Bottom step of deck dilemma --- suggestions?

I purchased my house last fall and had a deck built. The guys who built the deck didn't put a concrete pad or any kind of a landing at the bottom of the steps. When the city inspector came out to inspect the deck, he told me that I need something there because as it is, the stepdown is 9 inches while the steps are 6 inches from each other. The previous owner put a ton of pea gravel in the backyard play area, so I was thinking of building a patio with the pea gravel. Only problem is that 3" deficiency. That's a lot. I've never done this before. Any suggestions (other than having the deck builders come back). Thanks.

 

You can place pre-cast concrete step stones or pavers. I've seen them 2" and 4" thick. You could also build a border and fill the interior with stone to get the height you need.

 

What are the stair stringers setting on? Dirt? I hope he put them on piers. if you don't want to pour concrete, pavers are a good idea. If you don't want pavers... then the border idea is a good one... that way the border of your landing area could be made level, 6" from the tread... and the border will hold the gravel.

Personally I wouldn't want gravel right off the deck... some of it is sure to get tracked onto the deck which will eventually dent and scratch it.

 

Also pea gravel will not compact.
If those stringers are just sitting in the dirt there going to settle and rot out.

 

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. The guy who built the deck did put the step posts on piers and overall, the building inspector said the builder did a great job -- he just left too much distance between the bottom step and the ground. The inspector was the one who suggested moving some pea gravel over to the step area, but I definitely like the idea of pavers better. Thanks!

 

I would suggest a concrete step at the correct height. Dig out so the step will be uniform thickness, build a form and place the concrete.

 

IMO pouring a pad for the step is probably the best fix. If you go that route pull the bottom treads off the stringers for better access.

I once built a walkway with pea gravel. Not a good material for this purpose. As someone else posted - it doesn't compact. I ended up installing field stone and using a bit of the pea stone mixed with paver base to fill in between the stones.