Build garden steps without concrete

Build garden steps without concrete: laying metal slope steps as a DIY project

A sloping garden offers unique design possibilities, but also presents a number of challenges. One of the biggest is accessibility. Every trip to the flower bed or barbecue area means negotiating changes in height. In wet or frosty weather, walking up or down unpaved paths can quickly become a dangerous slip hazard. Metal slope steps are the solution, allowing you to tackle even extreme gradients safely. Read on to find out how to build garden steps without having to lug around concrete.

Why building garden steps without concrete is the best solution for steep slopes

Anyone who has ever worked with concrete on a slope knows how much effort it takes: carrying heavy bags, building formwork, pouring the concrete and then waiting for days for it to dry. Precast concrete steps are no better. One of these blocks often weighs more than 100 kg. Without an excavator, there is little you can do, and even these machines reach their limits on steeper slopes.

With metal slope steps, you can build garden steps without having to struggle with concrete. The elements are simply driven into the ground and precisely aligned. Depending on the length and steepness of the steps, the job can often be completed in a single afternoon.

Another major advantage: while rigid foundations can quickly crack and break in severe winter frosts, the flexible metal system remains completely undamaged. Erosion caused by rainwater or melting snow running off is also not an issue when building garden steps without concrete.

Preparation: planning and tools required

The best way to work out how many metal slope steps you need for your project is to use the quantity calculator on the homepage of our online shop. Simply enter the length of the slope in metres, select the appropriate step type for the gradient, and you’ll see how many steps you need to order.

You don’t need any specialist tools to build garden steps without concrete. Installation is straightforward with the following tools:

• Rubber mallet (for driving the steps in)
• Spirit level (for precise alignment)
• Spade or shovel (for any adjustments to the ground)

A string line is also recommended to mark out the route of the steps in advance.

Building garden steps without concrete: all the steps at a glance

Building steps with slope steps requires no elaborate preparation. Once you have the elements on site and your tools ready, you can get started. Work from the bottom upwards as follows:

• Place the step on the ground and press its four feet into the soil.
• Use the rubber mallet and spirit level to align the tread so that it is level or slopes slightly towards the hillside.
• Note the lowest visible hole on each of the two front legs, then remove the step from the ground again.
• Feed the supplied steel bar through the holes you noted. Make sure the bar protrudes on both sides.
• Position the step and steel bar back on the slope and align it again. The crossbar must rest on the ground.
• Test the step to make sure it is firmly secured in the ground.

The steps are just as easy to remove and reposition as they are to install. This gives you much more flexibility in your garden design than a staircase made from concrete steps.

Order metal slope steps for your concrete-free garden steps with ease

When it comes to materials for building garden steps without concrete, you can choose from untreated or galvanised steel, aluminium and stainless steel. Alongside options in a classic metal finish, we also offer powder-coated slope steps, available in your choice of colour from the RAL K5 Classic colour chart. Visit our online shop now to quickly and easily order everything you need to build garden steps without concrete.