DIY Wooden Walkway with Stairs | Fast, Simple, Inexpensive

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

April, this deck build getting better and better! The stairs are very nice and the use of the Tuff Blocks is incredible. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas! Keep on building!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Looking good April, we are wondering what's next with the deck repairs and remodeling, it's awesome. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@vtnatural]

Beautiful work April! Terra Plus looks beautiful on these stairs!

[@robertkerby2581]

Yet another well thought out; well designed; and well executed project! Well done, April!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@fredsnit5699]

April always comes out with gems. So many great products and techniques here! Spectacular!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying my channel. Thanks for watching.

[@shangrilahomestead9930]

Wow! Great job!😊

[@jaypadulchick1355]

I love the color of your deck and skirting!❤

[@abbayhvhreigns7iloveyeshua650]

Thank you for Sharing these Wonderful Projects & Correct Process/Execution of getting the build completed. Another Wonderful Sunday Well Spent Learning, Enjoying, Creating & Improving a spacious Homestead Cheers April

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.

[@McTroyd]

Thanks for showing the TuffBlocks, April. I think this might be useful for a small storage shed I'm planning to build.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes, they are a game changer to be sure! Thanks for watching.

[@splinters_66]

Hope you enjoyed your trip to Australia, apart from the weather. Thanks for helping make Wooddust 23 such a fun experience for all us woodworkers and makers.

[@AprilWilkerson]

I certainly did! Memories of a lifetime to be sure. Thanks for watching.

[@troytaylor4588]

That was a great choice to use red cedar and the stain color!! Fantastic again April!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@louroberts5567]

Good morning, April! Wow! This deck gets better with every video. Thanks so much for sharing all your tips and tricks, once again. Happy Memorial day to you, your family and crew. God bless.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you! Yes, I just love it and am glad you are enjoying the video. Thanks for watching.

[@MisterTee2010]

Looking great April ❤

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@dennishinkle5010]

I recently got a battery powered stapler and fell in love with it right away. Great build because I need to build a back porch walkway out to my BBQ pit. Thank you for sharing.👍♥️

[@AprilWilkerson]

Great! I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.

[@mindyash6116]

I learn so much from watching you. Thank you

[@Angelarea51]

well done - looks amazing - can we have some more views of the pool xx

[@FredMcIntyre]

Nicely done April! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@annie-centrepiecefurniture]

Tuff blocks 😊😊 . Board walk looks so great a nice gentle walk down to the yard 😊

[@Portacoolevaporativecoolers]

Great job, April! We are happy to keep you COOL through all your projects! #Portacool #StayKuul #KeepingAmericaCool

[@Druforithe]

wow. love how that turned out. what’s the hole in the deck skirting for?

[@teaberrywmn]

Just the idea and tutorial I needed. Thank you for sharing.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@Rottvan111]

I really like the simple design and easy build concept but would the stairs move after heavy rain?

[@AprilWilkerson]

So far it hasn't and we've had some log floaters! :)

[@more.power.]

Brilliant build April thanks for the share. Cheers

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@dddube12]

Awesome April!!!!

[@Lexylehnen83]

So awesome! I’m a newbie at carpentry still but I love this!!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes, it's an easy way to make steps. Thanks for watching.

[@macsrock2010]

Your deck is looking very cool 😎 👍

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Yes, I'm loving it more every day. Thanks for watching.

[@ecospider5]

I like benite for my primer coat. It definitely makes the stain go on smoothly.

[@stevestormssr5492]

Great idea and video. I am so jealous! One suggestion though. Create a slight depression in the ground where you want to place the gravel. This will better contain the gravel and maintain a level platform for the posts. 💯

[@jeffeverde1]

+1 On that slope, I fear you'll find your "footings" eroding with the first good rain. if the grade runs across your stairs, a rock lines dry creek bed is a good decorative way to keep the drainage away from the footings. If the slope runs parallel with the stairs, a slight swale on either side would be a good just-in-case measure

[@jvanamb]

Great job. But two questions. On those tapered skirtings did you encapsulate the cut ends from water rot? And most importantly WHERE THAT BEAUTIFUL TREE HOUSE & OUTDOOR KITCHEN? How does this deck build connect with the treehouse? Jim in N.Y.

