Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Stair Stringer Construction - What am I doing wrong?
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BenL
08-24-07, 08:42 AM
I had my 1st stringer laid out and cut to size perfectly. I test fitted it, and it was a good fit with the level of the deck and the ground. I then cut off the bottom of the stringer to the exact size of the deck boards to make sure that all steps rises are even. I then cut off the back of the stringer for the thickness of the riser fascia to make sure that all of the runs were even. However, now the stringer does not sit on the ground, as you would imagine.
What am i missing here?
The stringer will be anchored to a concrete footer/pad, but that will be pretty much level w/ the ground.
Thanks
What am i missing here?
The stringer will be anchored to a concrete footer/pad, but that will be pretty much level w/ the ground.
Thanks
XSleeper
08-24-07, 11:32 AM
I think you mentioned the problem:
"I test fitted it, and it was a good fit with the level of the deck and the ground. I then cut off the bottom of the stringer"
When you make a stringer, you need to plan for the bottom step to be shorter. It is the only one that won't have a tread below it...
So, for example if you lay your framing square on the stringer and you are making 7" risers, 10" runs... marking that all the way down the stringer... and you are using 1 1/2" treads, you'd mark that last step in the same manner, but then you'd square it off and cut it 5 1/2" long where it will sit on the ground.
It sounds to me like when you test fit it, it fit nicely but the bottom step was too tall. If you cut more of the bottom of the stringer, it will obviously be too short.
Your bottom riser will always need to be smaller by the thickness of the tread, just as you knew... and you do cut more off the bottom of the riser, but if you have 1 1/2" treads, you would need to hold the stringer 1 1/2" above the framing, at the "finished floor height" to acheive a perfect fit- since you will be cutting 1 1/2" off the bottom, causing the whole thing to be 1 1/2" lower after you cut it. It sounds like you were holding the stringer flush with the framing (instead of the finished floor height) then you cut more off the bottom, making it sit too low. Make sense?
"I test fitted it, and it was a good fit with the level of the deck and the ground. I then cut off the bottom of the stringer"
When you make a stringer, you need to plan for the bottom step to be shorter. It is the only one that won't have a tread below it...
So, for example if you lay your framing square on the stringer and you are making 7" risers, 10" runs... marking that all the way down the stringer... and you are using 1 1/2" treads, you'd mark that last step in the same manner, but then you'd square it off and cut it 5 1/2" long where it will sit on the ground.
It sounds to me like when you test fit it, it fit nicely but the bottom step was too tall. If you cut more of the bottom of the stringer, it will obviously be too short.
Your bottom riser will always need to be smaller by the thickness of the tread, just as you knew... and you do cut more off the bottom of the riser, but if you have 1 1/2" treads, you would need to hold the stringer 1 1/2" above the framing, at the "finished floor height" to acheive a perfect fit- since you will be cutting 1 1/2" off the bottom, causing the whole thing to be 1 1/2" lower after you cut it. It sounds like you were holding the stringer flush with the framing (instead of the finished floor height) then you cut more off the bottom, making it sit too low. Make sense?
BenL
08-24-07, 12:40 PM
XSleeper,
I planned to have the stringers attach to the outside of the rim joist w/ joist hangers. I planned to have the top of the stringer flush with the top of the rim joist because the top step will not be the deck but will be a step. The deck boards will end at the rim joist and then there will be the treads on the top of the stringer for the first step, flush with the deck boards. Hopefully I described this correctly and is an appropriate framing for steps. Or, is it generally not a wise idea to attach the stringers to the rim joist? The deck is cantilevered, so I can't add another beam to the posts to attach the stringers to, to situate the stairs so that the final step is onto the deck.
Ben
I planned to have the stringers attach to the outside of the rim joist w/ joist hangers. I planned to have the top of the stringer flush with the top of the rim joist because the top step will not be the deck but will be a step. The deck boards will end at the rim joist and then there will be the treads on the top of the stringer for the first step, flush with the deck boards. Hopefully I described this correctly and is an appropriate framing for steps. Or, is it generally not a wise idea to attach the stringers to the rim joist? The deck is cantilevered, so I can't add another beam to the posts to attach the stringers to, to situate the stairs so that the final step is onto the deck.
Ben
XSleeper
08-24-07, 03:26 PM
Yes, I understand that. If you re-read the last paragraph, it might become clear. If I understand you correctly, your question is regarding why your stringer is too short. It's because if you cut 1 1/2" off the bottom of the stringer, you should have been holding it 1 1/2" above the rim joist during your test fit.