I am needing to replace/create 18m long by about 8m high steps up our garden. As ever, gradient varies somewhat. They are grass or gravel to one side, new edges of terraces/raised beds to other side. They need to be grippy and perhaps getting on for 0.8-1m wide. It's north facing, needs to be frost proof.
I *think* creating three different runs will look better and allow me to accommodate gradient variation. Each run would be offset to previous, so it's not just stairway to heaven in one line.
Suggest the cheapest, easy DIY option that looks ok and lasts....
I am needing to replace/create 18m long by about 8m high steps up our garden.
Sounds more like a monument than 'some steps'...
If each step is 18m long that is big. And 8m high will be tough to get up without long legs.
I assume you mean 8m gain in height over the entire set of stairs, and 18m length of the staircase? Pics would help
If you aren't confident with getting a good finish on concrete then build up the steps either in concrete or brick then put slabs on the top on a full mortar bed. A couple of 450mm sq will fit nicely and are easy to handle. Couple of quid each for plain ones, £4-£5 for textured stone effect.
It is a tad on the steep side. The garden is an ex-railway embankment from the Dunblane-Callander-Oban line.
Steps are to go up here:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2857/33899295252_97a070daf0_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2857/33899295252_97a070daf0_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TDyKrN ]Garden[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
View from very bottom (there are already steps up behind the fence in the foreground)
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3956/33899318172_61081ca7f8_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3956/33899318172_61081ca7f8_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TDySfY ]Garden[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
If you think it looks a mess, the following two photo's are from the same spot in the garden, just three years apart:
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2947/33213418154_94a57010dd_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2947/33213418154_94a57010dd_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SAXs5A ]Garden[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2821/33899263032_565feb5287_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2821/33899263032_565feb5287_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TDyzSh ]Garden[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr
Old car tyres as a bund n then clad the steps either in single brick or timber
The tyres will hold the earth together

