Let’s be clear – footings and a landing pad or wooden box are not the same thing. Typically, most North American building codes require all deck steps to terminate on a minimum 3×3 foot landing pad. If your backyard is extremely flat, the code will allow you to forgo a landing pad.
Can deck stairs rest on the ground?
SAFE, SUPPORTED STAIRS: Deck-stair construction varies, but the general requirements are consistent: proper footing support, and an adequate landing. Regardless of the stair run and number of treads, the stairway needs a footing at the bottom to support the stringers—they can’t just rest on the ground.
What do you put under stairs on a deck?
If the area under your deck or stairs will collect water or is prone to gathering moisture, an inorganic mulch such as gravel, crushed rocks or river rocks is best. Gravel is a good material to place under outdoor structures, because it allows water to drain and doesn’t decompose.
How do you secure deck stairs to the ground?
How to Anchor Deck Stairs to Concrete
- Use your jigsaw. Notch out the bottom front of the center stair stringers to accept a 2×4 base plate.
- Make sure your stringers are level. Fasten the base plate to the stair stringers with screws.
- Locked in place.
Do concrete stairs need footings?
Footings – When your concrete steps attach to a building, you need concrete footings. In new construction, the footings for concrete steps are normally installed by the foundation contractor.
Do deck stairs need risers?
Most high-end deck projects use closed risers to finish the stairs. Open risers sometimes appear cheap and unfinished. They also are often in violation of IRC code for decks over 30″, which maintains that they meet the same requirements as guardrail infill.
How long can stairs be without support?
The minimum recommended size for a deck stair stringer is 2×12, which has a maximum recommended unsupported span of 6 feet. Often this maximum span is dangerously exceeded, resulting in overspanned stringers that will deflect and cause the connection at the deck to pull loose and fail.
Do deck stair stringers need support?
Yes, the stringers need to be supported along their length, but they can span a few feet too, depending on 1) the width of the stairs, 2) the number of stringers, and 3) size of riser board. 1) The wider the stair the more load will be transferred to the stringers.
How do you support long deck stairs?
If your stringers are more than 10′ long, we recommend installing a rigid beam at mid-span to add support to the structure. The strength of stair stringers is considerably weakened by the cuts made to create the stair surfaces, and stairs must be…
How deep should a footing be for stairs?
42 inches
Footings must be at least 42 inches in depth. They may be block, poured concrete wall or post footings. Also, the Landing of the steps, must be at least 36 inches from where it abuts (lies adjacent to) the house out to the first step.
How deep are foundations for stairs?
Make sure the ground is well compacted on each step. You need to make a foundation for the bottom step to be built up from – dig out a small trench along the front of the step and back the length of a brick at each corner. The trench should be 150mm (6”) deep and twice the width of the bricks.
What type of concrete is used for steps?
Steps constructed from QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix or QUIKRETE® 5000 High Early Strength Concrete Mix are attractive and durable, and can provide good traction is wet weather. For homes, they are usually built 48″ (14.6m) wide, or at least as wide as the door and walk they serve.
Do stairs need overhang?
You are not required to have a nosing/overhang on your stair treads. But if your stairs don’t have a nosing you are required to have a tread that is at least 11 inches long.
Should deck stairs be open or closed?
Closed Deck Stairs
Closed stairs are safer for small children or pets that might accidentally slip through open risers. (Gaps in stair risers are rarely a safety hazard, but they do make some people nervous while climbing because they can see through.)
How much support does a staircase need?
Regarding structural design criteria, 2018 IBC Table 1607.1 (30) requires stairs to resist a minimum live load of 300 pounds (concentrated load) or 100 pounds per square foot (psf), or 40 psf for one one-and two-family dwellings.
How long can a deck stair stringer be?
Stair stringers should not span more than 13 feet and 3 inches (4039 mm) for a closed stringer. Cut stringers should not span more than 6 feet (1829 mm). Refer to the American Wood Council’s 2018 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide for stringer spans.
Should stair stringers be 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 long can stringers be without support?
Solid stringers seem to be able to get to about 13 feet without support.
Contents