Every part of your home, from the bedroom and living room to the decks and patios outside, should show who you are and fit with your idea of where you want to live. This includes both the interior and exterior of your home. People have the misconception that the interior of a house is the most important part of the structure, which results in the exterior of the building being neglected. Consider all of the minute and sometimes overlooked particulars in order to build a deck that is a perfect fit for you in every way.
Cascading stairs are a frequent type of stairway that are designed to snake their way around the corner of a low deck. This type of design is also known as a spiral staircase. Cascading stairs are a great option to consider if you have a huge deck that you want to integrate inconspicuously with the yard around it. Each step on a cascading staircase is typically relatively shallow and broad, giving the impression that the deck is flowing, or cascading, down to the ground. This effect is achieved by the staircase's use of a variety of different materials. In order to further give the idea that the deck is an extension of the natural look of the yard, cascading stairs are often constructed out of finished wood rather than metal or concrete.
Read more: Stairs Tread Nosing
This deck design and stair construction method is not only aesthetically pleasing but also extraordinarily practical. Nevertheless, lengthy cascading steps might start to seem uncomfortable and provide a risk of tripping if they are not constructed properly. If the descent requires more than around five steps, you should probably utilize a traditional staircase rather than an alternative method. It is important to keep in mind that the treads on cascading or wrap around stairs are intended to widen out and grow in size as they descend near the bottom. Because every circumstance is somewhat different, it is imperative that you give careful consideration to all of the particulars before beginning construction. Do the angles create a condition that would be suitable for the installation of these kinds of stairs?
In order to construct cascading stairs, you will need to make use of a huge number of shorter stair stringers that are placed 16 inches apart from one another. In most cases, blocking is required to provide support for the decking that is situated below slanted corners. Check that the ground is even and level along the entirety of the base of the stairs that are at grade. If your deck is elevated by one or two steps from the ground, you might be able to construct two boxes or platforms that can be joined together to form a stairway and attached to the side of the elevated deck.
Steps to build Cascading Stairs
Cascading steps offer a simple solution to climbing a shallow rise on a pathway or accessing a low deck, patio, porch or door. Such steps flare out to become wider as they descend and can be made with flat slabs of rock or shallow boxes, stacked to form steps. Since cascading steps take up more space than standard stairs, consider their placement carefully. Use them where you only need a few steps.
Step 1
To find out how many steps are required, take the total climb that is required and divide it by the height that is intended for each step. Determine the appropriate tread depth by multiplying the number of steps by the total number of steps. Mark this distance with lime or chalk line after you have measured it using a measuring tape in a direction that is perpendicular to the deck or landing area. Put a line on the deck that extends from the width of the lowest step all the way up to the deck. The area that has been demarcated should have its sod and the substrate removed to a depth of between 4 and 8 inches. To create a pad, you can either fill it with cement or use gravel that has been raked into a smooth surface. Verify that the level is appropriate.
Step 2
To construct a frame that is large enough to cover the pad, you will need to measure, mark, and cut pieces of lumber that is 2 inches by 6 inches. Put some nails in the frame to hold it all together. If you feel it's important for the box's stability, you can reinforce the interior by adding blocks or cross-bracing. To account for the overhang that will be present at the front of the step, the overall depth of the stair treads should be increased by a half inch after they have been cut from the decking board measuring 5/4 by 6 inches. Attach the treads to the frame of the box using nails. Carry out the other steps in the same manner as the first ones, bringing the depth of each box down from the one before it by one tread depth and bringing it down in width in accordance with the plans. To ensure consistency, make the height of each box the same.
Step 3
Put a pad under the bottom stair to protect it. Place the remaining boxes on top of one another in a descending sequence of size, making sure that the backs of each step are aligned and that each box is centered width-wise on the one that came before it. Strap ties will be used to connect each of the various box frames to one another, and hex bolts will be used to attach the entire assembly to the deck frame.
