Outdoor steps can sometimes feel uncomfortably steep, making it difficult to go up and down them. However, there are several effective techniques you can use to make outdoor steps feel less steep without completely rebuilding them. With some thoughtful modifications, you can make your outdoor steps much more user-friendly.
Assess the Current Steps
The first step in the process is to carefully assess your existing outdoor steps to identify what makes them feel so steep. Here are some key things to check:
- Rise and Run: Measure the rise (vertical height) and run (depth) of each step. A good rule of thumb is that the rise should be no more than 7 inches and the run should be at least 11 inches. If your steps have a tall rise and short run, they will feel very steep.
- Step Width: Wider steps generally feel less steep than narrow steps. Ideally outdoor steps should be at least 4 feet wide.
- Step Material: The material your steps are made of affects the friction and grip. Concrete, stone, and brick can feel quite slippery compared to textured materials like wood.
- Handrails: Handrails on one or both sides provide stability and a feeling of security on steep steps. Check if your steps have sturdy handrails.
Improve Grip and Traction
One of the best ways to make outdoor steps feel less dauntingly steep is to improve grip and traction underfoot. This gives users much more stability and control. Consider these options:
Add Adhesive Treads
Self-adhesive treads come in long strips or small patches with a very grippy texture. They can be affixed to concrete, wood, or metal steps to instantly give better traction. Look for exterior-rated adhesive treads with grooves or indented patterns that will channel water away.
Install New Tread Covers
For improved grip over the entire step, you can install new tread covers made of textured materials like tractionTape, perforated steel, abrasive coatings, or outdoor carpeting. This completely transforms the stepping surface to be less slippery. Make sure the new treads are properly secured.
Use Paint Additives
There are anti-slip paint additives you can mix into exterior paint before applying it to steps. These additives contain grains or particles that create surface texture to improve traction. Test them first on a small area to ensure the paint/additive combination adheres well and performs as expected. Apply multiple coats to build up grip.
Widen the Steps
Another way to make steps feel less steep and more stable is to widen them. This increases the surface area to place each foot, improving balance. It also provides more room to maneuver.
To widen concrete, brick, or stone steps, you’ll need to remove the existing step facings and pour new side extensions. For wooden steps, you can attach sturdy wood planks to the sides to increase width. Match the rise, run, and tread depth to the existing steps.
Aim for an overall step width of at least 4 feet if possible. Wider is even better for reducing the feeling of steepness.
Add Risers
If rebuilding the steps entirely is an option, consider changing the construction to include risers between each step. Risers are the vertical face between steps. Having this blocked off instead of open risers makes the stairs feel less steep visually and physically.
Installing risers may require adjusting the rise and run dimensions of the steps, so the overall height from bottom to top stays the same. But risers provide a feeling of security and stability as users climb up and down the steps.
Install Handrails
Adding secure handrails on one or both sides of outdoor steps is an excellent way to reduce the feeling of steepness. Handrails allow users to steady themselves, maintaining three points of contact at a time (two feet and one hand).
Make sure handrails are installed at a comfortable height for use, preferably with extensions that extend past the top and bottom steps. They should feel sturdy without any wobbling or shifting. Proper handrails can make steep steps feel much more manageable.
Add Varied Landing Depth
If you have the space at the top or bottom of the steps, consider modifying the steps to include an extended landing area. This allows users to complete the stairs and arrive with room to regroup. Deeper landings help avoid an abrupt stop that can feel unstable.
You can do minor regrading at the top and bottom of steps to create a longer, more gradually sloped landing space. Or if renovating steps entirely, adjust the number and dimensions to accommodate a comfortable landing depth.
Improve Visibility and Lighting
Sometimes steps feel intimidatingly steep simply because it’s difficult to see the tread surfaces clearly. Improving visibility can help steps feel more navigable.
Try adding lighting like path lights, step lights, or spotlights to fully illuminate the steps at night. During the day, you can highlight each tread with contrast striping or reflective tape for enhanced visibility. Making the steps easier to see helps reduce the feeling of steepness.
Add Intermediate Landings
For very tall or extensive sets of outdoor steps, consider modifying the design to include intermediate landings partway up. This breaks up long uninterrupted sections of steps into shorter flights. It gives users a place to pause, regroup and regain their balance.
Intermediate landings should be at least the same depth and width as the steps themselves. This provides ample room to rest before continuing up or down. Adding one or more landings can make the overall staircase feel much less exhausting and vertiginous.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I widen my outdoor steps?
Aim to widen your steps to at least 4 feet across, if possible. Most building codes require a minimum width of 36 inches, but wider is ideal for outdoor steps, especially if they are steep.
What types of tread covers add the most traction?
Traction tape, perforated steel, textured metal, and carpeting add excellent grip and traction underfoot on outdoor steps. They provide secure footing in wet or dry conditions. Make sure to fasten covers properly.
Is it better to add risers or open backs between steps?
Adding full risers between steps is better for reducing perceived steepness. Open backs make steps feel taller and more vertiginous. Risers also provide a feeling of security.
Can I just polish or etch concrete steps to make them less slippery?
Polishing and etching don’t add actual texture for grip. It’s better to use adhesive treads or anti-slip paints that contain traction-adding grains. They create surface roughness to improve traction.
How difficult is it to add an intermediate landing to existing steps?
It depends on construction, but often landings can be added by selectively demolishing a few risers in the middle and regrading. For extensive steps, a new landing may require significant modifications.
Conclusion
Outdoor steps that are too steep can be inconvenient and even dangerous. Luckily, there are many ways to modify existing steps to make them feel less steep without completely rebuilding them. Assessing your steps, improving traction, adding width, installing handrails, and improving visibility can all help outdoor stairs feel safer and easier to use for people of all ages and mobility levels. With some clever modifications, steep outdoor steps can be transformed into easily conquerable, user-friendly stairs.