Deck Stairs
The stairs are how you actually get to the yard, so they are worth getting right. We design and build them with the deck, which is what lets the treads come off the same boards and the handrail land where your hand expects it.
- Steps that feel the same all the way down
- A handrail that is solid when you put weight on it
- Treads in the same boards as the rest of the deck
Why Old Stairs Come Out With the Deck
A flight takes the same weather as the deck and usually more wear. This is what we tend to find on the one we are removing:
- A step that flexes or gives when you put your weight on it
- A handrail that moves when you pull on it, or no handrail at all
- Treads that have gone soft at the front edge, where the water sits
- Steps that are not all the same height, so people catch a toe on the odd one
- The bottom step sitting straight on soil, which is where a flight usually rots first
How We Build a Flight
Stringers are the sawtooth supports under the steps. Their spacing needs to match the tread manufacturer's instructions.
Step heights need to stay consistent within the code's tolerance. An uneven step can catch someone off guard.
Where the site allows, we use a pad at the bottom to keep stringer ends off damp soil. Your estimate will say if a new pad is included.
Because the deck and the stairs are built together, the treads come off the same boards in the same color and the flight matches the deck it hangs off.
Handrails and Guards
A handrail gives you something to grip. It needs a graspable shape and a connection to the structure, not just the trim.
The guard runs along the open side of the stairs. Its height and openings need to follow the applicable requirements.
We'll check the requirements for your stairs and measure the finished work. If official approval is needed, your proposal will say who arranges it. See Deck Building.
What Affects the Cost
- How far the deck sits above the ground, which sets the number of steps
- Whether the flight needs a landing partway down
- How much guard and handrail runs alongside it
- Whether the ground at the bottom needs a pad poured first
- How easy the spot is to reach, since everything is carried in on a tight lot
Common Questions
Can you replace just the stairs and leave the deck?
That is not work we take on. We build stairs as part of a new deck or a full replacement, because a flight is only as solid as the deck it hangs off — movement you feel on the stairs often starts in the deck frame. If your deck is sound and the stairs really are the only problem, a smaller outfit is a better fit for that job than we are.
Do the stairs have to match the deck?
They don't have to, but building both together means they can. The treads come off the same boards in the same color, so the flight reads as part of the deck instead of something added to it. If you would rather contrast the treads, that is a choice we can price too.
How many steps will I need?
We measure the deck height to work out the steps. A deck a foot or two up is normally three or four steps; a full story is fourteen or more. The final layout depends on the measurements and requirements.
Spend More Time Enjoying Your Yard
Tell us about your deck. We'll look at the space and explain the work in a written estimate. The visit is free, with no obligation to book.