Small block wall and concrete step project

[Jayman17]

Hi all, I thought I would start a thread to show a recently completed project.
I've been in my house around 33 years and I had to replace a landscape timber retaining wall and steps I put in shortly after I moved in. This is outside my basement door at the back of my house. The garage used to be in my basement but had been sealed off before I moved in. I use this area for a woodshop.
I built a one car garage and carport under the same roofline shortly after I moved in, this is located closer to the alley. The block wall and stair project is situated between the short concrete walls that lined the old driveway. Hope I explained that well enough. Here are some before photos. You can see the stairs were rotten and broken apart.

 

[Jayman17]

The plan was to take out all the rotten landscape timbers and replace the retaining wall wth concrete block and pour new concrete stairs. Rot proof right?
They will last my lifetime. First thing was to demo all the rotten wood and excavate enough to have space to work. This turned out to be more work than I was thinking because I forgot that I buried a lot of concrete rubble years ago when I did it the first time. Let's not forget the fact that I'm not in my mid 20's anymore either lol. Here are some excavation photos.

Jay

 

[Jayman17]

The concrete on the ground is the actual old driveway and after I was done digging I realized the driveway didn't go back far enough to support the new block wall. It had been broken up at some point, but I don't remember if I did it. This forced me to pour a short footing to support some of the wall. In hindsight I discovered it should have been twice as wide as the block. I think it was around 12" wide but should have been 16". Oh well, it will be fine, it's a short wall and pinned between the stairs and all that dirt on the other side. I did put vertical rebar in the footing but didn't get a pic of it.

Jay

 

[Jayman17]

Next up was actually laying the block wall. Let me tell you, watching someone who knows how to lay block walls makes you think that you can lay block walls. This couldn't be farther from the truth I had trouble with a couple areas, like finding the right consistency for the mortar. Watching video of guys flicking it onto the block and having it stay there looked easy. Not so much in real life . I also couldn't figure out a way to use a string line with nowhere to drive a stake (all surrounded by concrete). I managed to get it placed. It's a good thing it's a short wall in length and height.

Jay

 

[Jayman17]

Next up was to layout and form the stairs. I wasn't sure how to do this when the surrounding area is all concrete. After a little research I thought I would fasten the riser form to a block of 2x4 and then fasten that to the concrete wall with a Tapcon. I also cut each form in half with the hopes that it would be easier to remove that way. I then re-joined the halves with 1x4 spliced across the joint.
This made a really stout form and I was feeling good the stair forms would work.
I probably should have mentioned this is pretty much my first attempt at a concrete wall and poured concrete stairs, in case you couldn't tell.

Jay

 

[Jayman17]

Finally the day I was feeling the most nervous about, actually pouring the stairs. I then made my best decision of the whole project which was to rent a mixer instead of mixing in a tub. Sooo much easier. Never having done much concrete work before I was worried about the concrete setting up too soon etc. if I mixed it manually. The mixer worked great, I used 29 bags on the stairs and the next day about 10 bags for the area contained within the retaining wall. All in all, I am very pleased how it turned out, so much cleaner looking and it won't rot. After suffering with those rotten stairs for a couple years it is a joy to use the new ones. Puts a smile on my face when I use them.

 

[nadogail]

I am sure you will get all this figured out, give yourself a little time.

 

[matt_i]

Great job! What did you do with finishing? Steel trowel or just a whisk broom or did you just mag trowel it?

Im guessing you finished 1 stair then poured the next, etc.

Nice work and I think you will be very pleased with a project you don't have to work on any more

 

[Jayman17]

Great job! What did you do with finishing? Steel trowel or just a whisk broom or did you just mag trowel it?

Im guessing you finished 1 stair then poured the next, etc.

Nice work and I think you will be very pleased with a project you don't have to work on any more

Matt, thanks! I put a radius edge on the stairs with a broom finish for traction. Yes I'm glad to be done with this project. I've read your thread and have to say great job on your place, no details ignored for sure.

