How to stabilise large inground timbers?

I'm currently building a set of steps down to the woodshed (the stuff for burning!) that have to go through the well consolidated fill from the original house construction.

Because it has to go around a sewage inspection opening (another renovation surprise!), I can't just lay the steps directly on the ground, but have to box up the space and install the steps into it.

I had intended to simply lay out the pieces like lego bricks then rely on backfill to consolidate it and hold it in place, but I'm not sure that would be stable enough.

Other thoughts I had were to lay some bricks on sand, or lay concrete foundations (perhaps with steel dowels for the timber to sit on).

Any ideas on what would be best?

Hopefully I've understood your post correctly........

Could you build the steps to fit snugly between your walls (with stringers down each side) and then fix through the inside of each stringer to the sleepers ? That way you would be spanning over your inspection opening and also it would give some lateral stability to your wall.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by andrew076

Hopefully I've understood your post correctly........

Could you build the steps to fit snugly between your walls (with stringers down each side) and then fix through the inside of each stringer to the sleepers ? That way you would be spanning over your inspection opening and also it would give some lateral stability to your wall.

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Yes I was hoping to use the steps to help build in strength. However the back of the "box" won't get much strength from that, so I was wondering how it could be secured. I think i'll have to bolt all the parts together. I was also wondering how to secure it to the ground/prevent it from moving about - or even if that would be a problem if there was back fill securing it in place.