[@isiahrowser]

That is PHAT!!!! 😍😍😍

[@kierenhudson6331]

Wow. I was just about to search how to do long wooden stairs on KZbin as my garden is on 3 different levels that drop by 1 foot each 😅😮

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️JUST FYI…MAKE SURE YOUR STEPS ARE NO MORE THAN 7 1/4 in. Or maybe split the difference on the steps 6 in. Making them even better to walk on 🤗 BEST OF SUCCESS 💚💚💚

[@nore8141]

I’m thinking of using these tough blocks on a shed , thanks 🙏

[@k4x4map46]

nice! the original landing gives me an idea to curve those slats to orient with the walkway stair slats --- might be a bit challenging on the cut angles though...liking that chalk reel

[@Socomolove]

Wow the deck looks great! What a great place to chill and relax, wondering what is the hole below the deck on between 0:33 and 0:35 second and later 6:54 you be showing demo soon on that? 👍👌👏

[@atolawanglangit]

amazing job

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️ APRIL,WE WATCHED THE FIRST VIDEO 👍 AND WE AGREE THAT THIS IS A GAME CHANGER …LOVING ❤️ THE WHOLE PROJECT 👍💚💚💚

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying the whole Series. Thanks for watching.

[@johnlee7085]

As always, great build and video. Love the deck and cedar in particular. Also wondering if you are finding or have any thoughts on heat treated lumber? There are a variety of innovative building materials that have used heat treatment in place of pressure treatment, and more recently pallets. This year, I have found dimensional lumber being carried by our local bigbox store. It is really affordable as well.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice work on the stairs April! Thank you for always sharing with us!💖👍😎JP

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you for watching. It's very much appreciated.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

@@AprilWilkerson Your very welcome April! Have a wonderful week!😎

[@stevenrobinson9610]

I suspect that you do not need to worry about ground frost moving the Tuff Blocks being you are in Texas. In northern Minnesota we need to get 48"+ below the surface to get below the frost line. Maybe adjustable posts on the front side of each boardwalk tier would work....

[@ActinOut]

For basic ground-level things such as this in frost areas, one of my thoughts is to flatten the head of 2-3' long pieces of rebar to be like a rounded nail head, drill some holes in the outer flaps of the Tuff Blocks according to the rebar size and drive a couple of them through the Tuff Blocks into the ground. This gets the rebar through the frost level and reinforces that the Tuff blocks aren't going to wash away, but also holds them down. If the blocks or rebar do get lifted a bit, it will be minimal and can be easily driven back down. I doubt there will need to be code with this kind of a project and rebar would address any concerns of the Tuff Blocks moving. Just a thought anyway.

[@dannygeouge8459]

who doesn't want to live there, beautiful house and deck!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thank you! Yes, I love living here. Thanks for watching.

[@bobcole3852]

Very nice indeed

[@ΓΕΡΑΣΙΜΟΣΣΤΡΑΓΓΑΣ]

Perfect job 👏👏

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@TundeEszlari]

You are a very good KZbinr. ❤

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Beautiful work! But I would’ve ran the planks the other way, including the original platform.

[@OtterEleven]

From a designer perspective, she chose the right orientation. The vertical lines draw your eye in the direction where the walk is taking you. In addition, it breaks at each step so it makes it safer and more visually interesting. To each their own, but there are good reasons to orientate the boards the way she did.

[@Wilinds2]

Thank you.

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

Another Awesome Video April! 😃👍

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks!

[@gaypreator8547]

Looks great are you going to address the rise on the lower step?

[@terrygroce1594]

Enjoy your videos. thanks for sharing.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy my channel. Thanks for watching.

[@thomasschafer7268]

Sehr schönes Projekt! Habt ihr auch geriffelte Dielen? Besser bei Feuchtigkeit. Glätte und Moos. 👍👍🇩🇪

[@ianpearse4480]

Very cool.

[@jasonthomas1760]

Will your cedar get that gorgeous color change as it ages with that finish?

[@Bebert.Richard]

Bravo beau travail 👍👍👍❤

[@mikecurtis2585]

Amazing work Looks great 👍! Have a wonderful weekend 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@JGerm]

Awesome video and HELLO from the 956 ….

[@cabman86]

I need that PortACool in my barn!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Yes you do!! My Dad has one in his Shop and it's a game changer to be sure! Thanks for watching.

