So, I had these wood and brick steps...
Last edited Tue Jun 4, 2013, 09:51 AM - Edit history (4)
When we bought this place 22 years ago I built these steps/planters/retaining wall out of wood and brick. I put the brick path down on a bed of 3/4" compacted rock, with a 2" bed of sand to set the brick on. I wish I had a photo of it when originally finished and landscaped. 
So, here it is 22 years later; falling apart, wood finally rotting out, brick needing to be re-set, and generally unsafe for traffic:
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I've re-set the brick a couple times over the intervening years, and I usually keep the weeds pulled. Anyway, I set out to rebuild it using the same brick, but new wood, and then thought "What the heck; I'm getting older, and I really don't want to keep rebuilding this thing 10 years from now." So, I replicated the structure in concrete:
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I replaced the wooden planter at the end with a short rake wall because to have replicated the planter would have made things too bulky looking on that side (plus, my water and sewer lines ran under the old wooden planter box; easy enough to access in the old version, it would have been a serious issue to have to repair, if need be, under several hundred pounds of concrete. So, now it runs on the outside of the new wall that replaced the old planter, not under it). I saved all of the old brick, and I'm going to face-and-cap the two walls, and the large planter with the tree in it. The actual steps will remain concrete.
The risers on the steps are at 4 3/4", which is lower than usual, but it traverses easily (actually, the city building department characterized it as a "series of landings" which, in their estimation, re-classified it as "landscaping hardscape" rather than a walkway. So...no permit required; although, they did advise me to follow code on riser minimum/maximum, and "tread" depth).
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= new reply since forum marked as read
...no, I ordered 4 yards of redi-mix delivered by cement truck. That pour is monolithic, i.e.: everything was done in one pour, no cold joints. I had to have help with the pour as it was; weather here has been in the 90*s, and some wind, so using a mixer would have been too slow. 
Thanks, again, for the compliment. 
Doing repairs and toying with the idea of a retaining wall. I have been looking at pictures of concrete structures and marveling at the versatility and designs. Your work is as good as what the pricey professionals are offering.
Well, I did all the design work, but I had professional help with the pour because of the difficulty of one guy trying to place and finish that kind of structure in one shot.
I spent 35 years in the trades before retiring, two of them on a concrete crew, so I had some understanding going into it.
btw: 2+ years as a young guy on a large building operation's concrete crew convinced me to look a bit further for my career in the trades; I ended up spending over 30 years as a painter, and enjoyed it very much.
...what a beautiful state you live in! Last year at this time my wife and I were just ending a 2-week road trip through Virginia, North/South Carolinas, and Savannah. Lovely part of the country! We especially enjoyed our stay in the Afton area.
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Tell Mr. Dixie that I'm available by pm if he has any questions (not that he'll likely need my help).
Good luck!
I hired professional help to place and finish:
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They did a great job.