It’s finally DONE! At least, all my of sweat equity is complete and only the fun parts are left. With that, I am eager to show you the reveal of my backyard renovations as well as my DIY slope stairs. {{happy dance}}

But first… you have to see where it all starts before I even move in.

Overgrown, left for dead (literally) and just a hot mess.

Aren’t we all? haha.

Then, I couldn’t resist starting back in autumn with my backyard restoration beginning. After that, here’s my project list:

• backyard official beginning
• installing my French drain
• felling the rotted trees
• clearing the terrace
• building my stone retaining wall

That brings us to today.

HAULIN’ STONE

While you’ve followed all of my work for the last two months, here’s the recent work.

First, I top off my retaining wall by making sure all is shimmed and stable.

Walking behind that wall while teetering really gave me oodles of balance practice and the aches to go with it. whew!

Then, I backfill the retaining wall leftover from my garage build.

Mind you, I can’t just drive my wheelbarrow up my slope.

Oh no, I have to fill 5-gallon buckets and walk it up.

Annnnd… it’s in the 90’s with 80% or more humidity. hot!

Once the drainage stone is in, I work on Mt. Digmore some more to mix up soil suitable for plants. See my vlog below for details.

Lemme just say if I can finally look out my windows and see all grass again, I will be a happy lady.

Again, I have to fill buckets and haul it up by hand.

Now remember, I’m not planning to fill up all that soil with plants this season as I have much more to do. However, I am happy to have it ready.

Before I celebrate, there’s one thing I have to tackle… the rest of Mt. Digmore.

Not only is it mainly clay, but also superiorly wet and HEAVY from the recent rain. I need to gone NOW so I can seed my lawn but where to put it?

I decide to haul it to the top of the terrace, of course, to fill holes. And only one way up.

Run my fanny off over 20 times! (evidence in vlog)

Notice my neighbor dog running beside me cheering me on.

Sweet girl.

BUILD FIX

The most exciting part of this entire renovation is getting to build my very own DIY slope stairs.

Ever since moving in, I’m aching to take these steps to the next level. (pun intended)

First, I have to rent a truck to be able to bring home the 12′ boards for my stringers as well as my treads and railing.

Then, once home I set up a workstation outside with my tools and have at it.

The old stringer I save from my teardown is a timesaver beyond measure (again… pun intended). It save me from having to figure slope – remember rise over run formula? If you want to know your slope, have an assistant help you with one of you standing at the top with a string and someone at the bottom to measure the height as well as the length. (rise/run)

For me, I just trace the stringer onto my new board and cut.

Take a peek at my process below. The vlog fills in so many details!

Once I have three stringers cut, I begin to level and place them on the sloped terrace. Oh, and I’m using three stringers because my previous set of stairs were only 24″ and I’m lengthening mine to 36″.

STEPPIN’ UP

This took patience and a little digging to get these just right, but so worth the effort.

Then, once I have them situated, I attach a few treads to hold them in place.

Notice my sweet job boss (aka. watch dog, fluff goof, and sweetheart) giving me the tongue’s up sign.

What’s funny is I normally shop local but found exterior screws to be less expensive online and they were due to come that day. However, they didn’t arrive until 7pm. Mind you, I have been working outside since 6am. So, I use a few screws I have on hand and am elated all is going to plan.

That is until I realize I forgot to lay down the landscaping fabric under the stringers. {{head smack}}

I have it cut and laying right there. ugh.

Would you take it up or just tuck it in like I did?

BUILT IN A DAY

I finish this much by 8pm and call it a day.

Next day, I cut and install the handrail amping up the original design to make it more appealing and sturdy.

The previous stairs had the railing just kind run up like this rough install here.

However, I want the landing to have a little more shape, so I cut off the rail and have it follow the angle of the landing.

Some of the rail uprights needed a notch to fit tight. I use my circular saw to make tiny passes and then cut out with my multi-tool.

Also, if you look closely in the picture above, you’ll see the treads are not level. I forgot that the old steps were like that and didn’t make adjustments initially. However, I did take all the risers off and cut them at a slight angle to compensate.

That way my eye doesn’t twitch every time I see or walk on those treads.

LIGHT IT UP

Last, but not least, for my DIY slope stairs, I add these solar tread lights for safety and aesthetic appeal.

I don’t like adding too much light to the backyard as the lighting bugs (or fireflies) get confused when so many lights are on. I want them to thrive too!

MAMA WAS A ROLLING STONE

For pity’s sake, I have not had ANY NEED to lift weights for the last month as I usually do. I am now fit as a fiddle with all this work!

And, like any nut, I order FOUR TONS of river rock (aka. 4 gravel) delivered so I can, yet again, enjoy bucketing and hauling that stuff to my back yard.

I told you I have been seeing rock in my sleep and I’m not kidding. Truthfully, though, I have been trying to make sure to not get carpel tunnel as my hands and wrists are taking a beating.

I’m all good now and could rock climb no problem!

Not only that, but when it came time to spread this on the upper terrace, that was even worse!

All I had running through my head was a favorite picture book of mine as a child, “Rickety Rackety Rooster”. A sweet story about a rooster trying to alert the farmer that he found gold so the farmer could level his “Tumble Down Farm”. haha.

Yes, I still have that book.

Last, but not least, I use my pressure washer to refresh ALL THAT STONE I dug out to remove dirt, moss, and stink.

AT LAST

FINALLY, after all that sweat equity, time spent, and loads of hours, days, and weeks, my backyard terrace complete with DIY slope stairs is complete.

Take a look at these “befores” and “afters”.

While there’s still plenty to be finished, I’m happy as a lark to have this DONE.

I will have to wait for the pressure treated wood to cure a bit, so I might stain it in about three months.

Until then, I am going to enjoy my outside time as much as possible!

And maybe fill with plants…

UPDATE: See how everything is coming together with my FREE adjustable hammock stand plans, DIY fire pit, FREE lean-to shed plans, AND the finish HERE.

Now, let me hear from you in comments below, but also pin and share to inspire others to get out and DIY!

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Now that you’re in the mood, check out these projects like my DIY slope stars: