Building a set of wooden steps is a project that many homeowners take on over time. You can save money by doing it yourself, and there are several ways to do it. The easiest method is with pressure-treated lumber, which won’t rot for at least 10 years.
Building a set of wooden steps, even though it may seem difficult at first, can be quite rewarding if you approach it in the right way. When properly installed, they are very durable and sturdy, but will require a little bit of maintenance to keep them looking their best. If you have never built stairs before, the process may appear overwhelming at first; however, with some patience and research this project should be well within your capabilities.
Building a wooden set of steps is a straightforward process that involves making sure you have enough material and lumber to build the steps, cutting the stringers and other pieces of wood according to the measurements you’ve taken, and attaching the stringers to the ground. Although each step takes some time, these steps are easy to follow.
The first thing you’ll need to do before building your own set of steps is measure the area where you plan to install them. You’ll also need to calculate how many stairs or steps you will need using a simple formula. Once you have this information, it’s time for some math: You can use fractions or decimals in your calculations, but keep things simple by calculating with integers only. It’s easier that way. The next step is cutting the stringers—the boards that will support each stair tread—from 2×12 lumber on which they’ll sit. Finally, attach those stringers so they’re securely connected at both ends before adding treads (or risers), which sit on top of each stringer as part of what makes up your finished set.
After measuring carefully and calculating accurately, building wooden steps should be relatively straightforward. Just remember: Take your time when it comes to being precise about these crucial measurements! A little planning now will save lots later when constructing new stairs or repairing old ones around any home improvement project.
Measure the area where you plan to install the steps.
The first step in building a set of wooden steps is to measure the area where you plan to install the steps. Measure the width and length of the area, as well as its height (including any stairs). Calculate the number of steps you will need by dividing the total rise by 6 inches, then subtracting 1 from this result.
Once you have this information, it’s time to start making some cuts.
Calculate the number of steps you will need.
- Calculate the number of steps you will need. The number of steps you need depends on the height of the area you are installing them in. This height should be determined by the height of the person using them, as well as their eye level.
- The space between steps should be equal for all stairs, and this distance depends on how tall your risers are when compared to their treads. If your treads are larger than your riser (or vice versa), then this pattern will cause safety issues for some or all users and is not recommended at all.
Cut stringers from 2×12 lumber.
You’ll need to cut the stringers to the correct length. The easiest way to do this is with a compound miter saw, which allows you to make angled cuts with ease. If you don’t have access to one, you can use both a circular saw and handsaw for straight cuts, or a jigsaw for angled ones.
The bottom stringer should be exactly 20″ long (or 21″ if using 5″ wide lumber). The top stringer(s) will be longer than that—the exact amount depends on how much overhang you want on each side of the stairs (see image below). To determine their length, measure from the bottom of your base piece all around until it reaches where it needs to go; then add an inch or two extra so they’ll protrude past everything else when installed (this will help keep them in place).
Measure and cut 2×6 lumber for the treads.
Measure the distance between the stringers and cut 2×6 lumber to fit. Make sure the treads are level with each other, as well as with the ground. This is also an opportunity to make adjustments in spacing if you find that they’re too close together or too far apart.
Attach the treads.
In order to attach the treads, first use a nail gun to drive nails through the treads and into the stringers. Then check that everything is still square by using a level on each side of your stairs. Finally, measure and cut 2×6 lumber for risers so they are flush with your stringers. Attach them to the frame using a nail gun (again, make sure things are still square). If you have access to more advanced tools like a jointer or router table, this might be an opportunity to experiment with them—the end result should look something like this.
With some simple calculations and a little effort, you’ll be finished in no time.
- Before you start building, it’s important to measure the area where you want to install your new steps and make sure they will fit. If they don’t, then you’ll need to cut them down or make adjustments before you can proceed with construction.
- Next, figure out how many steps are going to be needed based on the height of those who will be using them most frequently in your family or group of friends or community members (for example: someone who is 5’5″ tall would require a step height of about 8 inches). Once this number has been determined, multiply it by three to get the total number of stairs needed for this project: so if we were making our set for someone who was 5’5″, we’d multiply 5 x 3 = 15 total stairs required by adding two additional ones at each end which would give us 17 overall units measuring 21 ½ inches wide x 7 ½ inches deep x 8 inches high.
Final words
Building a set of steps is one of the most basic carpentry skills to learn, and it can be done with just some simple measurements and a little labor. If you need help making your measurements, there are charts online that will help you determine how many steps you will need in order to reach your desired height. The rest is all about cutting the lumber and attaching them together, which shouldn’t take more than an hour or two.
