FTF #52 Stairs Without Stringers? Here's How

I was laying in bed last week when I had a vision for how to build stairs without using stringers. Turns out that it can be done and the Samurai has once again changed the course of history. Ur welcome.

[Fishycian]

"The birds are already shitting on my deck" :D Needed that laugh!!!

[hamishr]

Just as solid as any stringer ...made one on my back porch 6 years past...hasn't budged. .great job

[Matausi]

I like your approach to building. I know there seems to be a bit more work involved in what you have constructed in compare to a standard stringer stairs, but I love the fact that you use your imagination to come up with an idea that is different from the norm building standard. As a carpenters, our job is to think outside the square come up with an idea and a solution to a problem we encounter in the building process.

[abz]

Great design... Very Clever.

Based on my understanding of force transmission, (I studied Mechanical Engineering), your stairs will hold a horse. You can omit the rod from the second step, (closest to the bottom step) as the force is transmitted straight down onto the first stair that sits on cement footing. All you really need is to attach the second stair to the first is a vertical plank on the inside of the construction with the screws going in a horizontal direction.

Assuming that the stairs incline is 45 degrees, the resultant force on the mid level stair, will will push horizontally into the deck as well as exert vertical tension on the the steel rods which can hold hundreds of lbs each.

[dsbradley]

The stairs are a cool idea and I admire the engineering! The potential failure of the stairs which in the case might not happen due to the smaller size reminds me a lot of what I learned in school about the Hyatt Regency Walkway collapse. Essentially the walkway was held up not by the rods but merely shear strength of the threads. This is a similar example the stairs are really being held together in the same way. Neat idea though could probably be a way to trouble shoot this and continue to improve this design

[jludtxs]

it looks like a good design. I did something similar but with wider platforms for a grandma so she would have room to set down her bags and steady herself before taking the next step.

[jaqummh]

i really like the guy in background. just solid dude. on the background. solid dude. on the background. just solid

[seanwise]

Was looking for a solution to build a set of "Walker Stairs" for a disabled friend . This looks like the perfect plan. Thanks for the good stuff!

[John_Malecki]

Very cool dude. Crazy how some ideas just come to you!

[augustreil]

I always go around the decks I build with a 4'' grinder with an 80 grit soft pad and kill all the sharp edges, makes a huge difference with the appearance. Those stairs look great and always a good video. Thanks.

[sanjaysami]

The stairs look super solid ! I love the bored look on your henchman face.

[chronus]

over time the wood will shrink but the way you have it they can be tightened down until the shrinkage has run its course. Very clever idea. I really like seeing new ideas, especially ones like this that is well thought out. thanks!!!!

[anywherebc]

Make sure you keep the bushes around your deck nice and trimmed.. it will make your deck look bigger.

[nozmoking]

Novel idea but at a glance this seems to be a lot more work than chopping out a basic set of stringers. Plus, with contracting and shrinking I would think the bolts are bound to get loose over time.I'm glad you mentioned the fact that an inspector might crap all over the place if they caught wind of it...

[christophercohoe]

Ever tried a mitered skirt board down the stringer. Clean wraps right into the risers.

[realityisntachoice]

The bottom will rot out quickly if it's not slightly supported off the ground.
And due to the box design it will come unstable as it gets older.
Alot quicker than stringers.
You created a house of cards..
Now take them off before someone gets hurt and do it right.
Its not so hard

[jeffanderton]

I've been building decks for lets just say a long time. Your back bevel on the end grain for drainage is 'Samurai Perfection'.

[keithkuckler]

We have always called these "portage" stairs. We use them for landscape stairs and trails. They are easy to build to adjust for a change in terrain. We usually back fill the inside of the stairs with fill, and then apply the treads. they work good, because you can scribe abound rocks if you need to. I have never used them for deck stairs, looks like a lot of extra material. if you do not like open stairs, you can always add risers between the treads to box in the stairs as you would with a traditional stair.

[scorpiuswireless]

Ive been doing this for years.
Advantages is you can stack them randomly up through curvy landscapes, add posts then add decking. I can make them at home too and take to the job.

[plidder]

Nice job on the stairs. They look rock solid and are defiantly up to cottage code. I'll try to use these on my new deck at the cottage.