Home > Ask a Question > Fix It Forum > front porch steps
Login | Register

front porch steps


Posted by dlhein1 on May 11th, 2008 07:09 PM

We're having wood steps made for our recently rebuilt front porch (1920's house. There are already existing raised flower beds one either side where the steps will go. It's only two steps and the rise will be 7-1/4". The carpenter is making the treads out of t&g mahogany same as the porch floor 11-1/2" wide. I'm assuming he's doing them by that "25 rule" -- something about the rise and tread need to coincide. However, that is going to put the bottom of the steps BEHIND the raised flower beds by about 3". To make it more complicated the flower beds aren't even either. One (out of necessity) was previously made about 4" farther back than the other. My question is: Is that going to look funny? Would it be better to have the treads 13" so they meet the flower bed edge on at least one side? Or is it more important that the steps themselves don't look out of proportion? Or am I being silly and it really doesn't matter either way? I wish I could send a few pictures. If anyone wants to help me with this decision, I could email my pictures. These steps aren't going to be cheap. I want to stop the guy if it would be better to make the treads wider for aesthetic purposes. I would love the opinion of someone who has a good sense of what looks best even if it's thinking outside the box. Thank you so much.
Dale

Was this post helpful? Yes: or No:









 

About | FAQ | Contact | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Help
© BobVila.com 2008