retaining wall problems, can anyone help?

[riley rye]

:confused: I am looking for ideas about the best way to build stairs onto an exsisting retaining wall. The retaining wall is made of really large railroad ties and are starting to rot and I only want to repair the stairs untill I can remove one of the walls and start from scratch. Does any one have any good ideas?

[lefty]

If the retaining wall is starting to rot, and you know you are going to have to relace it, WHY would you waste your time and the material installing the steps first?? Replace the wall, THEN build the steps.

[Hellrazor]

Adding to what Lefty said, if the wall is rotting you can not safely secure the steps to it in the first place.

[riley rye]

I dont really have the money or time to do it this summer and my wife is expecting in november. That is why i want to fix it for the time being cause it will not be safe for her when the ice is two inches on the steps in december. as they are now you really can't shovle the snow off and the steps are really norrow, so they are unsafe for her. If you have a quike fix idea i would really appreciate the advice. thank you

[lefty]

NO!!

Attaching steps to a rotten retain wall is a waste of both your precious time and money, AND it's a safety hazard!!

Do it right.

First fix the wall. THEN add the steps to the new wall.

There is no "quick fix" here that is worth the time and trouble, NOR is it worth risking the safety of your wife or next to be born!!