Brains and steps

[dave]

I've recently had a patio built by a builder. It has a set of steps down to the grass, and lots of people trip when coming up the steps. The problem seems to be that the top step's rise is smaller than the others. People (me included) seem to trip on the second-to-top step. I guess our brains are looking ahead and see the rise of the top step and assume that the one below is going to be the same.

Here's a picture:

The question is, except for rebuilding the steps, is there anything I can do to try to trick the brain into not making that assumption. As you can see from the picture, it would be a lot of work to rebuild them!

[Jim GM4 DHJ ...]

another course at ground level and all the rises would be the same...tee hee

[spuorgelgoog]

I make it you've got 11 courses to spread over x steps.

Unfortunately 11 is a prime number.

Owain

[Dave Chamberlain]

That's the sort of thing I was thinking. I was looking to see if anyone had done anything similar

[Jim GM4 DHJ ...]

lift the stupid skinny slab things and build a course on each level....top slab level with patio then grade the grass up so all rises are the same...simples....

[nightjar]

On 13/09/2020 17:41, [e-mail] wrote: ...

Uneven riser heights is a very well known trip hazard. SFAIK, there is no solution, apart from correcting the fault.

From the picture, it won't be possible using full size bricks. Cast concrete steps would allow you to get the rises even. Adding brick side walls to the height of the main area would visually match the rest of the construction.

[Roger Mills]

Rebuild the level 3 step by putting half a course under it. That will even up the gaps at the top.

OR Build up the 4th level to have the same gaps as the others, so that you step onto it and then down a bit onto the patio.

OR Put up a warning notice!

[No Name]

Assuming the slabs on the steps are 50 mm thick, if you take all the slabs off the 3 steps and tile in non-slip 10 mm thick floor tiles, that might make a difference.

But of course, the tiles will not match the patio area.....

S.

[Jim GM4 DHJ ...]

well sweeten the levels out....That is what I advised people to do when they fecked it up like that....

[Dave W]

How about filling in the gap at the top, level with the rest of the wall? The top increment would only be slightly higher than the others. But it may be more hazardous going down if you're not looking where you're going.

[John Rumm]

Not surprising people are tripping... Really the rise on any staircase should be the same on every step. You can get away with a difference with the step onto the grass, since you are changing surfaces quite dramatically, and that makes you navigate that one differently.

If you want least amount of work, then I would suggest:

Add an additional course of bricks[1] to the top of all three steps - leaving the existing slabs there. Place the bricks so that they are flush with the edge of the slab. Then add an additional slab on top. Set the mortar bed thickness so that the top step comes out exactly level with the patio (i.e it becomes a small landing rather than a step as such).

The rise will increase on the step adjacent to the grass - which if you are going to have a change in rise, is probably the safest place for it), then the other rises would be equal.

I would go for a contrasting colour brick to make a decorative feature of the top of each step - say a dark grey or buff brick sandwiched between the light grey slabs. Keeping the bricks flush with the slabs creates the look of a step with a heavy nosing, rather than a step with a pair of thin nosings.

[Jimk]

ramp? White paint on step edges?

[Jimk]

That's probably the proper solution...

[Jimk]

Although one extra course on the top step won't bring it level w the patio....

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

Bright paint on each edge? Cheap and worth a try. Brian

[Brian Gaff (Sofa]

Yellow paint works better in low light. Brian

[Andrew]

The whole patio is too low surely ?. It's almost three courses of bricks below the DPC of the house. If the patio was at the correct height then all four 'goings'?? would be equal.

[Clive Arthur]

Paint lots of thin parallel lines on them |||||| and put a sign up saying 'escalator out of order'.

[Andrew]

Only 'council' slabs are 50mm thick these days, and they are 'heavy'. Most DIY stuff is between 30 and 40mm thick, but those 'slabs' look more like cheapo Indian sandstone to me.

[Andrew]

But not for you. A proper pair of piers at the top of the steps with a perimeter guardrail and maybe a handrail on the steps, surely ?.

How many toddlers are going to fall over that edgeing?

Andrew