Building outdoor wooden stairs is a great way to improve your home’s curb appeal and provide an easy way for your family and friends to access your door from any angle. In this article, we’ll show you how to build outdoor wooden stairs step-by-step so that even if you have no prior construction experience, you can create a durable set of stairs in no time at all. If you’re looking for something less permanent and more portable, check out our guide to building porch steps instead
Measure the overall width of the steps you plan to make to determine how far apart you want to place the stringers.
You need to measure the overall width of the steps you plan to make to determine how far apart you want to place the stringers. The stringers should be no more than 3/4 inch above or below a tread so they don’t show through when viewed from inside.
Measure the total length of your stairs and divide by 7 (the number of treads) to get a dimension for each tread.
Measure between posts and add 1 1/2 inches for a gap between them if desired. This will give you an approximate distance between stringer and post at multiple locations along your stairway. If your steps are going up hill, extend this measurement upward when measuring between posts so that there’s sufficient room for people standing on top step while others are walking down toward them (or vice versa).
Build your stairs by cutting 2““` x 4““` pieces to fit within the frame of the stair railings.
To build your stairs, you’ll need to cut the 2 x 4s to length and fit them within the frame of the stair railing. Use a miter saw to make these cuts. For example, if you want two steps (6 inches) high, cut each piece of wood at 12 inches long so that when it is inserted into the railing frame it will be 6 inches tall. A circular saw can also be used for this step; however, if you use one then make sure that your stringer is square before proceeding! To check for squareness, measure diagonally from opposite corners using a tape measure and pencil—if they meet in line at 90 degrees with no gaps in between them then all’s good! If not try adjusting one corner with extra pieces until they line up perfectly.
Once everything has been measured out properly mark where each 2 x 4 needs to go by measuring down from underneath where they will be inserted into their respective holes (generally 1 inch or less). You’ll need one stringer per section; so if there are two sections then make sure both have something sturdy supporting them before moving forward
Mark each corner where you want your posts set into concrete.
To get your post positions marked, you’ll need to use a level. Once you have the posts plumb and level with one another, mark two points at the top of each post, one on each side of the stair. These will be where you set them into concrete.
Now that your corners are marked, it’s time to dig holes for those posts
Place a level on top of each post to ensure it is plumb.
Now that you have the posts in place, place a level on top of each post. The level should be lined up with where you will be placing your stringers (the horizontal beams) and ensure that they are plumb (perpendicular to the ground). If any posts need adjusting, use one of these methods:
- Adjustable baseplates
- A hammer and chisel, if there’s not enough room for a sledgehammer or crowbar
- A jack
Place the bottom tread on end at each corner to ensure you have measured correctly.
- Place the bottom tread on end at each corner to ensure you have measured correctly.
- Make sure the bottom tread is placed on the correct side of the stringers.
- Make sure that you position it so that when you look down from its edge, it will be square with the sides of your stairs.
- Also check that it is as far back from each post as possible while still allowing room for steps above and below it.
Pre drill holes into the frame of your railing with a ½” drill bit and drill/driver so that you can use wood screws to fasten them in.
Now it’s time to fasten your posts in place. Use a ½” drill bit and drill/driver to pre-drill holes in the frame of your railing so that you can use wood screws to secure them. If you’re not using treated lumber for any part of this project, it’s especially important that you do this because untreated lumber is more likely to rot when exposed to moisture.
Fasten the posts in place with 4″ decking screws.
Fasten the posts in place with 4″ decking screws. Use a drill/driver to fasten the posts in place, making sure they are level before screwing them in.
Use a level to ensure that your posts are level.
Building outdoor wooden stairs is a great way to improve your home’s curb appeal and provide an easy way for your family and friends to access your door from any angle.
Building outdoor wooden stairs is a great way to improve your home’s curb appeal and provide an easy way for your family and friends to access your door from any angle.
When building a set of outdoor wooden stairs, it’s important that you build them so they’re strong enough to handle the weight of people in addition to their groceries or packages. You should also ensure that you have all the materials necessary for installing these stairs before beginning construction.
For added safety, make sure the bottom step of your outdoor wooden stairway has a guard rail on one side of it that’s at least 36 inches high with no gaps larger than 1/4 inch between its lower part and ground level or surface where it’s installed.
Conclusion
You can build your own outdoor wooden stairs with just a few tools and materials. You don’t need any special skills or experience because we’ll be giving you step-by-step instructions on how to do it! All you need is patience, a good attitude, and some time. And don’t forget about safety; we’re using power tools that could hurt people if they get close enough so always wear protective gear when working around them.
