Making outdoor steps

Matty F · 2010-10-27T11:03:52+00:00

I want to make some steps to get up the 45 degree sloped bank at theback of my house. At the moment I use an aluminium extension ladderwhich is far too short and slides sideways, or I climb up holding to apiece of old rope, which makes it difficult to carry anything like achainsaw up there.I propose making a set of steps 8.1 metres long, with 24 steps withrisers at 239 mm high, with a handrail. They will be timber treated tobe suitable in the ground.I have a feeling that it might break some regulation or other to have24 steps in one run at a 45 degree angle. It also seems to break allthe rules about steps, i.e. risers too high and angle too steep.I suppose I could put the steps at an angle to the slope and have thehandrail on the the outward side.I could also call it a track, in which case maybe the rules don'tapply.I could have two landings on the way up. But that makes it morecomplicated. Basically I am just building a very heavy ladder.I don't really want to build the thing and find that it looks dauntingto walk down.I also want to go and buy the timber in about 9 hour's time!

Oct 27, 2010 21 Replies

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OK here's the timber for the steps, or should I call it a ladder. It's Pinus Radiata treated against rot in the ground.

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weights 200 kg. I don't suppose I'll be moving this ladder around much! It cost 80 GBP. Not bad for a 7.2 metre ladder with a handrail.

Here's the cliff with a 4 metre aluminium ladder on it. The wooden ladder will need to go past that tree trunk at the top, to 7.2 metres. The angle is 55 degrees in its new location, which is a bit shorter than before.

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's a closeup of the cliff face. It's basically fractured sandstone. The larger pieces are up to 200mm across.

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's impossible to dig holes into, or to drive in metal stakes. The rocks will just fall out.

I'm basically making three wooden ladders, each 2.4 metres long and 66 kg. I'll join them togther. My current thinking is to peg them together at the ends with four 300mm pieces of steel reinforcing rod, then bolt a steel plate on each side. Then I can take the ladder apart in future if I change my mind, which is likely!

Making outdoor steps

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