Crappy Decks. Post The Crappy Work You See Here

dkillianjr

Now thats what I call a floating staircase, how are those even staying in place! I also like the stairs for skinny people


Dave

RobertCDF

Thats the way we hang all stairs around here (well they used a thinner metal than I use.) But I usually use FHA18 straps. All interior and exterior stairs are hung with straps from simpson. Stronger than you would think. Trust me I much prefer to demo steps built the "traditional" way. I just grab then and rip them off. With the straps you have to pull the nails.

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deckman22

Never seen post land on stair treads before, what a design! The stringers look they are hanging in midair, ha. Screw pattern is sweet too.

Al

dkillianjr

O oops I didn't even see the metal, I looked again now I see it. I've never seen those straps used around here, but I might look into them. I'm not sure what the local building inspectors would say around here though, I still think they are just finding out about ACQ

Dave

Tmrrptr

Wow, that is scary!
r

Ahren

Awww, come on guys. That's how the Home Depot 1-2-3 book told me how to do it. And I couldn't find a jigsaw or red screws at Toys R Us.

Stone Mountain

Our building code requires us to do the posts that way. That's why I make all my steps 4' wide.

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Ahren

I have to do the posts that way on those types of stairs too. But yeah, you have to make them wide enough. I see about 4 things I'd get flunked on on those stairs. Hanging them by straps certainly wouldn't fly.

"Everyone, go up and down one at a time, please! And no fat chicks!"

RobertCDF

I would stack the straps I use against the "traditional" way any day. And I guarantee mine will hold a lot more weight. straps are rated at 700+ LBS EA. I use 4-6 per staircase depending upon width and length.

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nywoodwizard

Good lord almighty, That deck is beautiful (in the eyes of the builder). Those post are a little high above the railis on the left ,not to metion how bad the rails line up. Looks like they toe screwed some nice big cca deck screws in,nice touch. I hope after thanksgiving dinner some fat bastard didn't leave down them stairs, (they probaly wouldn't fit anyway) .thats pathetic,broken bones waiting to happen. Looks like they spent time putting in a footing for the post under the stairs instead of it sitting on the slab, not that it matters after looking at the rest of that mess.

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deckman22

Must have different codes in Canada than the good 'ol US of A. I'm not trying to knock you, but no way that would pass here. We have to have a min. of 3' in the clear from grip rail to the other rail, everyone just makes them 4'.

I've never seen those straps you all are talking about, but I doubt they'd pass either. You never know tho cause Simpson comes out with new stuff all the time, then they go around & get the inspectors to buy into it. I lag or ledgerlock the side stringers onto a post along with plenty of ringshanks. A beam under the rimjoist w/center stringer nailed then hangered.

Al

Ahren

I can see what you're saying about the straps, but shouldn't there also be some blocking behind the tops of the stringers for them to rest against?

curapa

I have never seen that strap before. Could you post a picture of it? I would imagine the straps are very strong and using them would also get rid of the additional board needed to support the stairs in tight stair situations where you have drop the stairs down and use the the deck as the top tread.

Ahren

This is what I'm getting at. You say you can grab them (traditional stairs) and rip them off, which I get, I do that too. What's to stop me from grabbing them (with straps only, no blocking) and swinging them to and fro? If they are allowed to swing to and fro, won't the straps fail eventually?

Bone Saw

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curapa

I see your point, but from my recollection, deck stairs weakest link is usually is the up and down rather than side to side. The side to side movement is usually limited because of the deck boards bracing the stringers.
On the stairs I build, I always have a board behind the stringers to support them but if there's another option, I'm open to it.
It does seem very stange to look at to me, maybe I'm just not used to it yet.

curapa

It would seem the most reliable strap for stairs would be a bucket style with something for the stringer to rest on.

dkillianjr

In the past I put just a single saw blade cut in the bottom of the top of the stringer for a joist hanger to sit flat. It worked pretty good.

Dave

RobertCDF

How much weight are we going after on a set of stairs? 700 X 4 is 2,800 LBS Divide that by 9 steps (usualy the most used because if its 18 steps you would normally put in a midspan platform) And that becomes 311 LBS per step. So you could have a fat convention on the stairs before they fail. Thats if you only use 4 strigers. I use 4 stringers on 3'6" stairs and usually 5-6 stringers for 4'-5' stairs.

Bone, The first pic you made is the way its done around here. Plus 4-6 nails into the double rim to hang off of. BTW true 16D are used for stairs. Your second pic to me seems like more overkill than anyone could ever need. I have a good feeling the wood would fail before the strap due to the amount of nails in it.

To give you guys some perspective... interior FULL flight 9' drop stairs use only 3 of these same straps. NEVER seen one fail. 1/2 flights (split level) use
only 2.

I also never would do stairs the way they were done in the pic. I dont use 2x6 to begin with and I almost always use 2x10's. So yes in most cases there is something for them to "lean on".

Curapa, what you are talking about are LSSU210. and they would work very well too. In fact you would get even more overkill. You would be looking at 1200+ LBS ea.

But really like I said HOW much weight do they need to carry?

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Ahren

That's all I was saying. I'm sure the straps hold a ton of weight. But to float them in the air like that picture only gives them strength in one direction. There should definitely be something for them to rest against as well.