Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 10/6/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello:

How is the spacing determined for concrete steps or slabs if the distance is 11 feet long, and the steps are two feet square? I'll try to explain it differently.

Suppose the distance from the door step and to the driveway is 11 feet.  The home owner wants to place concrete steps that are two feet square from the door step to the driveway. What is the distance between each slab or step so that the spacing is equal?

I thank you for your reply.

ANSWER: Hi Kenneth, it's a matter of mathematics really..Five stones would equal ten feet then take the remaining one foot and divide it by six this will give you two inches between stones.  If you prefer larger spacing? Then use four stones equalling eight feet and divide the remaining three feet by five which is a little over seven inches between stones.  You always add one extra space to the number of stones before dividing into the remaining distance.I hope this info helps please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely Bruce Johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com      

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello:

I want to thank you for the excellent reply.  I do have a follow-up question.

Why add one extra space to the number of stones before dividing into the remaining distance?

I thank you for your follow-up reply.

Answer
Hi again Kenneth, it's quite simple really. Let's say that the I at the end of this sentence is the end of the existing walkway and each @ sign is the stepping stone and the I at the end is the walkway you are connecting to..let's begin.   I @ @ @ @  I.....notice that there are five spaces and four stepping stones. You can make a simple drawing as well to illustrate and if you don't want a space at the beginning or the end then you would have only three spaces to divide into your remaining distance.I hope this info helps please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely Bruce Johnson..bejohnsonconsulting.com