an exhibit in the Natural History Museum's
geology section, rather than functional steps which keep their place
because they are simple, quiet, and above all useful.
CORNER STEPS ARE INTERESTING
Descending from a walk which goes around
the comer of this house, corner steps give
easy access to the lower terrace and its adjacent lawn. A raised plant bed in the angle
of the terrace echoes the pierced brick re
taining wall-note stacked bond-and brick
paving areas are defined by preservative-treated wood also set in concrete steps.
STEPS WITH OPPOSING CIRCLES
Circular steps go particularly well with our
formal or informal traditional architecture.
Any material may be used to construct them,
but field stone laid dry as shown here is informal and small plants can be grown in the
cracks between stones. For the best visual
effect use fewer steps above the circular
landing than those descending from it.
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