How to Build a Pyramid Deck Stair | This Old House

Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor build a corner stair on the new back deck at the Lexington house. Then Kevin and Norm Abram finish up the trim and decking on the new corner deck stair.
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Tom Silva shows Kevin O’Connor the progress on the new back deck at the Lexington house, and how the architect has called for a corner stair leading down to the backyard. The framing requires two sets of traditional stringer systems, joined in the middle by a hip stringer and a series of jack stringers; the same idea as framing a hip roof. Then Kevin and Norm Abram finish up the trim and decking on the new corner deck stair. For the ipe deckboards that are sharply mitered in the corner, Norm has settled on using a floating tenon connection to prevent them from opening up over time.
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This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes-one step at a time-featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Build a Pyramid Deck Stair | This Old House
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[@my3jeeps]

Good to see Norm out there

[@ronaldshane7658]

Norm is my idol. He is the reason I became a carpenter. I enjoyed watching all his shows.

[@swooopg]

Same! Love watching an old master!

[@mrcapitalist2285]

Ronald , This is Tom Silva , not Norm ??

[@jamescampbellhenderson1689]

@@mrcapitalist2285 I agree, loved new Yankee wrkshp,, but yes norm is in the glasses, he is slimer these days, but norm ahbram 👌👌👌

[@mrcapitalist2285]

@@jamescampbellhenderson1689 This video showed Kevin OConner , not Norm ? Love Norm though , not sure there is better craftsman than him ?

[@zefallafez]

Norm is towards the end when they are putting the decking down.

[@ronevans852]

I’ve been watching these guys for years, plus I use to watch norm in his wood working shop all them time I will hate to see these guys retire. They will be missed.

[@bonjourrobert663]

Wow it sure is good to see Norm Abram still swinging that Plumb curve claw hammer after more than 40 yrs! Yes, I’m an old fan of This Old House since 1980.

[@XPStartupSound]

It might be easy for some to understand that the angled stringer needs to be longer, but I appreciate how they took the time to explain it. It really shows a deep understanding, in being able to explain it so simply. The part with the angled cut on the plywood was a great trick.

[@shawnmorin3848]

NORM!!!!! Great to see the master craftsman and master carpenter all in the same video and same project!

[@arkinner]

I've been watching these guys for years. My dad turned me on to them. I miss my dad.

[@65csx83]

That stair stringer in the middle warrants its own video for all those angle cuts.

[@steve_main]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen on ToH! Tells you the math and why and explains it in very easy to learn terms. Great job on this one guys!

[@MojoPup]

I think this was one of my favorite episodes! That staircase is a work of art.

[@TheAavelar007]

Episode name?

[@davebenson1021]

You two (Norm & Tom) have the most amazing skill levels ! I have learned so much from both of you over the years. Thank you

[@charickter]

Love me some Norm Abram! I watched The New Yankee Workshop as a kid. Never missed an episode. He looks great and it's great to see him!

[@normanjacques4092]

Thanks. Great work. I've been doing this for 35yrs. Its always nice to see someone else's take on things. Im starting one of these in a couple of weeks 😅😅

[@4DModding]

Amazing Work. Love seeing Norm in his environment !

[@ovidiuciuparu6421]

Wow! So much work but is looking amazing! Good job!

[@markwarrington2788]

Tommy can knock these steps out in about 5 hours. With Kevins help though it takes 2 days.

[@toddjasper1]

Lol

[@dielauwen]

And with you it will never get done. Get back to work!

[@Cris-ss8tb]

Kevin 's probably pretty good by now

[@JB-jg5om]

Kevin is an essential piece to this show, he is excellent and I’m sure he’s a lot handier than he looks!

[@MojoPup]

In the early days, I would've agreed. But Kevin's got skills now. How could he not? Hanging around with those guys all this time...

[@KS-gf3tv]

Tommy and Kevin have just great on-screen chemistry.

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

I have watched you guys for a long time and Tom you get better looking with each new year. You all look better. It is like actors that get better as they get older. I am an artist and love to draw people.

[@areyouforeal]

Amazing work. Great job.

[@GusDaCosta]

Those stairs are amazing!

[@taylormcintyre5759]

Such a timely video! I’m about to try and build a set of pyramid/waterfall stairs. This is going to help out tremendously

[@WilliamDye-willdye]

I suggest putting a railing over the corners.

[@Naoj2024]

Really cool guys… ! So many ways to do these projects…! Love your experience showing some great ways to keep the miter cuts in place for years to come..! ❤

[@fredrikjaensson7350]

Very skilled guys. Thanks for the lesson😁👍

[@MJSCONSTRUCTION]

I would love to meet tommy and norm and try to gain as much knowledge from them as I can. I learn so much from this show

[@johnnybussart4721]

Alot of work and Its Amazing!

[@andrewmacleod620]

Tom with the Festool impact driver. Like a total boss.

[@RtowerIII]

Norm! well done, nice tools and that voice brings me back!

