Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - railing for temporary stairs
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dianemarg
09-04-06, 04:37 PM
Hello! We hope someone can help us out. We have a house with a back door that leads to a 4' drop. We can't get a deck built this year just outside that door but want access over the winter. So we have put put up 4' wide stairs using three steel stair stringers. However, we definately need some sort of railing as well and are unsure what to do and how to attach it so that it will be sturdy. Next year we hope to detach the stairs, build the deck and re-use the stairs at the edge of the deck. Can someone tell us how to attach a railing and how it should be made? We are aware of the 4" balluster rule and the 6" rule for under the bottom railing. Thanks in advance for your help.
Ubob
09-05-06, 05:48 AM
You might be able to attach posts to the sides of the outside steel stringers, drilling them, then bolt/lag screw into 4x4 posts, at the top and bottom stairs. I suspect that will still leave you with wobbly railing.
I would suggest sinking the ends of the posts in the ground, as well as attaching them to the stringers. This would make them much more stable. I would set the posts in concrete, and use treated lumber. This might sound like overkill, but "temporary" has a way of being longer than we intend sometimes. When you build the deck, you could just cut the posts off and leave the concrete buried.
Hope this helps.
I would suggest sinking the ends of the posts in the ground, as well as attaching them to the stringers. This would make them much more stable. I would set the posts in concrete, and use treated lumber. This might sound like overkill, but "temporary" has a way of being longer than we intend sometimes. When you build the deck, you could just cut the posts off and leave the concrete buried.
Hope this helps.
Wirepuller38
09-05-06, 12:20 PM
Make bottom rail with a treated 2x4 placed on its edge. Make the top rail with 2 treated 2x4's. The lower portion of top rail is a 2x4 turned on its edge with the other 2x4 laid flat on top of the one on edge.
Fasten the railings and spindles together with screws to make disassembly easier when you build the deck.
Use a 2 or 3 ft section of scrap 2x4 to get the angle to cut to make the rails fit the post and the side of the house. Cut the bottom rail first. Attach the bottom rail in its correct postion. Next, cut the top rail which will lay on its edge and fasten in place. Cut spindles if necessary and attach to top and bottom rails. Cut top, flat rail to extend 3 or 4 inches beyond the outside of the post and attach. (If you want to leave post higher than top rail, cut flat top rail at the correct angle to fit against the post).
Hope this helps. Good luck with your project.
Fasten the railings and spindles together with screws to make disassembly easier when you build the deck.
Use a 2 or 3 ft section of scrap 2x4 to get the angle to cut to make the rails fit the post and the side of the house. Cut the bottom rail first. Attach the bottom rail in its correct postion. Next, cut the top rail which will lay on its edge and fasten in place. Cut spindles if necessary and attach to top and bottom rails. Cut top, flat rail to extend 3 or 4 inches beyond the outside of the post and attach. (If you want to leave post higher than top rail, cut flat top rail at the correct angle to fit against the post).
Hope this helps. Good luck with your project.