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Deck Construction: Part 3

Archived in Landscape, Construction, Do-it-Yourself |

The best advice I can offer on finishing your new deck stairs and railings is to PLAN. And, whatever you do, wherever you start, whoever you manage to have help you, do not underestimate the power of:

(A) Shopping Around

Not all steps and railings are created equal, and not all packages are going to work with your deck, for your needs, in your municipality. Go look at some samples and try out a few tests of durability, wobble, rust resistance, heat resistance (barbecue anyone?), and safety.

(B) Sitting Around

That’s what you are going to use it for, after all. How will you use your new deck space? Where do you want to sit and relax? On a long step in the sun or tucked into a shady corner? Do you want to feel open and breezy, or closed in and private? Try it out on a friend’s deck and see what you prefer. Plan from there.

The rest of this is based on my experience:

HANGING STRINGERS

Depending on the material you use for your steps, you should have your stringers spaced roughly two-foot on center. This means for a single staircase, you need two stringers, but for a longer (perhaps full-length) set of steps, you’ll need more. Stringer should be hung using brackets along the facing board, nailed with joist hanger nails (not screwed) and supported at the bottom with wood or preferably a concrete stone to reduce vertical movement into the ground.

STEPS

This may seem obvious, but use the best wood you can find, in the fewest pieces you can find. This is going to take a lot of abuse over the life of your deck, and you want quality here (even if you cheaped-out elsewhere!) Fasten securely with long screws, at least three per stringer for a solid base.

POSTS

Some places will try to sell you a closed-bottom railing with no posts. Avoid it. Use posts whenever possible BOLTED to the frame of your deck for maximum stability. These go on first, and the rest of the build should be straightforward around them. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

Please remember: I’m just a guy who has done this work for myself, once. This is just my experience, so do more research before you start. I welcome any comments or updates that anyone with more experience might provide. Cheers!

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