All For Gardening
Backyard Garden

How to Build Steps With Landscape Timbers | This Old House



This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook creates a durable outdoor staircase. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Roger and the homeowner built a set of landscape stairs using 6″ x 6″ timbers. He cut the timbers with a circular saw and handsaw and treated the cut ends with a wood preservative. The timbers were anchored using a 4-foot length of rebar driven into the ground and the stair treads were secured to each other with special timber screws. Roger laid gravel around each step to provide a solid foundation for the stairs and improve drainage.

Shopping List for How to Build Steps With Landscape Timbers:
– 2×2 stake [https://amzn.to/2EL9DxY]
– 6×6 pressure-treated timbers [https://amzn.to/2HNxGOH]
– gravel [https://amzn.to/30XJYv8]
– ½-inch-diameter (No. 4) metal reinforcing bar [https://amzn.to/2JPhCOA], used to pin sleepers to the ground
– 12-inch-long timber screws [https://amzn.to/2WzJHz7]
– wood preservative [https://amzn.to/2WgAfS3]

Tools for How to Build Steps With Landscape Timbers:
– shovel [https://amzn.to/2XjdclV]
– 4-foot level [https://amzn.to/30RcApZ] and long straightedge [https://amzn.to/2Mmo01V]
– layout square [https://amzn.to/2JM9mPo]
– circular saw [https://amzn.to/2XeIsCy]
– handsaw [https://amzn.to/2ELawGO]
– drill/driver [https://amzn.to/2Xb40A1]
– 3-pound sledgehammer [https://amzn.to/2ELo8Bz]
– 3-inch paintbrush [https://amzn.to/2MAkSj9]

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG

For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite

How to Build Steps With Landscape Timbers | This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

48 Comments

  2. Tony Newnham

    So will you need to excavate all the soil from each side of the steps? They will be full of soil in no time, spoiling somewhat the aesthetic. Or is there a way to build these type of steps 'above' the soil line, to stop the soil erosion spoiling the look of them, not to mention the encroachment of weeds and grass………??

  6. B D

    I built similar stairs out of pressure treated wood and few things could be more slippery when wet. I cannot stress this enough, don't use this material for stairs/steps.

  8. Josh Webber

    I used this approach to replace 2 steps for my parents. It took 3 6”x6”x8’s and some deck screws. All in it cost under $70 and was around 2 hours of work! Thanks for the idea and instructions 😉

  9. GazZy BwOi

    Lol at all the "whole length of the Rod" comments but I'm just wondering these could be pretty slippery when wet, right?

  21. AdventureVenture

    Worksite jokes, the real reason there aren't many women in construction…..
    Lady: "Now how deep do you want this?"
    Man: "Well, ideally I'd like you to go the whole length of the rod."

  24. J W

    This video inspired me to build a set of stairs for my house. I changed the dimensions using three 68" sleepers, 73" long stair treads that are 23" wide using four pieces of 6"x6" posts, I stained all of the lumber prior to installation and will apply a second coat of stain. I used 18 6"x6"x8' posts, 6 pieces of rebar and 50 fasteners.

  25. Robert E

    HAHAHAHAHA LMFAO How deep? Ideally the whole length of the rod hahaha sink it right in we will do it right here. Might have to cut it off HAHAHAHAHA!

  27. Jake K

    All these videos are not worth watching as they always. Always end them too soon before project is done and we can see end results. Disappointing and stupidly annoying

  34. W T

    Where in the US in This Old House hosted? They have the funniest accent.

  37. Derek Lull

    He is my neighbor Nursultan Tuliagby. He is pain in my a**holes. I get a window from a glass, he must get a window from a glass. I get a step, he must get a step. I get a clock radio, he cannot afford. Great success!

  40. ExPlay

    “Now what do you do with that informa-“
    “Well that’s guhna help me determine my height for ma timbahs. Catch up Deborahh.”

  48. Peter Henry

    I'm using this design for a hillside where there will be 24 steps total. I'm concerned about drainage, and I think I will need more than just gravel under the steps. Any suggestions?

Write A Comment

Pin