How Much Do Stone Slab Steps & Treads Cost?

Having a wide expanse of land available in your yard can be a good thing. All that open space allows you to explore numerous design ideas. Then again, the challenge of filling that much open space can be overwhelming and also quite expensive.

If you want to effectively fill the open space in your yard, consider adding some stone slab steps. Stone slab steps add rustic beauty to your backyard while also serving as functional and durable additions. Those stone slab steps can transform your yard, but how much will you have to pay if you want them?

On average, the materials needed to construct the stone slab steps cost $44 per linear foot. The professionals usually charge $2,600 to install those stone slab steps. Adding treads to your stone slab steps will further hike up the cost of the project. You will have to pay $31 for each tread you add to your new yard fixtures.

Adding stone slab steps to your yard is going to be a major project. It will be an even more expensive undertaking if you want the steps finished with treads. Learn how much you’ll have to pay for those backyard additions by reading the rest of this article.

Stones can be used to decorate the open space you have in your yard in different ways. There are landscaping stones that can be used to create barriers and decorative patterns. Some stones can also be used to protect growing plants.

For this article, we’re focusing on stones whenever they’re used to create slab steps. Homeowners can use different materials to build their stone slab steps. You must get to know those material options better so you can pick the right one for your project.

Leading off the list of potential materials for your stone slab steps is bluestone. Bluestone also happens to be the least expensive option as it only costs $23 per linear foot.

After learning that bluestone is the cheapest option, you may be scared away from using it. Don’t worry because that low price tag does not translate to a low-quality material.

The great thing about bluestone is that it thrives in different weather conditions. Extremely warm or cold temperatures will not damage it.

Bluestone is also a material that can be easily modified. You can change how the individual steps look if that’s something you’re interested in.

The average cost of concrete slab steps is $50 per linear foot. Notably, how much you’ll have to pay will depend on how you want the steps to be assembled.

Homeowners can opt for precast concrete steps if they want something cheaper. The concrete steps will be poured elsewhere thus making it easier for the suppliers to build them. The suppliers will bring the precast steps to your property when they are set for installation.

If you want poured concrete steps, they will have to be made from scratch right on your property. Creating the steps in your yard can be tough for the professionals and that’s why they charge more for them.

Do you want flagstone steps leading from your home to your backyard? If so, know that those steps will cost $35 per linear foot.

The great thing about using flagstone is that it comes in different colors. You can use tan-colored flagstone if your goal is to create a desert-like landscape. Blue flagstone is a fantastic choice if you want to create a backyard with a more modern feel.

Other color options for flagstone such as black or white open up more design possibilities. Pick whichever one is your favorite and get started on transforming your backyard.

Granite is a fantastic choice for your stone slab steps if you can afford to splurge. Splurging will be necessary because granite costs $70 per linear foot.

Why should you consider paying that much for slab steps out of granite? You can justify that purchase by pointing to granite’s durability.

Granite steps are capable of looking like a fresh installation even years after they were first set in place. Many homeowners are willing to pay top dollar for that kind of durability. Plus, granite is a gorgeous material itself so it can easily enhance your outdoor landscape.

The next option involves creating the stone slab steps out of limestone. You’ll have to pay $40 per linear foot if you want limestone slab steps added to your property.

Limestone stands out as a good alternative for those who found granite to be too expensive. Similar to granite, limestone is prized for its durability. It can last for years without showing visible damage.

However, limestone’s durability does have its limits. If the aforementioned material is exposed too often to wet conditions, it will wear down faster. You should probably consider using a different material if you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain or snow.

Homeowners can also install sandstone steps on their property. Those sandstone steps cost $42 per linear foot.

If you chose sandstone, you probably did so because you have a particular design theme you want to follow. Appropriately enough, sandstone steps look like they lead to the ruins of kingdoms long forgotten. They have a distinctive appearance that other materials cannot replicate.

Durability can be an issue with sandstone. You cannot use it if you live in an area that gets plenty of rain. Sandstone takes on the water quickly so its durability will be compromised by all that precipitation.

Lastly, your household’s stone slab steps can also be made from slate. Slate is on the pricier side compared to other material choices as it costs $45 per linear foot.

Slate has a striking appearance that can be complementary to modern homes. It almost looks like a synthetic material in some cases. You’ll have to decide if the slate’s distinctive appearance works with the rest of your outdoor landscape.

Color options for slate are also fairly limited. In all likelihood, you’ll have to settle for a darker color if you want slate steps.

Durability is not a major concern with slate. It will remain in good condition as long as you remember to seal it.

Acquiring the materials required to build the stone slab steps is a significant expense. Of course, the expenses don’t end there. You still have installation to worry about and that will cost an average of $2,600.

Can you cut that expense out of the project by handling the installation yourself? It’s possible, but handling this type of project solo can be very risky and challenging.

Installing stone slab steps means handling heavy materials. One false step or slip of a hand can lead to the material being badly damaged. It would be a shame if the steps were already showing cracks before you could even set them in place.

Handling the steps provided to you by the suppliers can also be tricky. Some steps are delivered as large tiles. It can be difficult to install them if you’re inexperienced.

Granite and concrete steps are the hardest to install. That’s why stonemasons will also charge the most if you’re asking them to work with those materials.

There are some steps you can take if you want to lower the cost of installation. For instance, you can clear out the spot where the steps will be installed ahead of time. That will reduce the working time for the stonemasons.

You can also excavate the spot where the steps will be installed. Just remember to secure clearance before you start digging up your yard.

For those who may be unaware, the treads are the parts that span the length of the stairs. The treads enable you to plant your feet firmly as you move up and down the stairs.

You have to pay careful attention to the construction of the treads. Treads that are either too shallow or too deep can be difficult to walk on. You might slip on the stone steps because the treads covering them were poorly made.

As you might have noticed from the chart above, concrete is no longer an option for treads. If you want concrete to be the outermost layer for the steps, you can just leave the concrete steps bare. With that out of the way, let’s get to the possible material choices for your stone treads.

Compared to the cost of installing stone steps, installing the treads is considerably lower. That said, they can still be significant expenses. The average cost of installing stone treads is $683.

Installing the treads is not quite as difficult as the other job. However, we still recommend hiring a stonemason to take on this job for you.

The treads that have to be installed can be delicate because of how thin they are. They could chip or break if you drop them on the ground. Place the treads in the hands of experienced professionals so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged.

Also, allow the pros to handle the installation because they can tell where the treads must be set. They will ensure that the treads are set at just the right depth.

Related Questions

How Heavy Are Natural Stone Steps?

Natural stone steps can get very heavy. That’s a big reason why you should avoid handling them solo. Even the professionals work in teams to install stone steps.Those stone steps typically weigh well over 300 pounds. Some may even tip the scales at 400 pounds.

How Deep Should Stone Steps Be?

The ideal depth for stone steps is somewhere between 12 to 18 inches. You want to stay within that range or else the steps will not be comfortable to walk. Accidents may even occur if you go out of that range so avoid doing that.

How Do I Calculate How Many Steps I Need?

To determine how many stone steps you need to install, you can start by busting out the tape measure. Measure the distance from the ground to the spot the top step will lead to. Write down the measurement in inches.You can now divide the number you wrote down by the desired height for your steps. Seven inches is a good height for an individual step. The number you get after dividing should tell you how many steps you will need to set in place.