Advice on creating long, shallow steps
Hello. I would like to create a set of very long (deep), shallow wood deck-based steps that someone using a walker with wheels could use to get into my house. Steps surface and fascia will be composite, if that matters to anyone. Total height/rise is about 36″ and the full run is some number less than 24 feet to the edge of the driveway (just out of the range in the pic.) I investigated a ramp, but am not able to achieve the required shallow slope over that same span, hence the shallow step approach. I am working to achieve each step being 36″(run) x 48″(wide) x 4.5″(rise), affording plenty of length for both walker and person (I think) and just over the code minimum of 4″. My confusion is around how best to build this? At first I was thinking box-style steps of ripped 2×6, but 8 4.5″ risers, one at 24’x4′, sitting below one at 21’x4′, sitting below one at 18’x4 down to the last “step” at 3’x4′ seems like (a) a ton of wood in a day where wood prices are up 350% and (b) not as stable toward the top as it might be if I were to use a post/beam like structure. Wondering what those who have, I’m certain, a ton more experience than me an my helper combined think? Thank you for your time.
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If the someone is a family member, it is probably good to think of this as a temporary structure.
this is tall enough it will need a railing on the outside.
one way is to install a set of posts tall enough to mount the railing every 6 feet along the edge. Choices for the house side would be ledger boards on the house, posts into the ground, or laying on sleepers resting on a gravel base and connected to the posts on the outside.
If this is for a more long term application, I would reconsider the ramp, and fold it to make more room. Would take more of the lawn, but you could split the rise into two sections with a flat deck in between.
I see what looks like a mound on the left of the photo. If so is that your septic?
With a 36" rise a ramp would need to be 36' long with a 5' X 5' landing somewhere at 30" or less and another landing the same size at the bottom and the top and the landing can't be part of the door swing area. It would also have to have a rail on both sides. It's a very daunting and expensive task that eats up large amounts of real estate.
An exterior chair lift would be much less expensive and very quick.
The problem with any kind of steps is that the use of a walker usually leads to a wheelchair at some point and then steps won't work at all.
Thank you for your observations. Septic is in the backyard. I think the mound appearance is just a shadow. I understand what you are saying about a ramp as I had been looking into this when the neighbor across the street's Parkinson's placed him in a motorized wheelchair. He has since passed from COVID. A ramp is not really what I'm needing. I have older friends, one who's mother has COPD. She takes slow shallow steps. It's not targeted at her specifically, but more based on the reality that I enjoy having friends over for meals, they tend to be older than me and we are all aging a bit... shallower steps would be helpful, but I don't want them to be the main steps into the house. I am planning black metal railing around the porch, front steps and anywhere needed.
I once did a set of steps with approximately a 36" run, 7" rise and found them very clumsy to use. Since they were too long to take in one step, you had to take 2 short steps and it was the same leg stepping up each time, which ended up feeling weird. Might not be the same effect if you're herding a walker up the steps.
Might it be possible to turn a ramp to the front at the drive way and go parallel to run out the rest of the height?
A steeper ramp wouldn't be ADA wheelchair compliant, but might be workable for a walker.
Post & beam steps wouldn't use as much lumber- with 4x4 posts, each set of tread supports would be 40"long and 4-1/2" above the next lower. Assuming 2x treads, the highest tread support would be 4-1/2 +1-1/2 =5" below the porch level.
I'll see if I can come up w/ a dimensioned sketch.
Something like this BobboMax? Sorry I only have access to Visio for scale drawings.
Is there room for a ramp if you take it around the back?
Hi UncleMike. No room. There is an egress window well just around the corner of the house. FWIW, I have a current permit for a remodel inside which requires the rail be added to the front porch before final. I cannot get away with any ramp that does no meet ADA standards and my front door threshold is more than 1/2". Thank you for you thoughts and time.
I think I would build boxes of whatever dimensions would work and set them on short 4 X 4" posts. A 2 X 4" with 5/4 decking on top would give you the 4 1/2" rise you're looking for and by building it in pieces you could start at the top and work down to the ground in whatever size fits. The longer each section is the comfortable it will be to use.
I believe what you are describing florida was the last approach I'd been considering. Very rough sketch (missing the 4x posts in the sketch.) Thank you for the suggestion!
As you consider the structure of wood steps, here is an alternative.
We had a landscape contractor install these steps (I was busy re-doing the basement and my wife was in a hurry)
timbers are 6x6 treated and infill of gravel with pavers for the steps.
Plenty of structure for railing.
Those look super nice. Thank you for sharing the idea!