Are you looking to replace your worn-out steps or planning to build a new one? Steps made with STONEarch natural stones can provide your outdoor area with a more inviting ambiance. Aside from enhancing the curb appeal of your home, our premium products can make walking into your yard or patio a lot safer and easier for everyone.

When it comes to versatility and creating an elegant outdoor space, nothing beats natural stone. Whatever style you have in mind, from formal to informal and rustic to modern, you can find the right material in our range of landscaping stones suitable to your needs.

And contrary to popular belief, working with natural stone materials is not difficult at all. In this installation series, we’ll walk you through the process of how to install natural stone steps. In fact, you can even build beautiful stone steps on your own. All you need are basic tools, a bit of patience, and some brawn. Of course, it is always advisable to hire a professional to do the installation to prevent costly repairs and problems down the road.

Choosing The Right STONEarch Natural Stone For Your Steps

Our collection of natural stone steps (sometimes called Block Steps) is available in a wide array of sizes and colours. Hence, you will not have a hard time finding a finish and colour that perfectly matches the style of your home. This will depend on what you need and want.

For instance, if you want to make a statement, STONEarch Black is a great choice. The bold colour of this black limestone makes it both unique and stunning. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a stone that has a very mild color variation, we recommend STONEarch Dove. The precise colour palette of this sandstone allows you to achieve a beautiful natural look. For an intriguing design, STONEarch Saga, with its natural striping and rustic dark gray stone colour, can certainly do the trick.

You can use our steps in your front entry, patio, garden, and so much more. Along with that, we can customise them for you to fit your landscape project.

What Size Of Stone Should I Use?

Our natural stone steps come in a variety of sizes and two different thicknesses. The block steps are 6” thick with a 16” tread or 7” thick with a 14” tread. Both options are very popular, however recently it appears that 7” steps are more commonly requested by clients and used on their projects.

The length of our natural stone steps can vary from 3-8 feet with most popular colours coming in a few different lengths. The steps are rock-faced on three sides, providing a classic and traditional charm.

Popular colours include STONEarch Flint and STONEarch Dove. Keep in mind these steps are solid blocks of natural stone, making them heavy to handle, so it is recommended to have a professional do the installation for you.

Placing And Leveling The Natural Stone Steps

Make sure to set your steps on a material that’s porous and with excellent drainage. At least 4 to 6 inches of sand or aggregate is good. Also, before placing your stones, the material should be stable, firm, and compacted very well. If any landscape material is laid on an improper base, it is likely to face issues with sinking and an uneven surface after a few years of freeze-thaw cycles. Furthermore, to ensure the material doesn’t stay drenched, you may be required to install a perforated drain pipe underneath and behind the steps.

When installing, always begin at the base, working your way up. Doing so will make the entire construction process a lot easier. Additionally, there should be a small slope on all your natural stone steps from the front to the back for drainage. The minimum to make the surface of the steps smooth is about 1/8 inch for every foot. Meanwhile, a quarter of an inch per foot is ideal for stones with a rough texture.

Finishing Your Beautiful STONEarch Natural Stone Steps

Formal landscape steps will usually have retaining walls on either side. So make sure to select a landscaping material that blends or matches well with your STONEarch stone steps. For informal-looking natural stone steps, you must set the steps within the slope to make them seem more natural. Also, you can complement your steps on either side with rocks and plants. Consider adding some lighting on your exterior steps for safety as well.

While it is necessary for most homes to have steps, this is also a chance for you to give some areas of your landscape some definition and interest. On the other hand, natural stone steps in your backyard can act as an informal seating area while connecting various landscape levels of your outdoor space.