A step can be the perfect addition to your outdoor living space. Build a wooden step that is comfortable, strong and safe to use. This project shows you how to build a simple 4×4 post step. Build your own beautiful, sturdy and safe wooden step using the following steps. The materials and tools needed to build a wooden step are minimal.
Building wood steps takes some math and some careful measurements. Here’s how to do it.
Plan the step design
- Before you start building, draw a sketch of the steps you plan to build. This will help you make sure that your design is safe and comfortable for people who might use it.
- Make sure that your step is at least three feet wide—this allows two people to walk side by side easily.
- Make sure that your step is at least six inches high—this will keep anyone from tripping over the edge of their shoe onto their face or head.
- Remember not to make your steps too steep; if they are too steep, people could fall down them.
Gather the tools and material
- Materials needed for each step:
- Tools needed for each step:
- Safety gear needed for each step:
Cut the stringers
To make the stringer, you will need to cut it with a miter saw. The first step is to measure the length of your stringer, then cut it with a miter saw. If your wood is very hard and brittle, you can use a nail gun or brad nailer to tack it together before joining them with glue.
Next, cut the width of each stringer so that they fit snugly into place when assembled together on top of one another. You may also want to round all four corners so that they don’t dig into your feet as much when walking across them later on in this process (and throughout any future uses). This step shouldn’t require any special tools other than perhaps an angle grinder if necessary; just take care not to damage yourself or destroy any nearby objects while doing so.
Attach the stringers to the deck
To attach the stringers to the deck, use screws and a drill. Use a level as well as a hammer and screwdriver bit for this step.
Inserting screws into wood will take some time and effort, but it’s not too difficult if you have the right tools. The most important thing is choosing the correct screw size for your project—if you get it wrong, you’ll end up with visible holes in your completed piece of furniture! If you’re unsure which size to choose or how deep to go with your screw placement, consult an expert before beginning construction work so they can advise accordingly on these matters specifically related to building steps out of wood planks rather than just general guidelines related only more generally toward making sure everything fits together properly before starting construction work.
Cut a board for each step
- Cut two boards for each step to the correct length, width, angle and height. The length should be equal to the distance from the top of your stairs to the ground. The width should be equal to 2/3 of that distance (so it will sit on top of your existing steps). The angle should be 45 degrees from vertical with one end cut at an angle of 18 degrees from horizontal and then repeated at the other end so that it resembles a “V” shape when viewed from above. The height should be equal to one-third of the total depth of your staircase (i.e., if your steps are 12 inches deep then each board will need to be 4 inches tall).
- Next, use these measurements as guides when cutting a series of boards so they’re all exactly identical in size, shape and thickness
Add each step board to the stringer
You will need to cut each step board to the correct length. The length should be equal to the stringer width plus 3/8” (1 cm). The first step board is flush with one edge of the stringer while subsequent boards are placed in between these two boards in an alternating pattern, which will create a stairway that winds up as it goes down.
Step 2: Attach each step board to the stringer using screws and finish nails or screws alone depending on what type of lumber you have chosen for this project. The spacing between boards should be approximately 1-3/4″ (4 cm) apart from center-to-center and each board should overhang by about 1/2″ (1 cm) on all sides so that there is no gap between them when they come together at their edges.
Step 3: Make sure all steps are even with one another before installing any trim pieces along their edges so that none are higher than others; this will give your project a more uniform appearance overall if done correctly! You can use shims underneath low spots or sandpaper along high spots until they meet evenly with those around them.
Building Wood Steps is easy.
Building wood steps is easy, so long as you have the right tools and materials. Here are the materials that we used:
- Stringers (the long boards that form the sides of your steps) made from treated lumber, 2″x8″, 8′ long
- Deck boards cut to size (1/2″ thick)
- Deck screws – 1-1/4″, coarse thread
To build a step out of wood requires only three basic steps: cutting stringers, attaching them to your deck, and attaching each step board to its stringer.
Final words
Building wood steps is a great opportunity to make your home more accessible and beautiful. It can be a little intimidating at first, but once you get your plans in order and know where everything is going, it really comes together pretty quickly. Taking these steps will help ensure that you have the most success possible when building your new stairs. We have highly trained staff on hand who are happy to help no matter what issue arises while working together with clients in order to create the perfect staircase design.
