"James" wrote in message
net...
thanks John and JB for the additional comments. Will have to take a look
at those retaining wall blocks as well, and try to visualize how they
would
look....

thanks again !!

James


Here's an alternative that may be easier, look better and be
longer-lasting --

Make steps out of a frame made of PT 2x4 or 4x4, with large precast stepping
stones as the inserts.

I used 16"x16" paving stones which are4 $3.74 at the BORG. The top and
bottom steps held 4 of them, the intermediate steps were two stones wide.
Build the frame just large enough to hold the number of paving stones you
want, then position the frame and make it level. Drill holes through the
frame into the ground and put 2' sections of rebar through the holes to
anchor the frame. Then fill the frame with leveling sandso that when the
stones are added they are level with the top of the frame.Once the sand is
the right height and leveled, just place the stones on top of the sand,
level with the sides of the frame. I've had some in place now for 10 years
with no maintenance needed. Since you step on the stones, not the frame,
the frame never has any heavy forces on it and stays level. The sand
supports the stones so everything stays in place. I chose a patterned stone
so that the pattern runs from one stone to the next. For one set of steps I
used 4x6 PT timbers and small paving blocks, which also worked out well, as
an extension of a paving block walkway I had made.