Check your local code to be sure of specific requirements for your area.
Attaching deck stairs to landing.
Tack the skirts to the rim with 3 in.
When attaching stair stringers use a level to draw two plumb lines to mark the left and right positions for the skirts and horizontal lines to mark the top tread location.
Learn how to build deck stairs.
Attaching deck stairs to footings.
Laying out attaching deck stair stringers how you attach the stair stringers to the top of the deck and to any landings will be critical.
For this deck the landing will be a pad on top of a 4 inch layer of gravel extending beyond the steps about 36 inches.
Another common landing is a concrete pad.
As mentioned above the base plate is the horizontal piece of wood usually a 2 4 that connects the stringers at the base of.
For step by step instructions on building a concrete pad landing take a look at how to build a concrete pad.
Every set of stairs has to be connected to the deck somehow.
As a bonus he details a rock solid method of attaching the bottom railing posts to the stairs.
If you are landing on a concrete pad or a patio this should not be a problem.
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.
A concrete pad does not require the footings to rise above grade like other landing types.
However if you are landing on the yard you may want to install paver blocks or fill the area with compacted gravel to promote drainage.
Guertin also explains how he pours a concrete stair landing pad and how he attaches the bottom of the stairs to that.
The final stage in building your deck is likely going to be when you connect the stairs to the deck.
On the decks i built in the past i never gave much thought to how secure the connection was between the stairs and the deck frame.
Deck stair construction varies but the general requirements are consistent.
Attach the skirt boards to the rim joist.
Attaching stairs to a deck.
Then screw through the back of the deck rim into the skirts with three more deck.
Stair stringers should always land on a level and well drained surface.
One of the easiest ways to attach deck stair footings to concrete is through the base plate.