[@shane4013]

It would be a absolute pleasure to be working with tom and norm Kevin’s a lucky man all that Knowledge you couldn’t buy that keep up the good work lads 🇮🇪

[@slippinslidewayz]

That's Norm!? I'm glad to see him! I haven't seen him since I was a kid in the 90s watching This Old House with my Dad.

[@dannygonzales7377]

Beautiful job

[@rickysvt]

the level of craftsmanship is amazing.

[@DustinPlatt]

That's a really cool staircase and looks like a shit ton of work but the details used are awesome and looks like it'll last for 50 years.

[@shanew7361]

Great video guys! More of these please 👍🇺🇲💥

[@Colossus854]

amazing work

[@rafaelsays175]

That staircase is a work of art

[@abdorakeebnaji1527]

Lot of work, lot details but at the end what a tremendous job.i like it 1👍

[@ziqianli8057]

pure art

[@paultrigger3798]

so many precise cuts

[@jonhill373]

Awesome work Tommy

[@erikvcampillo7699]

Beautiful Job.

[@caymanisland6814]

Thank god Kevin was there to grab the off cuts.

[@PrimeSuperboy]

It would have been a complete disaster otherwise

[@bosse641]

Good job guys!

[@bullmoosepiper7732]

What a great simple DIY project! Easy instructions, cheap materials, minimal tools required. This is one of those projects you call the neighbor over, have some beers on ice, a couple of circular saws and some drywall screws and throw together to impress the wife and kids by dinner time. Thanks this old House! 🤣

[@bullmoosepiper7732]

@@ProfessorOfLogic81 Not at all, I was making a joke, which apparently fell flat. Sure they can show this, it's a great project and they did beautiful work. But keep in mind that they have two of the finest carpenters alive today framing this complex stair case and they gave bare minimum instructions on laying out the complicated jack stringers. This is not a DIY project no matter how you slice it. Sure, anyone can attempt it. Knock yourself out. But being in the trades I can assure you that the average homeowner is going to go through a pallet full of lumber trying to get those jacks right and figure out the increase in tread lengths on the hypotenuse. It was all tongue in cheek humor, and I apologize to you if it wasn't well received.

[@RH-ms5ui]

beautiful!

[@mxcollin95]

Really cool. 👍

[@DiannaAtherton]

I love Tommy.

[@JudgeCrater22]

What a ton of work for a corner staircase.

[@swagnificent1215]

Better than most

[@steveshooter9010]

Expensive and impractical...grandios waste of space(imo).

[@steveshooter9010]

But it's beautiful!

[@puff_x]

So cool.

[@786otto]

Looks like fun.

[@fomoco300k]

Wow, that’s way easier than the way I do it. Carpenter for 27 years and I just learned something new today. Or, at least in a new way.

[@drewratterman6342]

That hip stringer is a beast

[@kraegrampersad9592]

Norm is The Man !!!

[@deefdragon]

ok, I REALLY like the look of that staircase. It doesn't feel complete without handrails on the sides, but it still looks really good.

[@altamiradorable]

I even think it's illegal not to have handrails at 65" !

[@armyvet8279]

Handrails are used to prevent falling of the side of stairs. There IS NO sides that drop off on that staircase so you don't need them.

[@PJJ196]

Who cares… love these couch losers critiquing others work when they clearly couldn’t do this themselves

[@daveklein2826]

Well said

[@AB-nu5we]

Nice. I think it's work the extra cost to use Sipo loose tenons on outdoor projects like this. In cooler climates where winter is real, those miter joints can open up enough to let water in, freeze, thaw and damage those beech tenons. Those corners won't be flat anymore.

[@nathanjamesDewey]

Norm didn’t talk about shop safety before using power tools

[@alvarogarcia3109]

Every time I see a video like this I’m like “that’s easy, I can do that” yet I can’t hammer a nail down 😅

[@likearockcm]

Excellent work by 2 of the best carpenters in the universe.

[@markwarrington2788]

Kevin is average at best 😋

[@likearockcm]

@@markwarrington2788 Tom Silva/Norm Abrams, Kevin a good helper

[@markwarrington2788]

@@likearockcm guess i should have told u to look up - cause that went right over your head. Thought the emoji would have helped u

[@likearockcm]

@@markwarrington2788 Oh, attempting a joke I get it now.

[@Skammerd]

And Norm with his biscuits... #NYW.

[@darrenlangille2020]

Great show, big fan. But one question is about the railing for the stairs safety comes first.

[@HAMRADIOJOE4178]

NICE

[@QIKWIA]

😲...W👀W'zers!!! So Beautiful! I want one!!!😁

[@davemiller7633]

❤ inspector gadget! Wowzers lol

[@QIKWIA]

@@davemiller7633 👍🏾corrrrRECT!!!🏆 😂😂☺️😂😂

[@davemiller7633]

@@QIKWIA lol. To this day it's still one of my favorite shows. I'm stuck in the 80s hopelessly....cant get out😆...remember The Littles? Obscure 80s cartoon too....we could go on for hours!!

[@LucidDreamer54321]

I saw one of these in Egypt.