I am sure you will get all this figured out, give yourself a little time.

Nadogail, thanks for checking in

Jay

 

[nitroracer20]

Nice job Jay!

 

[txvwnut]

Isn't bag mixing and pouring stairs fun? I did a set for my front porch a few years ago. One side was against the house the other open so I made a negative form to sit against the house and regular form for the open end. Figuring out the forms took me a day to get it where I liked it.

 

[atch]

Very nice work.

Now that the forms are off if you want to dress up the vertical part of the stairs (rise) you can mix Portland cement and water into a slurry and trowel it on. The result makes the stairs look absolutely perfect.

This isn't a very good description, but I'm sure that some of the experienced concrete guys/gals on here can fill in my blanks and tell you explicitly how to do this.

 

[Jayman17]

Nice job Jay!

Thank you nitroracer!

Isn't bag mixing and pouring stairs fun? I did a set for my front porch a few years ago. One side was against the house the other open so I made a negative form to sit against the house and regular form for the open end. Figuring out the forms took me a day to get it where I liked it.

Txvwnut, thanks for stopping by. Glad your project turned out well, stairs definitely use a little brain power to figure out. The mixing was less stressful than it would have been doing it manally in a tub, oh and a lot less work.

Very nice work.

Now that the forms are off if you want to dress up the vertical part of the stairs (rise) you can mix Portland cement and water into a slurry and trowel it on. The result makes the stairs look absolutely perfect.

This isn't a very good description, but I'm sure that some of the experienced concrete guys/gals on here can fill in my blanks and tell you explicitly how to do this.

Atch thanks, I was wondering about that because there are some areas of dry pockets. Nothing too bad but I would love a nice smooth finish. I will research this, thanks...

Jay

 

[rburke65]

Lots of work, but well with it! Nice job!

 

[Jayman17]

Lots of work, but well with it! Nice job!

Thanks rburke, it was and I'm happy with the results.

Jay

 

[atch]

...Now that the forms are off if you want to dress up the vertical part of the stairs (rise) you can mix Portland cement and water into a slurry and trowel it on. The result makes the stairs look absolutely perfect.

This isn't a very good description, but I'm sure that some of the experienced concrete guys/gals on here can fill in my blanks and tell you explicitly how to do this...

====================

Atch thanks, I was wondering about that because there are some areas of dry pockets. Nothing too bad but I would love a nice smooth finish. I will research this, thanks...

Jay

====================

Jay,

I wish I could elaborate on how this is done, but I can't. I spent 40 years in the construction industry, but unfortunately I was never a tradesman. I pushed paper; but I've seen it done and seen the results. I think you'll be very happy with it if you find out how from someone who knows how and then giterdun.

 

[captain14]

Jayman17

Here’s a YouTube series that Mike Haduck has on finishing block walls. Cruise through some of his videos and you will get the idea in how to finish the area that is not perfect.

 

[Jayman17]

Jayman17

Here’s a YouTube series that Mike Haduck has on finishing block walls. Cruise through some of his videos and you will get the idea in how to finish the area that is not perfect.

Thanks for that Captain

Jay

 

[PugetDude]

Stairs turned out great, Jay. Nice job!

 

[Jayman17]

Stairs turned out great, Jay. Nice job!

Thank you Pugetdude, how's life as a Wa state ex-pat?

Jay

 

[fourbyford]

Hey Jay,

Absolutely awesome! Looking at the pics, I'd guess you've been doing that for a living...

Hey, if you're not busy in a couple of weeks...


...lol

...D

 

[Jayman17]

Hey Jay,

Absolutely awesome! Looking at the pics, I'd guess you've been doing that for a living...

Hey, if you're not busy in a couple of weeks...


...lol

...D

Fourby, haha yeah right, if I did that for a living I would have starved. Thanks for checking out my project and your generous comments. I see you have been busy back in Wyoming lately.

Jay