QA

Question: How To Attach Stringers To A Deck

How do you attach stair stringers to a deck?

Attach the stringers to the deck using angle brackets and 3” galvanized deck screws. Cut a 2×6 board to fit snugly between the two stringers at their base. This will be used to fasten the stairs to the concrete pad. Place the board between the stringers and attach to stringers with 3” galvanized deck screws.

Do stair stringers need hangers?

To attach stair stringers to a deck, you must use a metal stair stringer hanger. End-nailing, toe-nailing, or screwing stringers to a header is not allowed per the International Residential Code. Metal hangers must use appropriately sized nails or fasteners specific to the stringer hanger manufacturer.

What do deck stringers sit on?

Your stair stringers will rest on your landing pad, but you should include a base plate. A bearing block is typically a 2×4 that connects your stringers.

Are stair stringers 2×10 or 2×12?

It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

How far apart can deck stair stringers be?

Deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 stringers spaced about 12 to 16 inches apart. They rest on a solid foundation and are attached to the deck with hangers. They have risers (also called toe kicks), treads and railings. The stairs should be at least 36 inches wide.

Do deck stairs need to be anchored?

How to Anchor Deck Stairs to Concrete. Stair stringers should always land on a level and well-drained surface. With frost footings in place, you can use a concrete anchor, base plate and short post in order to create a solid ground connection. A 3′ x 3′ level landing area is required at the base of all staircases.

Can you use joist hangers for stringers?

This metal bracket supports the stringer and holds it on the framing. Stringer hangers look like joist hangers and function in the same way. Most local code authorities require the use of stringer hangers, and using them makes installation easier.

Should I use nails or screws for stairs?

The answer is both. You should use nails to attach the deck’s joists and stair stringers to its framing. You should use screws to attach decking and railings to the framing.

What should deck stairs land on?

Just like a deck, a landing needs to have footings, posts, beams, and joists. The minimum size for a landing is 3 feet by 3 feet or the width of the stair sections meeting at the landing—whichever is greater.

Can you make a stringer out of 2×10?

Pressure-treated or cedar 2×10 or 2×12 can be used depending on the depth of the cut-outs you’ll be using. By code you will need a minimum of 3-1/2″ of material left on the stringer after the cut-outs and that area should also be free of large knots which would weaken the stringer.

What size lumber are stair stringers cut from?

Selecting stringer stock Stringers should always be cut from 2x12s. Notching smaller stock doesn’t leave enough wood to safely carry the loads of a stair. When ordering stringers, allow about 14 inches of stringer length for each step. Look for straight stock with as few knots as possible.

How many stringers Trex steps?

Composite deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 pressure-treated stringers spaced about 8 to 16 inches apart. They rest on a solid foundation and are attached to the deck with hangers. They have risers (also called toe kicks), treads and railings. Stairs should be at least 36 inches wide.

What is code for deck stairs?

Requirements for Deck Stairs Stair rails on decks should be between 34 inches and 38 inches high, measured vertically from the nose of the tread to the top of the rail. Treads must be at least 10 inches deep, measuring from front to back.

How do you attach treads to stringers?

nail treads in place Nail a riser on each upright face of the stringers – all the way down. Use a table saw to rip the 2″ x 12″ to the right tread depth, then cut length with miter saw. Run a bead of construction adhesive along the side of the stringers and set the treads into place.

How many stringers do I need?

The number of stringers you need is a function of the width of the staircase and the tread material. Cut stringers can be spaced no more than 18 inches on center, so a 3-foot-wide staircase needs three stringers, and a set of slightly wider stairs (say 3 feet 6 inches) needs four stringers.

How do you reinforce stair stringers?

One of the easiest methods of reinforcing your wood stair stringers is using 2×12 skirt boards along the outsides of your stairs. A skirt board is pretty much what it sounds like; triangular shaped wood that goes along the sides of your stair and hides all of the unsightly notched stringers and hardware.

What is a stringer Joist?

The stringer is the piece of lumber bolted to the house upon which the joists are fixed on or to. The spacing between the bolts depends on the size of the stringer and the span of the joists which are fixed on or to it.

How many stringers do I need for a 36 inch wide staircase?

If cut stringers are used in the stair construction, then at least three stringers are required. Cut stringers should be spaced no more than 18 inches on center. For example, a 36-inch-wide stairway should have three stringers. If the stairway is wider than 36 inches, four stringers should be installed.