How to Cut Deck Stair Stringers
The stair stringers are essentially the backbone of your staircase. Always use straight, high-quality, pressure-treated 2x12s for stair stringers. If you are planning on resting the stringer on the ground, make sure the wood has .60 RET level. You want the crown side of the board to be on the cut side.
In order to prepare the stringers, you will want to lay out one of your 2x12s on saw horses and use a framing square and clamps to trace the outline of the stair using the information from the Decks.com Stair Calculator. If you line up the riser height and tread depth on the framing square and align it to the stringer, you will be able to find the exact angle to cut your stairs. Repeat this process along the stringer. Because the bottom step will be the ground, you will find that it will be too short by the height of one tread. After the stringers have been marked, you must make an adjustment. Drop the stringer by cutting off the thickness of one tread to adjust for landing on the ground. Depending on how you are attaching the top step, you may need to make an additional adjustment to maintain a uniform stair design.
Here are easy tips to cut your stair stringers:
1. Use a circular saw to perform the cuts, but be cautious to not over-cut your guidelines. This will look bad and will weaken the stringer. Instead, use a handsaw to finish the cut cleanly. Once one stringer has been completed and tested for accuracy, you can simply use it as a template to produce the others.
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How to Cut Deck Stair Stringers
The stair stringers are essentially the backbone of your staircase. Always use straight, high-quality, pressure-treated 2x12s for stair stringers. If you are planning on resting the stringer on the ground, make sure the wood has .60 RET level. You want the crown side of the board to be on the cut side.
In order to prepare the stringers, you will want to lay out one of your 2x12s on saw horses and use a framing square and clamps to trace the outline of the stair using the information from the Decks.com Stair Calculator. If you line up the riser height and tread depth on the framing square and align it to the stringer, you will be able to find the exact angle to cut your stairs. Repeat this process along the stringer. Because the bottom step will be the ground, you will find that it will be too short by the height of one tread. After the stringers have been marked, you must make an adjustment. Drop the stringer by cutting off the thickness of one tread to adjust for landing on the ground. Depending on how you are attaching the top step, you may need to make an additional adjustment to maintain a uniform stair design.
Here are easy tips to cut your stair stringers:
1. Use a circular saw to perform the cuts, but be cautious to not over-cut your guidelines. This will look bad and will weaken the stringer. Instead, use a handsaw to finish the cut cleanly. Once one stringer has been completed and tested for accuracy, you can simply use it as a template to produce the others.
How to Build Box Steps for Your Deck
Learn how to build a set of box platforms to act as stairs for a low deck. You don't need to cut stair stringers.
Anchoring Deck Stairs
Learn how to anchor your deck stairs to a concrete landing pad or footings. Follow our step-by-step instructions with photos.
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Explore Articles by Topic

Footings
Information related to installing frost footings for decks

Framing
Learn structural framing methods

Decking
Learn about wood and composite decking materials

Stairs
An in-depth look at the complex issue of how to build stairs

Railings
How to install guardrails and handrails to meet IRC code

Features
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights

Design
The basics of deck design

Planning
Learn about permits and working with contractors

Porches & Patios
Build a covered deck to enjoy all seasons

Ledger
Proper attachment techniques

Care
Maintain your deck to maintain your investment

Materials
An overview on water drainage, benches, planters and lights