Building Freestanding Deck Stairs

Pour the pad over a four inch layer of compacted gravel.

Building freestanding deck stairs.

Building stairs can take some maths and a basic understanding of some mathematical operations. You will be motivated to make some wooden steps after reading this. We will teach you how to cut stair stringers to meet code for rise and run step limits. Build a freestanding cantilevered deck supported by parallel beams.

You can build your own custom stringers or buy pre cut stringers at lowe s. Step 2 install the posts. When done correctly this is a strong and code compliant method of building. The pad itself will need to have a thickness of four to six inches.

Lay a 33 by 18 inch section of plywood on a flat surface horizontally displaying the 33 inch edges on the top and. Clamp the stair gauges to the carpenter s square. I cant exactly remember all of the math for stairs so i m sorry i cant just throw it on. How to build outdoor wooden steps free standing.

The base of each post is secured to a bracket which is anchored to the top of the footing. Building deck stairs are often the most challenging part of a diy deck project. Around alabama where eht is headquartered most decks are connected to the side of a house with a ledger board fastened to the rim joist of the house. The stairs should be at least 36 inches wide.

A deck s stairway should be carefully planned so that all the stair rises the vertical height of the steps and all the tread depths the horizontal length of the step runs are equal. I can t tell you the. A 3x3 foot minimum concrete pad will be needed at the base of the deck stair for the landing. This guide will make you understand all of that.

Creating a set of free standing steps requires a few quick measurements and cuts. Lay out the stairs by drawing on the outside of the square sliding the square along until it meets the last mark to learn how to build steps. They have risers also called toe kicks treads and railings. Wood stairs and stair railings.

Alright so lets begin with the tools shall we. If the bottom or top step is noticeably different in height or length from the other stairs it will be a tripping hazard. Learn the details in how to build a deck. However not everyone is good at maths.

Set up and layout. Wood decking and railings. Self standing staircase step 1. Now for the supplies.

Some older houses may be built with uncertain wall construction that may not be strong enough to support a deck addition. Use the narrow part of the square for clamping the riser gauge and the wider part for the 10 1 4 in. Deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 stringers spaced about 12 to 16 inches apart. They rest on a solid foundation and are attached to the deck with hangers.