Removing pointless steps from lawn?

[V8 Stang]

So i have a new-build and the developers put the most pointless steps in the rear garden/lawn.

I would like to remove these.

The hand rails feel pretty sturdy, so they must be into concrete.

How much concrete is likely to be under the steps?

Will there be more concrete than i think?

Or will a sledge hammer take care of it in a few hits?

So what do we think?

Edited by V8 Stang on Sunday 6th April 14:13

[Douglas Quaid]

A bacon sandwich, sledge hammer, shovel and a few cups of tea and that lot will be in the back of your van on the way to the tip.

[hidetheelephants]

Could your garden have had a site hut or sales office portacabin on it at some point? Weird thing to just land in the middle of a patch of grass, but if there was foot traffic there a fussy site foreman may have demanded it.

[smokey mow]

wyson said:

I know it must be something to do with building regs, but that looks so random.

That’s nothing to do with building regulations as part K doesn’t impose any requirements in relation to gardens.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

smokey mow said:

wyson said:

I know it must be something to do with building regs, but that looks so random.

That’s nothing to do with building regulations as part K doesn’t impose any requirements in relation to gardens.

Can't fathom any other reason for a new build to have these. Developers tend not to supply anything they don't have to.

[Patio]

That's bonkers! Will probably have cost a few hundred quid to do aswell

Is the sales office for the site still open? If so, pop in and ask the question

[V8 Stang]

Douglas Quaid said:

A bacon sandwich, sledge hammer, shovel and a few cups of tea and that lot will be in the back of your van on the way to the tip.

Excellent, Thats exactly what i wanted to hear.

hidetheelephants said:

Could your garden have had a site hut or sales office portacabin on it at some point? Weird thing to just land in the middle of a patch of grass, but if there was foot traffic there a fussy site foreman may have demanded it.

No, its in all gardens that are not flat with a slope.

It just doesn't make sense.

Will get the sledge hammer and a bolster chisel out, and get cracking then

[paulw123]

It's to allow easier access up the slope surely when the grass is wet and slippery. Would help older people.
Looks a tad odd but the intention is pretty clear.

[Ham_and_Jam]

paulw123 said:

It's to allow easier access up the slope surely when the grass is wet and slippery. Would help older people.
Looks a tad odd but the intention is pretty clear.

^^^ pretty much this.

Rather than landscape and put in ‘levels’, they just stuck in some steps.

Remvove the handrail, and a bit of creativity around the area and concrete steps and it could look ok

[BlackZeD]

Keep digging at the bottom, it will probably go to a not so secret underground bunker!!

[Simon_GH]

Do you want a shed? If so pop it in the corner with the steps leading to the door.

[MitchT]

paulw123 said:

It's to allow easier access up the slope surely when the grass is wet and slippery. Would help older people.
Looks a tad odd but the intention is pretty clear.

Exactly what I thought as soon as I saw it. I know someone with an almost identical looking slope in their garden. If you want to walk down and exit via the gate at the bottom of the garden it's lethal if there's the slightest bit of moisture in the grass.

[essayer]

Rail aside, considered making the steps part of a path?

[Bill]

Those steps just need a pedestal with a stone lion on each side!

[surveyor]

I suspect there is a NHBC technical standard behind those. Unfortunately stuck behind a paywall.

[hidetheelephants]

surveyor said:

I suspect there is a NHBC technical standard behind those. Unfortunately stuck behind a paywall.

There's a written standard for "can't be fked landscaping the garden."?

[V8 Stang]

So ive gone for it and spent an hour with a sledgehammer, a bolster chisel and lump hammer

It must have been a project for the apprentice, there was ridiculous amounts of cement and bricks!

It seems to go on forever, but i guess i only need to take it a few inches below the slope, then some top soil ontop?




After this, i need to attack the hand rail at the front, as its really annoying, as it restricts the width bringing a wheelie bin etc around the back.

Hoping i can just dig just below the surface and chop it off?

[Simpo Two]

V8 Stang said:

It seems to go on forever, but i guess i only need to take it a few inches below the slope, then some top soil ontop?

I would take it all out if you can. A 'few inches' of topsoil will dry out faster and the grass on top will suffer.

V8 Stang said:

After this, i need to attack the hand rail at the front, as its really annoying, as it restricts the width bringing a wheelie bin etc around the back. Hoping i can just dig just below the surface and chop it off?

Yes, or try to get the footings out with a pickaxe if possible.

[chrisch77]

Get yourself an SDS drill with a chisel bit, it will make your life much easier to break out the rest of the bricks and the handrail footings.

[andyxxx]

I would not remove the hand rail – those steps could be icy/slippy in winter.
I would certainly widen the steps – up to the wall and same distance on the garden side.