down hill steps to lake

[Stoneman]

Need to replace steps going down a hill to lake. About 30 steps, would like built into hill side not above hill on stringers. any ideas???? or a web site that would help??? Can't use concrete...

Tks

stoneman

[sparcebag]

Railroad ties are an option there HEAVY but long lasting and create a 8 inch step which in buildings is almost perfect for rise

[colonel42]

The only problem with railroad ties are the slivers. You get one of them logged in your foot you'll be wishing you wouldn't have gone that route. Cutting them is another treat. Your best bet is to go with stringer on the top. 5/4 desking material for treads.

[solbes]

I did both at our lake. I'll tell you the effort on the stringer-5/4" decking was about 1/4 the work. The inground might not be too bad if the slope is constant and the soil is easy to work.

I had an uneven slope and found out at the bottom that I was attempting to put the inground stairs on a natural spring area. And the natural vegetation had deep roots that were unbelievably tough to cut through. Luckily those stairs are covered up by weeds now, but the last three steps have sunk about 4".

Not sure if short concrete piers are legal for my property (on easement of Cty road), but the stair stringers are looking great after almost 5 years. It was only about 6 steps, so I had them pre-built at home, dug some holes, and slapped em in. Real easy.