Pavers Aren't A Good Option For Garden Or Landscaping Steps. Our Expert Tells Us What Is

One of the amazing ways to design a sloped backyard or landscape involves building steps to navigate the space safely. If you plan to complete this project yourself, you might be tempted to make these outdoor staircases using pavers, also known as paving stones. However, this building material is not the right fit for a staircase because they can shift and crack over time. If you have pavers you intended to use to create a staircase, you may want to repurpose them in your yard or garden. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Landscape Designer Melanie Rekola revealed that precast concrete is a much better alternative you may want to consider instead. She recommended precast concrete stairs that are manufactured off-site, then transported and installed in the landscape. This material offers a sturdy final result, which is key to creating a garden or landscape staircase that is durable. They will also provide the thickness needed for stairs. Rekola said, "A step needs to be between 5 inches and 7.5 inches to be compliant for building code."

"Garden and landscaping steps can't be constructed out of pavers — [stairs] are generally a precast concrete product that is much thicker than a flat paver," Rekola explained. "When choosing a precast step product, the most important thing to consider is the total height of the staircase and that the product chosen is rated strong enough to accommodate the staircase height." Now that you know precast concrete is the proper building material to use, let's dive into some of Rekola's other pointers for building a garden or landscape staircase the right way.

At this point, you might be wondering which precast concrete product should be used on your garden or landscaping steps. This depends on your preferences. "There are many precast step products available, but the smaller the product the less long-term strength it has," Melanie Rekola explained while speaking exclusively to House Digest. "There are one-piece precast step products too and those are the strongest and last the longest, but they are harder to install due to their size and weight," she said. Rekola also revealed that one piece natural stone steps are an option worth considering as well.

If you plan to use precast concrete to create your own outdoor steps, complete the project with the help of a professional for the best results. The process of measuring and casting the stairs can be labor intensive and requires supplies you likely do not have on hand, such as a concrete mixer. There is much room for error if you are an amateur who does not have experience working with precast concrete. Hiring professionals to build your steps with this material typically costs anywhere from $100 to $350 per step.

When selecting precast concrete to use for your gardening or landscaping steps, you will find that there are a wide variety of color options to choose from. There are a few style mistakes you'll want to avoid when using precast concrete to create your outdoor steps. "Precast steps can quickly look outdated if you choose a high contrast or bright color," Melanie Rekola warned in her exclusive interview with House Digest, "I never suggest trying to match the home's color as any stone product will lighten in the sun so what may match now likely won't in future." 

The expert went on to give advice on which colors will look best. "I recommend choosing a neutral color that compliments the undertones of a home's color," she explained. "Lighter looks better too, and the focus should be on your home and not the step products." Whether you have a contractor complete the project or do it yourself, Rekola's advice should help you make the right choice. If you decide to a use concrete stain, be aware of the downsides of concrete stain to avoid causing damage.