Building a 3 step stair is a task many people avoid for several reasons. One reason is lack of knowledge, the other is lack of material. In this post I will show you how to build a 3 step stair with just 10 cuts using only hand tools, you’ll need no power tools.
Building a stair is a project that’s easy to do and will give you confidence in your woodworking skills. Start with a solid wood or plywood sub-floor, measure the height (h) of each step from the top down and cut the top stringers to length. Then cut the treads and make the side rails for each step. The steps can be filled with a variety of materials like concrete, sand or gravel mixed with cement.
How to Build Outdoor Wooden Steps to Spruce Up Your Entry
- Step 1. Prepare the Area
- “Remove shrubs and plants from the spot where the steps will be located… level the ground and build up low spots with fill dirt so the area slopes away from the house.”
- Step 2: Purchase Precut Stringers
- “Precut, notched stair stringers ($22, Home Depot) take a lot of the work out of building outdoor wooden steps. These stringers typically have 7‑inch rises and 11‑inch runs, and the tops can be cut to fit against the entry joist.”
- Step 3: Measure for Wooden Steps
- “Measure the width of the door opening and the height from the top step to ground level. Next, calculate the number of steps you will need, allowing a 7‑inch rise for each. Once you know how many steps you’ll need, compile a list of materials. Materials include a stringer at both ends, one stringer for every 16 inches in between, treads, riser boards, a 2×4‑inch anchor board, and corrosion‑resistant screws or nails. All materials should be made of pressure‑treated wood or rot‑resistant material.”
- Step 4: Cut Anchor Board to Length
- “Attach a 2×4‑inch anchor board to the side of the house… Square up one end of the anchor board, then cut it to length.”
- Step 5: Attach Anchor Board
- “Position the anchor board on the side of the house and screw it in place. Make sure it’s level with the house and centered on the doorway.”
- Step 6: Attach Outside Stringers
- “Position the outside stringers against the house so they are flush with the top of the anchor board… Bricks or solid concrete blocks can be placed under the bottom of the stringers to keep them off the ground and provide a level foundation. Once the stringers are in place, nail them to the ends of the anchor board.”
- Step 7: Attach Inside Stringers
- “Cut 1 1/2 inches off the back of each middle stringer to allow for the thickness of the anchor board… Then toenail the middle stringers to the anchor board so they are flush with the top.”
- Step 8: Attach Bottom Step Riser
- “Cut the 1×8‑inch riser boards to the same length as the step framing where it attaches to the house. Nail a riser to the lower end of the stringers to tie the step framing together.”
- Step 9: Cut Step Treads to Length
- “For each outdoor wooden step, cut two 6‑inch wide treads to length. Add an inch to each end to allow for overhang.”
- Step 10: Attach Step Treads
- “Position the wooden step treads on the stringers, and nail or screw them in place. Be sure to allow enough overhang on the front of each step to accommodate the thickness of the risers.”
- Step 11: Cut Risers to Width
- “Measure the distance from the top of a tread to the bottom of the tread above it. Cut the remaining 1×8‑inch risers to the correct width. Use a rip cut parallel to the wood grain.”
- Step 12: Attach Step Risers
- “Nail the wooden step risers to the stringers. Make sure the risers are flush with the outside stringers before attaching.”
- Step 13: Finish Wooden Steps
- “Your outdoor wooden steps are now finished and ready to paint or stain. Because these stairs were made from pressure‑treated pine, they will last for many years. Pressure‑treated pine usually arrives wet with preservative, so allow the wood to dry out before finishing with an exterior porch and deck paint or waterproofing stain.”
How to Build a Stair Stringer
Building a stair stringer is the first step in building stairs. A stringer is the piece of wood that supports the treads and risers of your stairs. You can build it from any material that you like, but it’s important that you use a durable material like pressure-treated lumber or cedar.
Step 1: Measure the Height of Your Stairs
Measure the height of your stairs by standing on top of them and holding a tape measure against one riser. Write down this measurement and use it as a starting point for your measurements.
Step 2: Cut the Stringer Pieces
Use your measurements from Step 1 to cut all of your pieces of lumber at home, using either a circular saw or table saw. The ends of each piece should be mitered at 45 degrees so they fit together easily when assembled into a stair stringer.
Step 1: Lay out the stairs
The first step in building your own outdoor steps is laying out what you want. This will help you figure out how much material you need, and give you a good idea of how much time it will take. If you’re building a set of concrete steps, the job will be more difficult than if you’re using wood.
Step 2: Add the risers
Once you’ve laid out your design, add the risers to the top and bottom of each step. The risers are usually made from pressure-treated lumber and topped with decorative caps that match your trim. You can also install them using concrete blocks or pavers instead of wood if desired.
Step 3: Build up from there
Now that you have your risers in place, build up from there by installing slats across each riser; these will make up most of your treads. Be sure to leave space between each slat so that water drains away into their holes rather than accumulating on top of them and rotting them away over time. This will also help keep weeds from sprouting through your stairway as well as any other debris that may fall over time
If you want to build a deck or stairs from scratch, you’re going to need some basic tools and materials. You’ll also need to know how to use them. This guide will show you how to build stairs for your deck or porch.
Step 1: Find a level area for your steps
Make sure that the area where you plan to build your steps is level. If it isn’t, you’ll have problems later trying to install them properly. Check with a builder’s level or simply use a 4-foot straight 2×4 as a guide post when digging the first hole for your first step. If the post leans toward one side of the hole more than another, try digging another hole over by 6 inches and filling in some dirt between the two holes until they look even when viewed from above.