I'm going to build a "step" that is 3x1.3 meters, but only one step high.
The conditions are:
- Thick layer of stone and gravel on the bedrock, the house is on a cast slab on the same base, and surrounding paving stones (which have been stable for 5 years)
- The step should be 18 cm high above the paving surface, i.e., about 23 cm above the bearing layer.
I'm thinking of a rough concrete step; if we don't like it, we should be able to put tiles on it.
The question is: How simply and smoothly can I do this? Suggestions welcome!
Ideas so far:
1. 23 cm of concrete in a mold... heavy and tiring to mix myself. But quick to build a rectangular mold and fill. Quite thick too...
2. Form it and fill the interior, except the edges, with leca or polystyrene, reinforce around/over it and cast a frame and about 5 cm thick top. "Mini-foundation". Less concrete, more fiddling...
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
The conditions are:
- Thick layer of stone and gravel on the bedrock, the house is on a cast slab on the same base, and surrounding paving stones (which have been stable for 5 years)
- The step should be 18 cm high above the paving surface, i.e., about 23 cm above the bearing layer.
I'm thinking of a rough concrete step; if we don't like it, we should be able to put tiles on it.
The question is: How simply and smoothly can I do this? Suggestions welcome!
Ideas so far:
1. 23 cm of concrete in a mold... heavy and tiring to mix myself. But quick to build a rectangular mold and fill. Quite thick too...
2. Form it and fill the interior, except the edges, with leca or polystyrene, reinforce around/over it and cast a frame and about 5 cm thick top. "Mini-foundation". Less concrete, more fiddling...
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
With the caveat that I am a layman in the field, I can give tips on how I've done it. Dig down to frost-free depth, refill with gravel and also fill the interior space with gravel. Why bother with Styrofoam or leca blocks when you have cheaper alternatives in the form of gravel? Reinforce and then pour as you intended, but I would pour the slab thicker than 5 cm. More like 8-10 cm. It's unfortunate if the slab cracks when exposed to point loads like a piano + 4 movers or another heavy delivery. Also, make sure to create a slight slope outward so that rainwater and snow drain off. Otherwise, you'll end up with an ice rink in winter. Then I would clad the surface both horizontally and vertically with frost-resistant tiles or thin natural stone. However, make sure to choose one with some texture on the surface so it doesn't become slippery.
Instead of mixing the concrete yourself, I would order frost-resistant concrete (with air bubble mixture) and have it delivered by a concrete truck, then they can tip directly into your form. They usually reach about 10-12 m with the conveyor they have on the concrete truck.
I cast our manor staircase with 3 steps, clad with tiles in a similar way 11 years ago, and it has held up well.
Instead of mixing the concrete yourself, I would order frost-resistant concrete (with air bubble mixture) and have it delivered by a concrete truck, then they can tip directly into your form. They usually reach about 10-12 m with the conveyor they have on the concrete truck.
I cast our manor staircase with 3 steps, clad with tiles in a similar way 11 years ago, and it has held up well.
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