How to Build Deck Stairs

In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to build deck stairs.

Steps for building deck stairs

1. Determine the width of each stair tread.
2. Use 4-foot level and tape measure to find the total rise of the staircase.
3. Divide total rise by number of steps to find height of each riser.
4. Set framing square and straightedge to height of riser and width of stair tread.
5. Use framing square to mark saw-tooth pattern of steps onto a pressure-treated 2×12.
6. Notch the stringer with a circular saw, being careful not to saw beyond the cut lines.
7. Finish cutting the stringer with a handsaw.
8. Use first stringer as a template to mark the remaining stringers.
9. Trim upper, rear edge of each stringer the thickness of the risers.
10. Trim bottom end of each stringer the thickness of the treads.
11. Fasten the first and last stringers to the deck frame with L-brackets.
12. Fasten the intermediate stringers with 3-inch decking screws driven through the deck frame and into the rear of the stringers.
13. Attach risers to stringers with 3-inch decking screws.
14. Install 4×4 railing posts with 3-inch screws.
15. Use jigsaw to notch treads to fit around railing posts.
16. Fasten treads to stringers with decking screws.

Tools