A small deck with stairs can add beauty to your home and provide an extra living space where you can spend a lazy afternoon.  This can be a good weekend project for you if you want to know how to build a small deck with steps and do it by yourself.  Here’s how:

1. Identify a location where you want the deck to be and clear the area of grass, rocks or debris.  Make a design for your deck with all the necessary dimensions you have in mind. It’s best to consult the local code in your area too.

2. Prepare the necessary materials and get started with building the deck. Assemble the deck frame using galvanized nails. Secure metal galvanized L-brackets to the end of 2×8 rim joists with special hanger screws. Set ends or rim joists against the house and screw L-brackets to plywood sheeting. You can now install 2×8 ledgers between rim joists and fasten them to the house wall with 3 inch decking screws.

3. Install 2×6 deck joists between the rim joists with galvanized metal joist hangers. A 4×4 post in the outer corner of the deck can now be installed. Now secure posts to a 2×8 sleeper with metal L-brackets and fasten posts to the deck frame with 3” decking screws. You can now lay out the decking boards and attach.

4. Now it is time to build the deck steps. Make the necessary measurements for the width of each stair tread and the height of your deck.  Divide the deck height by 7 or 6 inches and you will get the number of steps that is required from the ground onto the top of your deck.  A fraction of an inch can be rounded off. Calculate the T or the tread.  This is the width of the step from front to the back. Twice the R or the riser height plus the tread width should be between 24 and 46 inches.  In formula form, it’s (2 x R) + T = 24 to 26 inches.  So for a 6 inch riser, the tread should be between 12 inches and 14 inches.

5. Pour foundation and add a kicker plate if desired. This is the board attached to the foundation with bolts or concrete nails. Based on your measurements, make a stringer or a board that has the patterns cut into it. Start with marking the height dimensions of a step onto the short arm of a framing square then place this onto the board with this mark at the outside edge of the board. Hold the square in place, sliding it up and down until the width dimension on the long arm of the square is on the edge of the board. Trace around the outside edge of the framing square and this should look like a V. Continue marking treads to look like VVV, depending on the number in your diagram.

6. Using a hand saw, cut along the traced line, but before that subtract the tread’s thickness from the bottom of the stringer and notch out the bottom to have a perfect fit on the kicker plate.  As soon as that’s done, check the alignment with the deck and make another one. To exposed joists, attach the tops of the stringers and further attach the bottom of the stringers to the kicker plate with lag screws.

7. Cut risers and treads, leaving ¾ inch overhang on both sides.  You can now nail risers in place on the deck and add treads, remembering to fasten the bottom edges of the risers to the back of the treads.

How to make a small deck with steps is a simple and enjoyable activity. Careful measurements are needed to avoid job repetitions and wasting materials. If this is your first project, perhaps you’ll look forward to more carpentry work again in the future.