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Tommy Walsh's DIY Guide
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Tommy Walsh's DIY Guide (2001)(Empire).iso
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t3a.txt
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1998-10-08
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Summary
Before making a step or set of steps you should work out the
correct dimensions of each step and the materials required.
Follow these pointers to help you:
1 Planning the steps
2 Measuring the total height
3 About treads and risers
4 Choosing your materials
5 A worked example
6 Summary
Tools
Measure, length of timber, pencil, paper
Step 1 - Planning the steps
The secret of producing steps built into a slope is to choose
the right proportions. The first thing you need to do is to
work out the height and horizontal length of the slope.
Measure the horizontal length of the slope keeping the measure
level.
Step 2 - Measuring the total height
Use a timber length placed horizontally to work out the height.
If the length is not long enough, repeat the procedure adding
the heights together. Once you have calculated the dimensions
of the slope you can then choose the dimensions of the step.
Step 3 - About treads and risers
Steps are made up of what are called treads (the horizontal
parts you actually stand on) and risers (the vertical parts).
The thickness of the paving slab you are using as the tread
must be taken into account when calculating the height of
the risers. The overhang of slabs should also be taken into
account.
Step 4 - Choosing your materials
You are limited in your choice of step dimensions by the
materials available unless you are prepared to perform a
lot of masonry cutting.
Step 5 - A worked example
The length of our slope is 1.5metres and the drop is 0.6m.
Ideally we want to use walling blocks which are 125mm high and
25mm thick slabs. Our risers are therefore 125mm high. If we
divide the drop by the riser height this gives us 4 steps.
The length divided by the number of steps give us the tread of
375mm. Allowing for 75mm overhang this gives us slabs of 450mm.
Step 6 - Summary
Although this seems complicated all you need to remember is that
it is a matter of adjustment until you reach the best fit for
both treads and risers. The table below details the method you
should follow.