Steps for the Deck

Not sure why it took so long for my brain to figure out the maths for the deck steps. I didn't want to have to rip any of the 2x4s down and was trying to keep as close to the 7"x11" rule of rise over run for the steps. I also had to perform some surgery on the pressure treated supports as they were bowed and made it difficult to attach anything to them. In the end I ended up gluing and fastening 2x4 supports to the sides of them (using clamps). They all cracked in half, but they at least turned out straight and with the 2x4s supports are super solid.

Getting an idea for the support structure.

Shows the 2x4 supports and how I screwed the steps into the deck.

Once again, wrapped in cedar to keep it pretty.

The finished steps.

The complete look.

Deck gets a top

Had a truck toting buddy named Matt help me grab all the wood for the deck. Had to get a bunch that was 10 feet long which was too much for my car. In order to present a nicer finish than the pressure treated structure, I got some oiled cedar planks to wrap the sides of the structure. Definitely makes it look nicer. For the top planks I used redwood. For the extra details, I used 8D nails for spacers between the 2x4 planks, and I kept a 1/4" overhang on the edges of the deck. I also made sure to keep the "bark side" of the wood up, so with aging the wood doesn't start cupping.

I mitered the corners too, for a finished look.

Kind of a before and after look.

Used the level as a guide to keep a clean cut.

Ghetto panel ripping (last one had to be 2 1/4" wide)

Close look at the cuts around the utilities.

Another close up look.

Not exactly huge for $350 worth of deck.

I've still got to make the step down from the sliding door, but just doing the top panels took most of the day. You can see I had to tweak the gutter too, just to get it out of the way. Eventually I'll divert it into a rain barrel.