​​Natural Stone Stairs

Natural stone is our premium option for outdoor landscape stairs.  Stone steps work especially well with boulder retaining walls, lakefront landscapes, paver walkways and other natural hardscape features. They provide a substantial, high-end appearance while offering excellent durability.  Our natural stone stair installations typically include proper excavation and site preparation, commercial-grade landscape fabric and a compacted crushed-stone base to provide a stable foundation.  We commonly use large natural stone steps approximately 48 inches wide × 18 inches deep and around 6 inches thick, although the exact stone and dimensions can vary depending on the project.  Because these steps are extremely heavy, proper base preparation and placement are critical.

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Why Choose Natural Stone?

Natural stone offers exceptional durability and does not deteriorate like wood. Unlike manufactured concrete products, natural stone is also extremely resistant to cracking and breaking under normal conditions.  When properly installed, natural stone stairs can become a permanent-looking part of the landscape rather than appearing like something added to it.

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Timber Landscape Stairs

Treated-timber stairs provide another attractive and practical solution, particularly for long hillsides where installing dozens of natural stone steps may not be practical or fit the project's budget.  Our timber stair systems can be constructed using ground-contact treated 6×6 lumber secured with 24-inch rebar spikes.  We prepare the area with commercial-grade landscape fabric and a compacted gravel base to help provide a stable foundation and reduce movement.  Stone can then be installed between the timber steps to create a durable walking surface.  For additional support and a more finished natural appearance, 8-inch to 18-inch boulders can be installed along the sides of the staircase to help retain the stone between steps.  The result combines the structure of treated timber with natural stone and boulders that fit naturally into Northern Michigan landscapes.

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Staircases for Steep Hills

Long, steep hills require more planning than simply creating a straight staircase from the top to the bottom.  Depending on the property, we may recommend incorporating landings, turns or gentle curves into a long staircase.  These features can make a staircase more comfortable to use, improve its appearance and help it follow the natural terrain instead of fighting against it.

Before construction begins, we can lay out the proposed staircase on the property so you can see the route and discuss the design before installation.  Some steep properties also require significant hand excavation and manual material handling because equipment cannot safely access the work area. We take site accessibility into consideration when designing and estimating each project.

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Lakefront Stairs

Outdoor stairs are especially important on Northern Michigan lakefront properties where there can be a substantial elevation change between the home and water.

We can integrate stairs into the surrounding landscape using:

• Natural boulder retaining walls

• Boulder borders

• Natural stone

• Paver walkways

• Beach areas

• Landscape beds

• Drainage improvements

Instead of making the staircase look separate from the rest of the property, our goal is to make it feel like part of the overall landscape.

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Optional Handrails

For longer or steeper staircases, we highly recommend considering a handrail.  One option we offer uses 4×4 treated posts set approximately 42 inches into the ground and secured with concrete, with a treated 2×4 top rail.  A 1½-inch to 2-inch rope center section with appropriate hardware can be added to create a functional handrail that maintains a natural appearance suitable for lakefront and wooded properties.  Handrails can be especially valuable on long staircases, steep slopes and stairs frequently used by children, older adults or guests.

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Natural Stone or Timber: Which Is Right for Your Property?

Both options can provide safe, attractive access when properly installed.  Natural stone stairs are our premium choice when long-term durability and a high-end natural appearance are the priorities. They pair especially well with boulder retaining walls and other permanent hardscape features.  Timber stairs can be an excellent option for long hillsides and projects where dozens of natural stone steps would substantially increase the cost. Incorporating gravel and natural boulders allows timber stairs to blend into the surrounding landscape.  We can look at your property's slope, access, intended use and overall landscape and discuss which option makes the most sense for your project.

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Combine Your Stairs With a Boulder Retaining Wall

Many properties that require landscape stairs also need retaining walls to manage elevation changes.

Boulder Brothers LLC specializes in natural boulder retaining walls, allowing us to design the stairs and retaining walls together instead of treating them as unrelated projects.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BOULDER RETAINING WALLS

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Serving Houghton Lake & Northern Michigan

Boulder Brothers LLC is based in Houghton Lake and installs landscape stairs and hardscapes throughout the surrounding Northern Michigan area, including:

Houghton Lake • Higgins Lake • Roscommon • St. Helen • West Branch • Gladwin • Harrison and surrounding communities

Whether you need seven natural stone steps between landscape elevations or a long timber staircase down a steep lakefront hill, we'll help design a solution around your property.

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Need a Better Way Down the Hill?

If a steep slope is making part of your property difficult to access, Boulder Brothers LLC can design and install a custom stair system built specifically for the terrain.

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