Dry Stack Staircase in Wallingford, Seattle

How an old and crumbling concrete staircase was replaced with natural stone

Someone contacted me about this dilapidated front stairway that was finally becoming too dangerous to traverse. Upon demolishing the steps I noticed that the curb-like cheek walls of the stairs were mostly holding together pretty well.

So I started by coating those cheek walls with a fiber-reinforced stucco. The intention was to then replace the steps themselves with drystack pieces of Pennsylvania Bluestone capped with bluestone 2" tread slabs.

I started at the bottom, of course, installed some drain pipe to avoid water damage long term, then stacked each step. They were made to be overlapping which ensures that gravity will hold everything in place for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the treads were also discreetly mortared down for added stability.

A handrail was later added by a different contractor as I don't do metal work. It was mounted in concrete footings off to the left side.

Learn more about our Stone Walls and Steps