Exterior Stairs Design
Plan your stairs before building. The thought of building deck stairs usually makes the weekend carpenter feel a bit uneasy, especially if it’s the first time.
#1.Exterior Stairs Design
Contact the local building department to get the building code regulations on exterior stairs. The building code dictates the specific sizes for the risers and treads as well as the degree of the stair slope. Building codes are often strict in terms of the allowed slope and the size of the stairs for safety reasons.
# 2.Exterior Stairs Design
Choose a material for the exterior steps. Wood, brick, poured concrete and prefabricated concrete steps are popular options. The style of the home, your budget and personal preference play a role in material selection.
# 3.Exterior Stairs Design
Determine the location for the exterior stairs. They often lead up to the front door, landing or a porch. Decide if the steps will come straight down away from the landing or if they go off to the side.
# 4.Exterior Stairs Design
Measure the height between the ground and the door, landing or porch. Measure the distance available where the stairs will run.
# 5.Exterior Stairs Design
Determine how wide your exterior steps will be. Most exterior stairs are at least 3 feet wide, but the building code for your area will define the minimum.
# 6.Exterior Stairs Design
Determine the size of the risers and treads on the stairs. As a general rule, the bigger the treads, the shorter the risers will be. A good general measurement is 7 inches for the risers and 10 inches for the treads. Make sure these measurements will work with local the building code.






