Last Saturday afternoon we began work on the front entry to our house. We have been all over the place for the last few months in terms of what we wanted out there, which is one reason why the deck and shed were completed first. We came up with no fewer than four plans for the entry, but finally decided last week on a landing with wrap around stairs. We worked during intermittent showers Saturday, but we did get the landing finished before the steady rain set in.
We built it in much the same way as the deck, but it’s obviously a little smaller. :) The final dimensions ended up being about 4 foot by 5 foot. It’s the perfect size to allow you room to swing the door open and move around a little bit. Instead of concrete piers (like the deck has), we used deck blocks. They’re a concrete block with a design that allows for a 4x4 post to sit down in it. This makes the entry easier to build, plus it is technically portable. (Not that we ever plan on moving it!) :)
Because of the three days of rain following this build, we didn’t get to start the stairs until Wednesday evening. Jas decided to cut all the stringers, stair treads, and risers Wednesday night, and then begin assembly Thursday evening.
After supper Thursday evening we started the front set of stairs. We placed concrete blocks in the ground and then attached the stringers, making sure that each stringer was level and the bottom of each one was resting on a concrete block. Because of all the digging and leveling required to make these steps perfect, we only got one set of stairs finished.
Friday evening after supper we started on the south side stairs, and then Saturday we finished with the north side. We were originally going to have the stairs wrap around, but we decided to make planter boxes for the corners instead. Much more color, and it will be very pretty. Those will have to wait, though, probably until we’re home from vacation. Then we’ll make those and do the rest of the landscaping. But the stairs are beautiful, and we’re so glad to finally have an entry to the front of the house. :)
