Stairs from back door

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Aaron Abbott

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Springdale, AR
I tore down a deck behind my house and plan to put in a paved patio in it’s place. First, I need to put in some stairs from the back door. I’ve looked around for the best way to do this but can only find a few instructional videos. Some have the stair supported by posts concreted into the ground. Others just show connecting to the house with the bottoms resting on the ground.

I think I want to extend the stairs from the left side of the door (left from looking outside), all the way to the wall on the right. That’s would be about 60” wide. I know I need 4 stringers. Do I need railings on both sides? Do I need posts cemented into the ground? Do I need a landing or can I just start the steps right outside the door?

Any help is appreciated!

https://imgur.com/1P4jAwc
 
1st, you ned to upload a more panoramic view; "I think I want to extend the stairs from the left side of the door (left from looking outside), all the way to the wall on the right."

2nd, you have some serious issues to deal with, such as rotting rim joist.
 
Thanks.
Most jurisdiction have specific criteria for hand and stairrails, and they are generally available either online or as a handout, and I would suggest that you need them.

As for the platform, you can do that as floating and not attached to the dwelling, or attached. One requires a lot of demo and flashing, the other not.

The stringers for the, depending upon the height of the finished base, 3 or 4 steps, can be anchored rest on that.
 
Thanks.
Most jurisdiction have specific criteria for hand and stairrails, and they are generally available either online or as a handout, and I would suggest that you need them.

As for the platform, you can do that as floating and not attached to the dwelling, or attached. One requires a lot of demo and flashing, the other not.

The stringers for the, depending upon the height of the finished base, 3 or 4 steps, can be anchored rest on that.

Thanks for the help!

So is the platform the same as a landing? I don’t need to attach it to the area under the door? Most videos I’ve send talk about attaching a 2x4 and then attaching the stringers to that.
 
Yes, and you can do it that way, but keep in mind that you need to remove the siding affected and flash to prevent water intrusion. Where in a floating deck, landing or platform, you do not., be sides which, the footings are far simpler.
 
Yes, and you can do it that way, but keep in mind that you need to remove the siding affected and flash to prevent water intrusion. Where in a floating deck, landing or platform, you do not., be sides which, the footings are far simpler.

That’s a lot of help. Besides getting local code info, know where I can find good documentation on getting started?
 
I would go with a small landing/porch rather than just having the steps. Having a small porch/landing makes the transition easier, especially if you have a screen/storm door that opens out.
 
I think I’ve decided to do that and have the steps come down to the left side. There’s a door on the right wall that would prevent me from going straight out if I include a landing.
 
Check your town's building department for the codes you need to build to. People fall on stairs all the time, so stairs are an item that will have a ton of code requirements. For example:
-you may be required to have a landing at the top of the stairs
-if you need a landing at the top of the stairs, then they will also specify minimum length for the landing
-probably exists a minimum width for the stairs
-handrails, rise/run, etc will also be covered by code
 
bud16415, has experience.

I built a fully floating hot tub deck 12x16 with about the same height and steps leading off of it. Mine is supporting a 6000 lb tub and the weight of people and furniture and such on top of it. It has worked out fine for 5 years now. There is always some slight movement with winter freeze thaw cycles but if the structure is self supporting it works fine. Mine was kept away from the house 1” and the deck height was kept 1” lower than the house floor.


Mobile homes all have free floating entry stairs and landings around here.


There is also no problem doing poles and not attaching the stairs and landing to the ledger of the house.


Ether way I would fix what needs repaired to the house and run the siding and flashing down the full distance and then build the stairs slightly away from the house and then ether set them in place or anchor them in place.


The only way I would include them to the house is if there was going to be a small non-heated mudroom with roof as the landing.
 
You need to deal wit that wall first, the door should be pulled for inspection and door pan install.
If you are attaching to the house you want the landing 6" lower than the floor in the house, landing should 3ft x3 ft.
GLoDS40.jpg
 
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