[@cabman86]

@@AprilWilkerson I have a small version in my shop but I have to keep gallons of water handy to refill it every 4-5 hours.

[@pqrstsma2011]

hello April, i didn't catch how you attached those TuffBlocks to the ground; how would you ensure the deck doesn't bounce in the wind? i also understand you live close to 'Tornado Alley USA', which could make things worse

[@richardbedard1245]

Now I know how to do the slope down from the porch steps. I've been using those plastic footers for all kinds of projects.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing and for watching.

[@lovejones7545]

Very cool!!🤙🏾💯

[@jsaurman]

Why would you use Tuffblocks and gravel, when you could use the concrete block and save money? I don't understand what advantages the plastic block would have over the concrete version. Which one do you think would be in better shape twenty years from now?

[@olivertruswell]

Concrete wicks water which rots your lumber out over time.

[@benh554]

what about if the gravel gets washed out, what supports the platforms then?

[@bobkanocz5277]

Did I miss something? Without sunken footings what is a heavy rain storm going to do to the stairs?

[@ActinOut]

I know this is still a shortcut, but you could mushroom the heads of some rebar, put a couple holes in the supports to fit the rebar and then stake them down into the ground with the rebar like 2-3ft. Also, make treated wooden boxes to hold the gravel so it doesn't flush away so easy. Could also rebar the boxes. A lot of work to avoid digging a hole & putting concrete in. But if someone insisted, or for whatever reason couldn't do a hole, it would prevent a wash out & hold things in place.

[@dsmmike95]

Imagine being able to build your dream home film it, make money off the videos, and then write it off on taxes. That's the dream!! Great work as always April 👏

[@phillipstanfill5392]

Nice job

[@AprilWilkerson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@MrHappy629]

April, do the Tuffblocks shift at all? Does weight alone hold them in place?

[@gavynklein1908]

Is there a plan anywhere for the frames? I'm interested in trying this out for one of my first DIY projects but i'm unsure of the frame dimensions. I'd obviously scale it to my scenario but i want to make sure i get the structural integrity down.

[@natep24]

Love Vermont natural coating. The company is about 30 minutes from me.

[@AprilWilkerson]

How cool is that? Awesome! Thanks for Sharing and for watching.

[@speliotis]

Genius.... When would you need too get a building permit for a project ?

[@AprilWilkerson]

Depends on your area. I live in the Country so things would be different compared to if living in a city. Thanks for watching.

[@lonelyredwolf4608]

Shalom, April That's Awesome!

[@HfjbHgklg-ee8mo]

من اليمن 👍👍👍

[@تصاميمحديد]

تحية من العراق امراة عظيمة

[@honestcomments6060]

Beautiful project and construction, but it is a bit too red, especially for the heat. I would prefer a more chocolatey / espresso stain. It looks much better, for me at least.

[@velray1231]

U go muchacha .

[@megg7558]

Tuff blocks that aren't secured to the ground will move underneath the shed because of the ground shifting due to weather conditions and changes.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Never had a problem thus far. Thanks for watching.

[@Mikey-Likes-I.T]

looks like those tuffblocks save time and money, since you will not have to pour concrete and wait for it to dry.

[@jasontaylor9871]

Curious as to why you didn't use an impact driver to drive the deck screws?

[@mattsnyder4754]

Drills are faster. If you don’t need the torque (and you don’t for decks), an impact is almost always the slower option.

[@ProctorSilex]

Maybe her drill is of the new magic variety that can drive more effectively than impact without twisting your wrist. I saw a demo of one but I'm not running out to replace my impacts for personal use.

[@Hareshtupe]

how base frame is made ?

[@ProctorSilex]

I'm skeptical of the longevity of floating on gravel on a slope. I've made some long lasting things that others balked at, so who knows.

[@Z-Bart]

FORE! You'll need a flag out in that field for an aim spot.

[@AprilWilkerson]

There's 2 large buckets to aim towards. My Dad was the 1st one to get it in the bucket! :) Thanks for watching.

[@balabuyew]

Wood will bend, and your plastic bases will not prevent it from raising up in that point.

[@jrpritchard1622]

awesome April you do fantasy work be safe have a great day

[@aaronsbarker]

*not for climates that have frost lines... unless you only care for them to look good for a year or two

[@AprilWilkerson]

Luckily I live in Texas where we have no frost lines. :) Thanks for watching.

