Backfill, Finalize, and Cure

What happens in this clip

After all the steps are built, use a shovel and your hands to carefully distribute the remaining gravel and excavated soil around the sides of the newly constructed steps. This helps to fill in gaps, provide additional stability, and create a smooth transition between the steps and the surrounding hillside. Compact the gravel and soil around the steps with a hand tamper to ensure everything is settled. The creator then walks up and down the completed steps to test their stability. He notes that the adhesive typically requires about seven days to fully cure before the steps can be considered completely solid.

Goal: Integrate steps into the landscape and allow adhesive to cure

What's used

Tools

• Excavated Soil
• Gravel
• Hand Tamper
• Shovel

About the full video

This project details the process of constructing outdoor steps on a steep, pine-straw-covered hill using retaining wall blocks and cap blocks. The steps are designed to be curved for aesthetics and improved functionality on the incline. The process involves excavating the hillside, creating a stable gravel base for each step, stacking and adhering the retaining wall blocks, and finishing with cap blocks, including cutting some to fit the curved design.

Step 8 of 8: Final Grading and Drainage

Once all steps are constructed, check the grading around the entire structure. Ensure the ground slopes away from the steps to prevent water from pooling. Make any necessary adjustments to the soil or gravel surrounding the steps for a clean finish and good drainage.

Open this step in the guide

Other videos for this step

• Final Grading and Finishing
• Finish with Gravel Infill