Getting ready

Had to empty the garage to have room to work! The lumber would have to be cut by hand. You know how Home Depot says "You Can Do It, We Can Help" ?

When asked to cut my six by six lumber they said "We Can't Do That, You're On Your Own!"

Old steps

Laura ordered me to make these disappear.

Checking the layout

After cutting the six by six timbers by hand I laid things into place to see what I had screwed up. Thankfully nothing. I didn't have to make a single extra trip to the hardware store.

Precision craftsmanship

Angle brackets were used on each corner to secure the box. I wanted to do a mitre cut but apparently that's next to impossible with six by six lumber. The frames for the steps are also secured to the foundation with angle iron.

Huh?

I stapled landscape fabric to the bottom of the step boxes to contain the screenings, which in turn would be the base for the paving stone,

Mess!

I dumped in three bags of screenings and then started the arduous task of compacting and leveling. Fun!!!

Half Time

The bottom step completed.

Hey! Who's that?

With the heavy work done, Patrick finally showed up. He's dumping screenings into the second step box, which just been secured to the house.

New Steps!

Rinsed off and swept, the steps gleam in the sun like . . .wet steps.

The side view

From the other profile

Yet another angle

When the sun finally moved . . .

I was able to take a better shot.

Done

I need a beer. But we have to go to the rink first.

There's a surprise!