[@aaronsbarker]

@April Wilkerson Sometimes people forget where their favorite KZbin creators live and try to recreate the cool stuff you guys do... but up here in Maine... where one good winter will wipe out all the work they did last summer. No shade on what you're doing, just reminding those who sometimes forget the reality of their own environs.

[@deanwilliams93]

There is no glue being used. Apply the finish all sides first. It is only a few dollars more and it is protected even better.

[@ronw8628]

the amount of work April gets done is incredible. That's on top of running a business too which people might forget about.

[@richardnott9587]

She doesn't do it all. Watch the videos closer because she has helpers. She didn't stain the whole deck and she didn't do all the lumber moving and cutting. Just watch the video closer and you will see it isn't her always.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Of course I have employees to lend a hand when needed. I never said I did this by myself. But I'm actually working also, not just jumping in front of the camera now and then. You can't expect someone to do an enormous job like this alone, especially on a time frame. But it doesn't mean you didn't do it. Thanks for watching.

[@richardnott9587]

@@AprilWilkerson I believe you April you do a great job. I just didn't want them to think they had to work themselves at a super human level. None of us could last like that. I am surprised you come up with so many projects or do you have help with that?

[@ronw8628]

​@@richardnott9587 editing videos can take hours too now. Myself, I'm a carpenter and having followed April from the earlier days, her organizational skill and conceptional ability are on another level. She wouldn't have any trouble finding work in the building trade. Even on her tv series, those two clowns only got in her way.

[@Risengrave]

I see very little support at the back end of each deck section, just being scured to the existing deck by a couple of screws?

[@crshuby]

I think you would need footings below the frost line in the Northern US. So those footings would not work.

[@RG-gn8pe]

These type of footers work just fine sitting above the ground in an area where you have to be concerned with frost line. I used something very similar on a back yard deck about 8 years ago and it hasn't shifted at all. And that's in Northern Iowa.

[@dontfit6380]

⁠@@RG-gn8pe these will work as long as you don’t care about movement. If you attach to a deck or house that has footings then you will eventually have problems. I’m in central iowa and yes I’ve done similar also. I did it on a deck attached to my house which now has a 6” drop over 16’.

[@dontfit6380]

@@BHauck-os9sy it’s got nothing to do with code. I couldn’t give a 💩 about code. This only works if it’s a floating deck. If it’s attached to a house you will never hold level. Now in Texas you will never have a problem but if you have rain freeze thaw situations this will never maintain a level deck.

[@dontfit6380]

@@BHauck-os9sy dude you said in your first comment that these will work just fine but won’t pass code. I told you they will not work just fine regardless of code. Most code is not written to prevent bad craftsmanship it’s written for government control. I also have an addition on another house that has concrete piers set 2’ below frost line. When we have a drought the room drops when it freezes the room rises. So no code don’t always mean 💩. I will never pull a permit or build to what someone considers code. I have no interest in being a 🐑.

[@Shotleythinktank]

Used the same concept in rural AK.

[@weyneshea8020]

Would be better if metal ties were used to attach the steps. Using only nails doesn't look sturdy to me.

[@nerighal2889]

Well..normally you would correct the ground to a constant slope..and not the siding to an uneven ground pretending it looks good.. ..only my opinion..

[@qapla]

The deck looks good, and I admire April for what she has been able to accomplish. However, the idea that this is "Inexpensive" is not realistic ... not for most of us. All those things she used to make this job "simple" become cost prohibitive to the vast majority of us who use DIY because we can't afford to hire the work done. Keep up the good work, your attention to detail and ingenuity is really nice to see.

[@AprilWilkerson]

Everyone's situation is different to be sure, but a Maker can't build solely on what a Viewer may or may not be able to skill wise build, or afford. You would never please everyone. Thanks for watching.

[@wontsay7923]

Sorry, that's absolute crap!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Sure am glad it's mine then and not yours. :) I think it's lovely and serves a great purpose. Thanks for watching.

[@antonimorey1758]

Why do your videos sound so badly recently?

[@roberta4989]

April, why are you not using a cordless driver with a clutch? I watch you tighten screws and your wrist twists each time. That can't be good in the long term. Do you hate cordless drivers with clutches?