Building a deck with stairs is a great way to add space to your home, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. If you are planning on building a deck with stairs, the first thing that you need to do is decide what size you want the deck to be. You can use this as an opportunity to expand your living area or simply create a place where you can relax in the sun or enjoy a cool summer evening. You also need to decide whether or not you want railings on either side of the stairs. If so, then you will need to determine how big they should be and how many posts will be needed for support.
Once these decisions have been made, it’s time for construction. You’ll need some lumber and screws along with brackets so that everything stays together properly when it starts getting windy outside. Once all of these materials are gathered up and ready for use, then it’s time for assembly. This part can be tricky because there are so many different pieces involved: posts supporting beams while also holding up floorboards (those boards themselves being held together by nails or screws), which then rest atop one another until reaching final height (this last step may require additional support).
The cost to build a deck with stairs is something that can vary greatly depending on the size of your project, the materials you choose and how much labor is involved. For example, according to HomeAdvisor’s Deck Builder Cost Guide for 2019, the average cost for a basic deck built with pressure-treated wood would be $6,000-$7,000. However, if you want concrete pavers instead of wood as your primary flooring material and add an arbor or trellis as well (both common additions), that would increase the price by 25%-50%.
And then there are other variables: Do you need stairs? How many steps will they be? Will it be a curved staircase or straight? What kind of railing do you want? All these things play into what will be included in your final price tag.
Type of stairs
The first thing to consider when building stairs is the width. The staircase should be wide enough to comfortably fit a person. The minimum width for a single flight of stairs is 36 inches, but it’s best to go with a wider staircase if possible.
The next important aspect of building a deck staircase is height: the rise (distance from one step to another) and run (distance between steps) must be sufficient for anyone who uses the stairs regularly. The minimum height for all stairways should be 48 inches; however, most builders prefer an increase of at least two inches on each side above that baseline measurement. This will allow people with disabilities or decreased mobility more room as they ascend or descend their deck steps.
The last thing you’ll need to think about before beginning construction is clearance space around any surrounding walls—or railings if you’re building them at this time as well—to make sure no one gets hurt while using your newly built outdoor area. Make sure there’s at least 7 1/2″ between any wall or railing posts and where people might walk when going up or down these newly constructed outdoor structures.
Average Deck Cost per Square Foot
Decks have a range of building costs per square foot. This is because it can be made out of many materials. Various materials have different costs, and some materials can be more difficult to work with than others. This can make the cost to build a deck cost more in labor. For example, pressure-treated pine costs around $2.15 a square foot but needs to be painted or stained, which increases labor costs. Composite decking, costing $9 to $17 a square foot, is easier to work with and may have lower labor costs.
When you’re building a deck with stairs, you want to make sure you’re using the right materials. You don’t want to end up with a flimsy staircase that’s going to break or crack in a few years. You also don’t want to build something that will be too heavy for your deck to support.
There are a few things that can help you ensure that your deck is sturdy enough to hold the weight of a staircase. First, make sure you have a strong base under where your staircase will be placed. This should be at least 4×4 inches in width, and it should extend out at least 12 inches from the rest of the deck.
Next, make sure that your stairs are made from wood or plastic, not metal or stone. This will help them stay together better over time and will prevent them from becoming too heavy for the rest of your deck’s structure as well.
The average cost per square foot to build a deck is between $15 and $47, depending on the material, type, and geographic location. Costs can be higher for complex builds and materials or lower for simple platform decks.
How much does it cost to build a deck?
For basic deck designs using the least expensive lumber, you can expect to pay from about $8 to $10 per square foot (depending on the material) if you do the work yourself. You’ll pay about $30 per square foot if it’s professionally installed.
When you consider that hiring out the job will perhaps double (or likely triple) your costs, a do-it-yourself deck can seem attractive. In fact, the economy of a DIY deck may allow for a larger design or higher-quality materials. These examples show you the DIY vs. contractor prices for a variety of sizes and styles.
- 8×8-foot Raised Deck: Doing it yourself, you can build an 8×8-foot raised deck attached to your home, using treated lumber, for about $1,300 in materials. Changing the decking material to red cedar would raise the cost by approximately $700. Having a contractor build it for you raises the price from $3,200 to $4,800.
- 12×16-foot Raised Deck: You could build a 12×16-foot treated-lumber raised deck with stairs, for about $3,100 in materials. Hiring someone to do the work for you brings your total cost from $3,700 to $9,500. For the same $3,700 you might spend on a professionally installed 12×16-foot deck, you could have one almost twice the size (18×20-foot) if you build it yourself.
- 16×16-foot Raised Deck: You can buy composite materials for a 16×16-foot (256 square-foot) deck for about $5,600 to $9,800 if you build it yourself. A contractor would charge closer to $7,800 to $15,700 to construct a deck of this size.
Materials
Materials for stairs include the following:
- Stairs (made of wood or composite materials)
- Railing material(s) (such as steel, aluminum, or composite material)
Materials needed for a deck with stairs include:
- Deck framing material(s), such as pressure-treated lumber or redwood cedar.
- Decking boards, which can be made from either pressure-treated lumber or redwood cedar.
- Railings in various styles and materials that suit your tastes and budget.
What is the formula for building deck stairs
The formula for building deck stairs is:
- Cost of the stairs depends on the size of the deck and type of material used.
- The cost of building a deck with stairs is usually $20-25 per square foot, but can go as low as $8 -10 per square foot or up to $35 per square foot.
What is the most common deck size?
The most common deck sizes are 4×6, 4×8, and 6×8. These decks are perfect for smaller backyards. The size of the deck should be proportional to the size of your yard and how much outdoor space you have available for it. If you want to maximize space, then 6×10 would be an excellent choice. In larger yards or if you have several people who will be using your deck regularly (such as when entertaining), an 8×10 or 8×16 might suit your needs better than a smaller one.
How much does it cost to put steps on a deck?
If you’re wondering how much it costs to build a deck with stairs, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through all of the factors that go into determining your total cost.
It all starts with the square footage of your deck, which determines the cost per square foot. You can determine the average cost per square foot by multiplying your total square footage by $10—this will give you an approximate price range for most standard-size decks and stairs.
However, if your project is larger than normal or has unique features that require special materials such as wood beams or curved railings (not included in this estimate), then expect to pay more than $10 per square foot for labor costs alone.
Labor
Labor costs are the most variable part of a deck job. Labor costs can vary widely, depending on the complexity and size of the job, as well as the experience and reputation of your contractor.
This is because in addition to hourly rates for each type of worker (deck builder vs. carpenter/framer), there are also different types of labor involved in building a deck with stairs:
Deck Stairs are Considered Optional
Deck stairs can be built on the ground or on the deck. The latter is recommended since it will save you time and money, especially if you’re building your own deck. However, if you have a good plan in place, it’s also possible to build deck stairs yourself.
You can hire a contractor to build your deck stairs for you as well—but if this sounds like too much work for you, there are plenty of online resources that provide instructions on how to do so yourself.
In conclusion,
When it comes to deck stairs, you have a lot of options. Your location, budget, and personal taste will determine which style is best suited for your home. If you’re not sure where to start with your stairs, we suggest looking at our handy guide here.
