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Deck stairs - 1st tread flush with top of deck or not?

einardog's picture

Deck stairs - 1st tread flush with top of deck or not? (post #186101)

einardog on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 11:43
in

Hi all. In regards to attaching stairs to a deck is the choice to have the first tread flush with the deck surface or down the height of one riser just a matter of preference? I see in the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide figure 31 that you can use joist hangers to attach the stringers and that the 1st tread is flush with the deck.

 

 

  

-A +A

I can't say that I've ever (post #186101, reply #1 of 6)

by DanH in reply to einardog [original] on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 12:22

I can't say that I've ever seen a deck stairway where the top tread was flush with the deck surface.  Would make it a mini-landing, no?


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

I like the first tread flush (post #186101, reply #2 of 6)

by florida in reply to einardog [original] on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 13:51

I like the first tread flush if there is run room.  Seems safer to me but we do them both ways.

I agree with the if there is (post #186101, reply #3 of 6)

by jimatgreatwhite in reply to einardog [original] on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 21:28

I agree with the if there is room for it! I have never done it that way though. Personal preference should be OK.

The only thing it's going to (post #186101, reply #4 of 6)

by DanH in reply to einardog [original] on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 05:37

The only thing it's going to make a difference with is where the handrail starts.


We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. --Thomas Edison

>>>you can use joist hangers (post #186101, reply #5 of 6)

by Scott in reply to einardog [original] on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 11:34

>>>you can use joist hangers to attach the stringers and that the 1st tread is flush with the deck.

 

That's what I did with our (unfinished) deck. See the pic.

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Whatever you like (post #186101, reply #6 of 6)

by Piffin in reply to einardog [original] on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 19:28

It is a simple design choice. Either works.

 

Generally you end up with an extra pair of newel posts by projecting before descending.

 

 


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