[@H4rleyBoy]

I miss this series on UK TV,

[@803mastiff9]

Imagine Tommy as a combo math, geometry and shop teacher . Kids would have true understanding of the subjects with real world application and schools would be graduating geniuses that would truly Make America Great.

[@kalijasin]

Tommy is the best.

[@BradThePitts]

Tell ask about that special screw bit which seems to have a countersink, plus a felt tab as to not scratch the PVC riser.

[@Menlotrevor]

They are called cortex screws for azek

[@buckbuck9225]

Good show.try to keep it up.

[@nzspambot]

Nice work on the ear protection

[@jeffwilson1399]

Whaaat????!!

[@LetsGoBrandon-FJB]

@@brianglade848 that explains the use of a buick key

[@Skammerd]

The guy is a stellar carpenter and probably better at trigonometry than Pythagoras.

[@kirkyorg7654]

used enough timber to build a pyramid lol nice job looks great

[@pf5658]

Darn stairs. Probably the most difficult thing in construction. Piece of cake for Tommy though. The master at it his game.

[@CoasterCrazyy]

I feel like they over framed that but in good way! Very clean and will last a very long time no doubt

[@BigAlWillis]

I paused at 5:20 & realized there's no way I could build that. impressive

[@kevinskogg2179]

45 degree triangle 1-1- √2. Run is 1.414 standard run.

[@19BT86]

I will be building stairs like this on my deck. Right now I plan on using Trex deck boards for the risers. I would like to use this 3/4" pvc instead but where can I get some?

[@bobd.]

Nice job on the stairs and good to see Norm out in the field working. What is the code requirement for a handrail with this many steps? Why can't old episodes of NYW be run on PBS? You know everyone will watch.

[@anonnomus6070]

you can find the NYW episodes on KZbin. Just search for "New Yankee Workshop"

[@bobd.]

@@anonnomus6070 yes, I'm aware. Those are not authorized and produce no revenue to support public television.

[@wcox4]

Is it more feasible to screw pressure treated lumber when it's been in the rain, or when it's dry?? My way of thinking is it's better when wet, that way when it dries, the wood shrinks down tightly to the screw, or is that a bad idea all the way around??

[@jtltet]

Holy crap!! Talk about overkill with the footing for the stairs.

[@Kim-ek2mt]

Master Carpenter's

[@Guardducks]

Sounded like lax incoming jet on runway 25 left. Haha

[@MoonlightNothing]

Okay, so this house in particular, had another segment on their deck railing with steel cables, I would like to know what company provided those cables because I can't find anybody who can do it like that project came out! It looked great! Please message if you have information! Thanks

[@armyvet8279]

You can buy them at Home Depot.

[@samsngdevice5103]

This stair case style allows the parents children to play q-bert.

[@losttribe3001]

I read about q-Bert in a history book! 😆😆 Kidding. I’m old enough to have dropped a few coins to play it.

[@MikesTropicalTech]

Norm!

[@bpmunroe]

There has to be more support on those stringers than they showed, right? Just toe screwed in? Especially the one with the really small top tread

[@ieatgreenfleas]

Nah. They are wedged in there because of the 2x4 footer at the bottom. They can't fall through or anything. The screws are literally just to hold them in position.

[@lucky1206]

With only a few screws holding it at the top and a huge concrete base at the bottom, isn't the bottom over kill a bit?

[@Tac-Chain]

Are the corner stringer two 2x12 put together

[@unclemikeynkona]

Norm!!!!!

[@ozzstars_cars]

I know Norm installed joist hangers on those stringers before installing the treads and risers.

[@homerscustoms7635]

i wished he would have showed how he cut the angles in the jack stringers and also the cut he did on the one he called the angles rafter stringer

[@rickjohnson1632]

👌👌

[@steve_main]

Can't you use a vinyl solvent that will bond those joints forever just like a PVC solvent? Seems like calking will weather and lose cohesion after time

[@sfisher6846]

No blocking between stringers?

[@RA-sz5tu]

state licensed professional trained carpenter, was taught divide by 7" 7 to 7 1/2" is the perfect rise,

[@stevevanderveen4713]

IPE sawdust can knock you out of commission for few days (from experience) ...NEED TO WEAR A MASK WHEN CUTTING IPE. I used a vacuum on my kapex which really helped.

[@hectorhawthorn4937]

How possible would it be for u to come to,93555 to install some wooden patio supports☺

[@kylewilson9457]

How’d you determine stair depth

[@ianrogers1266]

Do you run a hand rail down the middle?

[@daveklein2826]

Why?

[@howardsmaid3491]

@@daveklein2826 Ummmm, code?

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

Question: Should deck joists be treated or untreated?

[@MariaMaria-dw1sn]

They must be treated as per code. They wouldn't last unpainted or with any contact to the concrete or dirt.

[@apolinbasel]

This is good for my goat house

[@herbwheeler4470]

I built pretty much the same thing only difference is the I built progressively smaller platforms with only steps along the outside . Less math lol