Pouring steps down to the creek/swimming hole...nope, never done it before!
- Thread starter MotorSeven
- Start date
- Views: 19817
Streetcar
Veteran Member
Have you noticed all of the concrete structures on streams that have lasted for decades
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,111
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
I have. And I've also noticed hundreds of dilapidated concrete staircases and retaining walls on riverbanks on my many canoe/boat/float/fishing trips in my life. Both private and municipally owned. Mother nature doesn't care.
The OP's mention of stairs to a creek, then pictures of what can occasionally happen with flooding makes me (and probably a few others) wonder if a professional engineer might be of assistance?
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,664
State road engineers designed the bridge over the local river about 10 years ago here. The bridge got built, and shortly thereafter, the state troopers blocked it off to traffic after the engineers figured out that the unusual stress cracks in the concrete decking were because they didn't build the supporting piers strongly enough. So they spent almost the same amount of money as it took to build the bridge building support walls under the piers.
Either that, or they'll so engineer the thing that you can't afford to build it. Or they'll tell you to get some environmental permits.
Either that, or they'll so engineer the thing that you can't afford to build it. Or they'll tell you to get some environmental permits.
ultrarunner
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,355
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
Can you tether a boat with folding steps?
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
What....do they think I am harboring the Atlantis civilization under all that H2o?
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,111
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Maybe!
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,664
Didn’t know that the Mississippi river went through East TN.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
According to the locals, the worst flood was spring 1993. It followed a massive blizzard that dropped up to 5' of snow. It would have put another foot of water over that pic of the pasture from the road.
OK, maybe I am wrong, but I do not see the rip rap moving around from flooding. The stairwell will be low profile and tucked inside and anchored to said rip rap. They will also be behind(from the direct current) and in voids created by the pigs and the weir. This is about a thousand dollar investment and some time, so I think I am going to throw the dice.
Maybe I screwd up with the rip rap, and should have done what NOLA did in the 30's on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain:
Lately, I am not impressed with ANY pressure treated lumber. I swear, I think they spray it with iced tea and ship it out. The West deck of the house is 11 years old, & 10' off the ground....it is now rotting and will require a complete re-do(with composite). My walk bridge over the creek that is 12 years old...rotten boards. I have 6x6 PT posts in ground for less than 10 years that are rotted off at the ground....I am done with PT wood for deck/stairs/bridges.
Another drawback is PT decks and steps are slick as Owl snot. I did consider a swing up staircase, but really want a 'once and forget it' job. We can get weather moving so fast and unexpected, there is a good chance no one would be able to raise them in time.
OK, maybe I am wrong, but I do not see the rip rap moving around from flooding. The stairwell will be low profile and tucked inside and anchored to said rip rap. They will also be behind(from the direct current) and in voids created by the pigs and the weir. This is about a thousand dollar investment and some time, so I think I am going to throw the dice.
Maybe I screwd up with the rip rap, and should have done what NOLA did in the 30's on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain:
Lately, I am not impressed with ANY pressure treated lumber. I swear, I think they spray it with iced tea and ship it out. The West deck of the house is 11 years old, & 10' off the ground....it is now rotting and will require a complete re-do(with composite). My walk bridge over the creek that is 12 years old...rotten boards. I have 6x6 PT posts in ground for less than 10 years that are rotted off at the ground....I am done with PT wood for deck/stairs/bridges.
Another drawback is PT decks and steps are slick as Owl snot. I did consider a swing up staircase, but really want a 'once and forget it' job. We can get weather moving so fast and unexpected, there is a good chance no one would be able to raise them in time.
2manyrocks
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 8,664
PT will be slick as snot when wet and someone is likely to fall.
Concrete can be finished to not be slick and will outlast PT by eons unless it washes away. You can reduce the odds of it washing by trying to place it and form it so water flows past it instead of pushing against it.
Since there is evidently no bedrock, I wonder if setting a couple of post piers at the bottom might be an option or if you intentionally build the upper portion to be permanent, but build the lower portion as sort of sacrificial and replaceable?
Or do you somehow sink a a largeish sonotube and pour concrete in it for the base?
Concrete can be finished to not be slick and will outlast PT by eons unless it washes away. You can reduce the odds of it washing by trying to place it and form it so water flows past it instead of pushing against it.
Since there is evidently no bedrock, I wonder if setting a couple of post piers at the bottom might be an option or if you intentionally build the upper portion to be permanent, but build the lower portion as sort of sacrificial and replaceable?
Or do you somehow sink a a largeish sonotube and pour concrete in it for the base?