How to Build Concrete Stairs

I have never been able to understand why, but it often so happens that a cloudy weather brings old memories. When clouds gather in the sky, childhood memories start crowding in the mind and with the pouring rains, come gushing, memories of all the treasured moments of the past. The eyes shed tears while the lips smile.

On one such cloudy day when I was all alone at home, walking up the staircase that led to my room, I went down memory lane to the days when my world revolved around that newly build concrete staircase. It was the only way that led to 'my' room and this made those concrete steps so special to me. I began remembering all the little things between me and my staircase! Yes, she was very dear to me. I used to swing on her railing, jump down her steps in excitement, while away my time counting her balusters, run up her steps that took me to my room, and standing on her landing, when I could view my house from the top, I used to feel on 'top of the world'!

I was going up that very staircase today. Walking up the stairs felt so different. The staircase had grown old; her steps were looking pale and her concrete construction looked withered. I remembered her young, when her stairs were newly constructed and her concrete steps looked bright and youthful. I went back in time to when I was a kid. I recollected when and how the stair construction had begun and the way mum and dad had planned how to make concrete steps. While they were making arrangements for the construction of concrete steps, I was excited to see my dream of having a staircase to reach my room, coming true. I remembered all the fun we had while building the concrete steps. The fun cannot be recreated but the steps we took in building the steps can! Here's something on how to build concrete stairs. Keep reading.

Steps to Building Concrete Stairs
Before you begin with the actual stair construction, decide where they will be located and the type of stairs you desire to have. If you plan to build the concrete stairs in the exteriors of your house, you need to maintain the step dimensions as prescribed by your local building code. Otherwise, you have complete freedom of choosing the measurements and layout of your staircase. Generally, for a step height of 4-5 inches, a tread depth of 16-18 inches is recommended, while it should be between 10 and 14 inches for a step height of 6-7 inches. The flat walking surface of a step is the step tread and the vertical boards joining the treads are the step risers. As you can see, their prescribed measurements vary inversely. It is advisable to make a simple sketch of your step design before you begin building the stairs.

Now, you need to calculate the number of steps you will be constructing. You will have to calculate this number by dividing the planned height of the staircase by the height of each step. Along with the rise of the steps, consider the footing, which is mostly a gravel and concrete foundation used to give support and stability to the steps.

Once done, you need to work on the concrete forms of the stairs. The moulds into which concrete is poured are referred to as concrete forms. Cut out the forms from good plywood sheets. You can use yellow pine or spruce form boards. While doing this, see that you maintain a downward slope of one-quarter inch so that each step has an upward rise and you do not end up building a solid concrete mass. Make sure that the forms support the weight of concrete. Start with the bottom step first. Once the first step is formed, continue with the rest of the steps such that each stair form is smaller than the prior one, with a difference equal to the size of the tread. With this, the side forms of the staircase are ready. Now, go for the forms for the risers. Their length should be such that they overlap the side forms and their height should be same as that of the riser.

Place the stair run forms on both sides of the porch/platform that the staircase will be leading to. Each form should be placed perpendicular to the porch. Support the forms with strong wooden or metal posts known as stakes, with screws or nails.

The next very important step is that of pouring the concrete in the forms. Mix the concrete as per the manufacturer's instructions and ladle the mixed concrete into the forms with the help of a shovel. Remove the excess concrete, if any, and tap each form lightly to release the air trapped inside. Do not pour concrete directly into the forms or you might end up spilling it all over the place. Start with the bottom step and work your way up. Work on one layer at a time and see that the first step is set before moving to the next one.

The last and somewhat difficult step in concrete stair construction is that of finishing the steps. Here, you will require a finishing trowel to smooth out the semi hard concrete. After the finishing is done, you will need to use a small broom and drag it from one end of a step to the other in one stroke. This process will leave small lines on the treads, giving them grip. Now, let the concrete cure and harden after which the side forms can be removed. You can smoothen the sides with a trowel or use water to help the hard concrete to smooth out. Let the concrete harden for a day and your steps will be ready to be stepped on!

Now that you know how to build concrete stairs, take a step forward in building them! You will feel proud of having paved the path to where you had planned to go 'step by step'!