Box Step Construction (Boxed Stair Design)

Steps comprise of three major parts. The top of a measure is Called the The”riser”, also sometimes called the”toe kick” is the front surface of a stair which runs from the top of the stair below, to the bottom of the tread. Many deck stairs don’t have any risers, having open space beneath the tread instead. A”stringer” is the diagonal support running along each side of stairs in conventional stair structure. Building deck staircase can be achieved in a number of ways, therefore you need to pick the option that meets your needs. From our experience we can say that constructing staircase to get an elevated deck is a complicated job, as it requires a great deal of preparation and calculus.

Wooden Deck Steps or Boxed Steps

Stairs on decks are typically wide and short. This is for safety and ease of construction. A typical deck stair “tread” or top, is made with two deck boards, side by side. When building steps, it is essential to build every step the same height as the others to prevent tripping. A standard stair is 10 by 8, or approximately ten inches wide and eight inches tall.

For decks that are less than 18 inches tall, one step is typically sufficient. The simplest way to construct a single step is the box step. If your deck needs multiple stairs, multiple box steps, or stringer stairs are the solution.

 

 

Single Box Step Layout

Box Step Construction

1. Cut five pieces of framing, three pieces 3 inches shorter than the width of your stair tread.
2. Cut two pieces as wide as your stair tread from 2×8 PT material.
3. Stand the front and back pieces on edge and position the three shorter pieces between them, perpendicular to the front and rear pieces to create a rectangle.
4. Position one short piece flush with either end of the front and rear pieces.
5. Position the remaining piece in the center of the rectangle.
6. Fasten the box together using 3 inch deck screws.

Double Box Step Design

Double box steps are built using the same techniques as for a single step. You will need one box for each step.

1. Build your bottom step twice as wide as a single step.
2. Build your top step as you would for a single step.
3. Fasten the two frames together, with the back framing members flush with each other.
4. Add decking on top of your frame.

Here’s a short video on another type of Box Steps Construction from homebuildingandrepairs.com.

Hope you find this article useful. Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.