How to Build Deck Stairs - Building Stairs Outside

Building deck stairs is an essential "step" in designing a deck. While planning the project for deck stairs, we should consider certain factors like the dimensions, the design of the deck and most importantly the comfort. Deck stairs should be able to serve the purpose of climbing and getting down, without much effort. This article will acquaint us with the calculation involved in building deck stairs outside the home and the procedure behind it.

Building Deck Stairs
Building deck stairs outside is not at all a difficult task, the only thing we need over here is to read and understand the procedure carefully and implement it accordingly. The number of deck stairs is decided by the height of the deck. If the deck is about 8 inches above the ground, then a single step would be sufficient, but if the deck is at a greater height, then we need to build a staircase with at least 3-4 steps attached to stringers. Stringers are sloping boards that enclose a stairway and are generally created out of 2 x 12 in size. They are attached to the deck with deck joists at the top, while at the bottom, stringers rest on a footing. Stringers are actually a part of the tow of the stairs, to which the stairs would be attached.

Requirements for Building Deck Stairs
We would require a measuring tape, a saw, a cordless drill, a hammer and timber.

How to Build Deck Stairs?

1. The first step in building deck stairs is to determine the height of the deck from the ground. This would be helpful in calculating the height and accordingly the number of stairs that would required. Though this would be an approximate calculation to the number of stairs we need to build, to start with we can divide the total height of deck from the ground with a rise height (approximate) of 7 inches. Width of the staircase should be such that, one person should be able to stand on the stairs. For instance, the vertical distance of the deck from the ground is 14 inches, therefore we would have to build two stairs , but here we also need to consider the thickness of the decking. Sometimes we may get an answer in decimals, but then we would at least get a rough idea of the number of the stairs to be built.
2. After knowing the number of stairs to build, we can decide the exact location where we wish to build the stairs. The height and the length of the stairs also need to be determined.
3. With the help of a saw, cut out the stringer. Place the stringer on the deck and examine whether the stringer size has matched our calculations. With the help of this stringer, the other stringer needs to be marked and then cut into shape.
4. Now, install the stringers at a distance equal to the width of the staircase.
5. In order to keep the stringers steady, the set bottom of the stringers needs to rest upon a cement footing. Here the cement footing needs to leveled with the stringers. We can order a ready cement slab from the local timber place.
6. We can now launch the steps to the stringers. We have already determined the width of the steps during the construction of the stringers. Care should be taken that each step is at an equal distance
7. Finally, the steps need to be cut to the length we have determined and should be attached to the stringers with the help of galvanized decking screws. Decking screws help in securing the whole structure.

A well built staircase would definitely add to the decency and beauty of the deck. It would not be possible to achieve the appropriate measurements at the first attempt itself, therefore some trials and errors definitely would occur. But these mistakes would help us in increasing our accuracy of getting the correct measurements and would be helpful in finally getting the right and proportionate structure of stairs.