Step Right Up!

As part of the design process for the pavilion project we've been following for the past few weeks, we decided to address access from the house to the pool area, pavilion and back garden. The home had an ample rear porch, but from the porch, the entry to the garden was on the side, which involved a hairpin turn at the bottom of the steps to access the pool and garden area. In addition, the steps were shallow (less than 12" in depth), which doesn't make a comfortable step.

There was a fairly simple way to correct the access by adding new steps on the back of the porch and removing the original steps. Well, I say fairly simple. But with planning and patience--and a lot of jack-hammering!--success has been realized.

The new steps were formed and poured, then brick pavers were applied to match the old steps and porch finish.

Placing brand new steps in an area with more space allowed us to create 24" deep steps, which creates a much grander access to the garden and pool, and invites people to linger, and possibly even sit on the new steps. The old porch rail was moved to open these steps, and re-used to block off the old side steps. Then, new hand rails were added to meet code requirements.

Then came the arduous task of removing the old steps. This is where the muscle meets the mat...or the steps, as the case may be!

A LOT of work, and considerable additional expense here. But this sort of change will really make a difference in how the interior of the home and the back porch communicate with the garden, and how inviting the finished areas will be. It will also create a nice green space for planting, which will help to soften the porch and hard paving material. Money well spent!

We are very, very close to completion. So close in fact that I'm saving the finished pictures until next week. We all like holiday surprises, right?