How to Build Steps, Walkways and Handicap Ramps | Tile Your World

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How to build and tile steps and walkways (sidewalks)

John P. Bridge, May, 2001 (Revised December, 2009)

Way back in the day, I spent about 6 months of my apprenticeship training studying step/stair building and layout. One of the points that was constantly emphasized was that stairs are a hazard to your health a necessary one but a hazard no less. There are certain conventions that are essential to a safe and eye-pleasing step project.

Think about it. When you walk you tend to build up a cadence where, unless something inhibits you, each step taken is about the same as the previous one in length and speed. The same tendency is in force when you are ascending or descending stairs or steps. If all the steps are not the same height and width, it tends to throw you off balance, and this can lead to a serious mishap.

A good rule of thumb when building a series of steps is called seven-eleven. No, thats not a convenience store chain, its a stair-building convention. The front of the steps or risers are about 7 inches in height, and the tops of the steps or treads are about 11 inches in width. Now this is not a hard, fast rule, but it should always be taken into consideration when a project is planned. In my opinion risers should never be higher than 7 inches, and treads should never be narrower than 11 inches. A step that is about 6 to 6-1/2 inches high and 11-1/2 to 12 inches wide is just about ideal in my book, whether you are building one step or a hundred. People have gotten used to this norm through decades (centuries) of climbing stairs and steps.

Once again, though, although there is leeway in the height and width of steps, all steps in a series must be uniform. The height of the risers cannot vary by more than 1/4 inch, and the width of the treads must be constant to within 1/4 in. On commercial tile projects the tolerance is usually less than 1/8 in.

Do not build steps in tread widths that cause people to take more than one step per tread. A normal person should be able to walk up or down a series of steps without breaking stride. A tread width of, say, 16 inches or more might cause a persons foot to land on the edge of the tread, half on and half off. The foot tends to slip or tilt toward the next riser, a sure recipe for disaster, especially when walking downward. When ascending such steps its very possible someone might trip on a riser and fall forward.

In outdoor construction, nothing is level. All surfaces are tilted somewhat so that rain water doesnt collect on them. This includes steps, whose treads should be pitched ever so slightly toward the front. In the width of a 12 in. tread, a 1/16 to 1/8 in. pitch is ideal just enough to keep water from collecting but not enough to cause a slip. It should go without saying, but Ill say it anyway step treads absolutely must be constructed from materials that will provide plenty of grip for the feet. Brick, rough stone, and non-slip quarry tiles are good choices. If your steps are to be simply concrete, finish the treads with a fine broom.

Steps in Conjunction with Walkways

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How to Build Steps, Walkways and Handicap Ramps | Tile Your World