Deck Stair Stringers??

KentWhitten

Yep, me too, like 7 inches, not more than 7¼. Never 2x10's. Most times I sister another 2x12 onto the side to make sort of a retro thick skirtboard. Looks decent and helps with strength issues.

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Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

JOHN THE HANDYMAN

From my experience, each state, occassionally city/town have their own rules/laws, codes we must follow. I will admit occassionally I don't think until it is late about such things. Most cases it is common sense things. Aperfect example just came mind, when I was 23 I built my own home. No landing at the top of 3 steps at front door. Well one afternoon I was in rush and didn't pay attention, carrying my son in his carseat in front of me. I fell down those steps and by the grace of god, (so his mother says) there was a 4 ft snow bank we landed in. My 200+ lbs could have caused great bodily harm to my son if it had not been for the snow. From that point on there was a 4' square landing and a handly cap ramp.
As for steps I was taught to use 2x12 step and 2x6 riser on top of 2x12, giving approx 101/2" step and 7" rise.

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thom

R311.5.4.1 Landings for stairways. There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway.
R311.5.5 Stairway walking surface. The walking surface of treads and landings of stairways shall be sloped no steeper than one unit vertical in 48" horizontal (2 percent slope).

Maybe you don't use the IRC in CO. Most places do now. As for what other deck builders do, who cares. Tell the judge when you get a speeding ticket that everyone else was speeding too. See how far that gets you.

When someone gets hurt, the homeowners insurance will pay. They will then go back on the party that violated code. Maybe nothing happens for the first 50 jobs, 10 years. When it happens, the cost of non-compliance turns out much greater than the cost of compliance would have been on all the other jobs combined.

RobertCDF

Where does that read concrete?

What I was trying to point out about other deck builders is that not all states FOLLOW those codes to the letter.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Bone Saw

ditto

RYANINMICHIGAN

I have to jump on this wagon also. And i would not buy a precut stringer if they were free. Well No I will cut my own thanks

RYANINMICHIGAN

Actually my thoughts on those are they are for DIYs with limited carpentry skill. Cutting stairs is a fundamental every carpenter should posses.

boman47k

Hd sells 3 and 5 tread stringers, but I decided to build my own. I can't see how they could work outside of the rise and run they are cut for. Cost me about the same, maybe a little more, but I also wanted to build them as I had never built stairs before. This was not work for the public, it was for my own use. By the way, I dug a shallow pit at the bottom of the stairs and filled it with gravel. So I have a gravel landing that spreads out in front of them.

Deck stairs, by the way.

Patrick

we did a rental unit where the owner was creating a basement apartment, We cut the foundation to install a 3068 basement door and had a hole dug for a precast set of stairs that went up about 7 feet to ground level. I put in all the necesary railings and we failed inspection, the inspector insisted on a 36"x36" landing at the TOP OF THE STAIRS!!! we basicly made a pallet out of 2x4's with a piece of 3/4 pt ul and dropped it on the ground at the top of the stairs and he passed it.!!!!!!!!!!!! simply amazing!!! oh yea and I cut my own stringers. When i started using a new lumber yard my salesman insisted on sending out stringers with our decks until i had a little talk with him. He said most contractors they deal with dont know how to cut stringers!!

LNG24

No One cares about permitsuntil the inspector comes out or wore yet, the lawyer comes out and measures the steps and checks it against code IBC code that is.

See how quickly your "friend" will be willing to take 100% of the liability lawsuit if and if you don't follow code...WHEN someone falls down those steps. Even if HE did decide to be the fall guy, his insurance company will persue you and check your insurance carefully. I do believe that most companies have a disclaimer. If you don't have proper permits, or if you don't follow code...You are not covered.

Also, every insurance company I know of is very specific as to what kind of work I can perform. If I go outside of that scope, I am flying blind.

Now I am not saying don't build them, but just research the hell out of stair building FIRST. Buy a book on it or go to the library and research the techniques. YOUR questions are what gave away your lack of experience to take on this project. So if you are going to build it, DO IT RIGHT. GET PERMITS! Why would you not unless you are doing something illegal. If you build them wrong and a neighbor reports you, you will have to tear it out and do it again and your FRIEND will end up in court paying some fines.