Patio Retaining Wall and Steps

[Maximilian66]

I’ve started a raised patio project and looking for advice regarding the retaining wall and steps.
For the retaining wall I’m digging out 450mm wide and 300mm deep trench to put in a 150mm deep concrete footing in clay soil. The retaining wall will be approx 500mm above ground level.

For the four steps they will have a tread of 500mm and a rise of 180mm. I plan on digging out 1.9m x 4m x 300mm deep hole to pour a 150mm concrete footing slab and then build the steps up from there.

I’ve worked out the total concrete to be about 1.5m3 and plan on mixing it with a cement mixer I’ve got hold of.

I’m looking at just using concrete blocks laid on their side for the wall and steps, tanking the back of the blocks and adding drainage holes and then facing them with the paving I’ll be using (Indian stone).

Please can you offer any advice for this project and if this is the best method to create the steps?

Thanks,
Max

 

[DAZB]

This is a great website for all paving and landscaping jobs....

Home

www.pavingexpert.com

Choose Installation Topics on the top row and it has all the info that you need on setting out, drainage, laying, walls etc,
such as steps....

Steps

A guide to constructing steps from bricks, blocks, flags and other hard-landscaping materials

www.pavingexpert.com

and walls....

Walls and Brickwork

A brief guide to walls suitable for use in hard-landscaping projects

www.pavingexpert.com

 

[Maximilian66]

Thanks for point me in the right direction, I think I’ll reduce the step treads to 450mm which will reduce the size of the concrete footing slab.