r/landscaping • u/JustSayYesYesYesYes • Dec 21 '23
Hillside Steps. $450 materials. 2 weeks DIY labor.
I got tired of walking on slippery mud every time it rains. Found a Youtube video and decided to DIY some steps myself.
Credit to this guy's instructions: https://youtu.be/iscAp1QEhi8?si=iFiHRtW6TbZEyTS1
Materials from Lowe's about $400.
Solar lights from Amazon $50.
I didn't put rocks under the bricks but I did tamper down the dirt. Each step weights 150 pounds and it feels solid. River rocks are placed on the side for drainage and soil retention.
Took me about 4 steps per day so about two weeks of work. Leveling each brick was the hard part. I am going to build more steps all the way up to the top of hill once the weather improves. I am pretty happy with the results.
37
Dec 21 '23
Looks great.
Unfortunately, that whole thing is going to heave and fall apart.
3
Dec 21 '23
Why? I've been wanting to do something like this too.
What did he do wrong?
10
Dec 21 '23
[deleted]
4
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 21 '23
Yes, I have considered that too... but this project is up the hill on my property... lifting all these bricks were tiring enough. The steps feel solid so far. Recent rain hasn't moved it one bit.
A landscaper come to work on an unrelated project, he said the steps sitting on soil is good enough it'll last many years. But I do understand the "proper" way is to add gravel under the bricks.
3
u/Blurple11 Dec 24 '23
It's not the rain, it's the cold. When you have water in the soil it will freeze during winter and thats when the movement will occur.
6
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 24 '23
In that case I am totally safe. I live in the Bay Area CA, water will not freeze in the winter~
4
u/Blurple11 Dec 24 '23
Then pretty much the only thing you have to worry about is a torrential rain causing a small landslide
1
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 26 '23
Yes. I am allowing grass the grow, and also hope the river rocks can stabilize the soil near the steps. Thanks for your suggestions.
3
u/Monk_of_the_Nudniks Dec 08 '24
How are the stairs? I bet their still standing like a soldier! People here are something else… this will be there for years and years
1
u/lja1978 Sep 29 '25
My first stone project was close to 30years ago. I only used a soil base, they still haven't shifted to this day. The last stone steps I did, I used the gravel stone base like they say we should, they shifted within 5 years. Had it redone by a professional and they lasted even less time. We live in MO.
2
8
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 21 '23
Well time will tell~~~ It has been raining in CA lately and it is still solid so far. If it last 10 to 15 years it'd be worth my efforts. $450 and 2 weeks of work I am fine with that~
14
u/Bigdootie Dec 21 '23
Honestly should be fine in ca.
8
u/Vlad_the_Homeowner Dec 21 '23
According to Reddit my paver patio here in SoCal should have heaved up and killed me by now because of how little base I used. 3 years later I'm still alive and my patio is still flat.
7
u/Bigdootie Dec 21 '23
Redditors think everyone lives in 100% clay, 48” of rain, -10 degree winter regions.
2
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 21 '23
Haha that is good to know. 90% of the time the dirt is try anyways.
2
5
u/localvore559 Dec 21 '23
Should fine, there’s not even that much weight on the soil. Just keep the this adjacent slopes vegetated and key in the bottom of the slop so your crushed rock doesn’t move.
3
u/Pluuto7 Dec 21 '23
Looks great! How did you get them to curve?
5
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 21 '23
I start from the bottom. Next step retaining wall blocks lines up with the bottom step's top cap. Then the next top cap is turned at a "slight" angle. So the curve is at the cap, while the steps looks even.
2
u/Clown_5 Dec 22 '23
Kick butt work, from a DYI-landscaper to another. I have similar setup that I'm planning to redo it the same way you're. Do you have any plan to stop the side rocks from sliding down with rain? I have the same issue and was told to get bigger rocks or use cement/glue before laying down the small rocks.
2
u/JustSayYesYesYesYes Dec 22 '23
Man... I got these river rocks from Lowe's and it is 50 pounds per bag. These rocks are heavy. Wind and rain will not wash it away. They survived rivers so I assume CA rain is not going to do much to it. They are like $5.50 per bag I can always add more to weight it down if needed.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/EARTHESSENTIALS-BY-QUIKRETE-0-5-cu-ft/50437590
1
u/Then_Version9768 Mar 05 '26
Round stones are slippier than jagged stones, I've found. Round gravel will slide downhill. I'd always use the rougher kind which seems to hold together a lot better.
2
2
2
u/SamsaraSlider Oct 11 '25
How’s it holding up? As well as expected? Any adjustments made since? Any “if I could go back and do it over I would have____” hindsight’s?
Looks great and I appreciate the inspiration!
1
1
u/Altruistic-Juice-356 Oct 23 '24
Love it. Weree these paver steps the 20 in x 20 in one's at Lowes?
1
u/videogamePGMER Jan 30 '25
That’s amazing work! How’d you achieve that nice subtle curve? Did you have to cut the square pavers?
1
1
u/Illustrious-Taste372 Jul 14 '25
Love the steps! Any chance you could share the Lowe’s links or just the measurements of the blocks you used?
23
u/[deleted] Dec 21 '23
Looks absolutely beautiful.
A little more digging and then base gravel/sand may have made leveling easier and probably more stable base. Just on dirt you may be back at it in a few years. But regardless- nice work!