Table of Contents
How do you attach stairs to an existing deck?
How do you attach wood stair stringers to a deck?
Attach the stringers to the deck using angle brackets and 3” galvanized deck screws. Cut a 2×6 board to fit snugly between the two stringers at their base. This will be used to fasten the stairs to the concrete pad. Place the board between the stringers and attach to stringers with 3” galvanized deck screws.
Do deck steps need footings?
SAFE, SUPPORTED STAIRS: Deck-stair construction varies, but the general requirements are consistent: proper footing support, and an adequate landing. Regardless of the stair run and number of treads, the stairway needs a footing at the bottom to support the stringers—they can’t just rest on the ground.
Can I use joist hangers for stair stringers?
This will reinforce the stair stringer to rim joist connection and distribute the stair weight more evenly onto the deck framing. Cut them to fit the space perpendicularly between the rim joist and the next interior joist. Use joist hangers to fasten the blocking.
How many stringers do I need for deck stairs?
Deck Stair Basics 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. They have risers (also called toe kicks), treads and railings. The stairs should be at least 36 inches wide.
Do I need a concrete pad for deck stairs?
Building codes generally require that exterior stairways have a concrete footing or foundation. Without the foundation the steps will sink, heave or tilt to one side. This article shows how to build a 4-in. thick slab that will serve as a foundation for a set of deck steps.
How deep should a footing be for stairs?
Dig a trench about 125mm deep for the footing for the first riser.
Do deck stairs have to land on concrete?
Stair landings must be at least as wide as the stair and at least 3 feet deep. On the other hand, solid, flat, and stable materials, such as concrete, flagstone, pavers, or brick, can be installed with a measurable slope and will not usually shift under the weight of an off-balance person completing a stairway descent.
Should I use nails or screws for stairs?
The answer is both. You should use nails to attach the deck’s joists and stair stringers to its framing. You should use screws to attach decking and railings to the framing.
Do stair stringers need hangers?
Stringers support the steps of a stairway and fasten to the framing of the deck. The primary method of connection between a stringer and the framing is a stringer hanger. This metal bracket supports the stringer and holds it on the framing. Stringer hangers look like joist hangers and function in the same way.
How do you reinforce stair stringers?
One of the easiest methods of reinforcing your wood stair stringers is using 2×12 skirt boards along the outsides of your stairs. A skirt board is pretty much what it sounds like; triangular shaped wood that goes along the sides of your stair and hides all of the unsightly notched stringers and hardware.
Are stair stringers 2×10 or 2×12?
It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.
What should I put on the bottom of my deck stairs?
Your stair stringers will rest on your landing pad, but you should include a base plate. A bearing block is typically a 2×4 that connects your stringers.Footings with Different Deck Stair Landing Options Concrete landing pad. A wood box-type landing pad. Crushed stone. Patio Blocks.
What is the code for stair stringers?
Stair stringers should not span more than 13 feet and 3 inches (4039 mm) for a closed stringer. Cut stringers should not span more than 6 feet (1829 mm). Refer to the American Wood Council’s 2018 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide for stringer spans.
What is code for steps on decks?
Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high, measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep, measuring from front to back. Stair treads must sustain a weight of at least 300 pounds in an area no more than four inches square.
Do deck stairs need risers?
Most high-end deck projects use closed risers to finish the stairs. They also are often in violation of IRC code for decks over 30″, which maintains that they meet the same requirements as guardrail infill. Stair risers may not have openings present that would allow a 4” diameter sphere to pass through.
How long can stairs be without support?
The minimum recommended size for a deck stair stringer is 2×12, which has a maximum recommended unsupported span of 6 feet. Often this maximum span is dangerously exceeded, resulting in overspanned stringers that will deflect and cause the connection at the deck to pull loose and fail.
How long can deck stairs be without a landing?
A flight of stairs should not rise vertically more than 147 inches without a landing. An intermediate landing is a small deck, and should be built as such, including appropriate footings, posts, and bracing.
How wide should outdoor steps be?
The stair treads should be at least 36 inches wide. Despite these minimum requirements, we recommend that stairs should be at least 48 inches wide so they don’t feel cramped.
What is raft footing?
A raft foundation, also called a mat foundation, is essentially a continuous slab resting on the soil that extends over the entire footprint of the building, thereby supporting the building and transferring its weight to the ground. Stress is simply weight divided by area.
How wide should a step be?
A standard number of treads in a stair between first and second floors is 14. One hundred-five divided by 14 equals 7 1/2 . That means the distance from the top of each step to the top of the next step will be 7 1/2 inches. With a riser height of 7 1/2 inches, tread width (run) should be at least 9 inches.
