Concrete Garden Stair Steps

I needed some block steps for a corner in our backyard. It's possible to purchase them, but the price per step is quite high and coloured ones are hard to get.

Making those steps on your own, in your favourite colour couldn't be easier. Using iron oxide to colour the concrete has a great advantage - if the surface of the steps gets damaged the colour will remain the same as it is not just a surface paint.

Here is how I did it!

• The most important ingredient is iron oxide to colour the concrete
• Iron oxide is available mostly online - you need approx. 1kg for 5 steps
• The more iron oxide you use, the more intense will be the colour

• Other materials you need are
• concrete gravel
• cement
• water
• sunflower oil (or similar)
• wood slats for the mold frame
• Tools for standard concrete work
• spate
• cement mixer (if available - mixing can also be done with the spate)
• Trowel
• Some wood working tools for the mold

• First build a casting mold in the desired measures for the steps
• Consider your preferred stepping height - 15cm is a good size
• I build one mold for 5 steps - to save material you may want to use one or two molds multiple times
• paint the mold with sunflower oil to assure getting it off without having the concrete stick to it after drying

• Pre-mix the iron oxide in a separate bucket with some water
• Wear old clothing, googles and gloves! (the picture was taken after the actual mixing process!)
• Mix the gravel and cement according the suppliers instrucions
• Make sure you calculate the correct amount for your steps
• Mix the iron oxide into the concrete

• Cast the coloured concrete mixture into your mold
• Use a stick to compact the concrete and to press out air inlets
• Smooth the surface with a trowel

• Let dry and harden according to suppliers instruction (best 24h)
• Take off the mold carefully

• Remove the soil where you like to place the steps
• Put some gravel under the first step
• Than fill more grave behind each step and place the next one

That's basically it.