How to Build Deck Stairs The EASY Way

In this video I show you how to build deck stairs the easy way! If you want to impress your friends with a solid set of custom deck steps, but don’t want to figure out all the measurements and angles of a stair stringer, then this video is for you. Let me know below in the comments what you think of the end result!
Final Days of Sales at ISOtunes
Use Link to save 20% on my favorites for Fathers Day
shop.isotunes.com/rrb-20
RR Post Frame Building Plans
rrplans.bigcartel.com/
Triple Hammer Impact (best in the market)
amzn.to/3VDjY6S
Milwaukee 6.5" Saw
amzn.to/3Xm8oy5
Custom RR Hats
rooster.beachandbarn.com/rrbu...

[@EricReitzel]

I love these off Barndominium projects...Your attention to detail and your skills go everywhere...Greg stay on him keep him in line.

[@RRBuildings]

Glad you like them!

[@dwb468]

That "plant lady" sounded dangerous. 🤣😆🤣

[@wesvasher]

Playing with fire.

[@bigguix]

the editor's zoom didn't help ! he should take half the blame !

[@hallenw]

Suggestion: to replace lattice, use 2x2’s mounted horizontally with 1” spacing in between. Gives a nice modern look.

[@ninabooker2904]

Agree. Horizontal and stained black. VerstaStone is Too much.

[@kennethnagy7693]

I love the box method, no stringers to deal with. Just simple box construction. I used it on the two steps for my shed.

[@garywomack4450]

Versetta Stone skirting would look awesome. Thanks for keeping the videos rolling 🔨

[@plumbbuildrenovate]

Luna, the open ears while you pat her, priceless!

[@alanjackson1015]

Take a grinder to the end of your shovel and sharpen it to cut out and take off the sod, and level the dirt. Works like a dream

[@greggoff4990]

Doggo cameo was the highlight

[@troyfortune4124]

Box steps look WAY better than stringers and work to about 48 inches. After that it doesn’t make sense economically or structurally. Those steps look awesome!

[@jimmckillip7975]

Awesome job on your steps for your deck if I ever won the lottery I would definitely hire you and Greg for the job

[@oldsadjohn]

Many thanks for video. I have just decide to redraw all layout of my decking. This looks great! Saves me lot of time.

[@jamesfischer5389]

QUALITY SELLS ITSELF ALL DAY LONG! Outstanding, As Always! ✌🏻

[@pkiv2108]

wooden structures directly against the ground and part of the material is sunk into the ground and concrete is poured around it, so that the organic material remains inside the concrete. is definitely not a long-lasting structure. soil moisture will rot the wood, even if it is impregnated wood. really good quality 😂.

[@dsmacd46]

Love it. Avoiding stringers is great. You guys are so great at perfectly locating posts on piers, I was surprised you didn't place the posts first, like you do for a wall atop a foundation wall, and then 'hang' the bottom 'box' from the posts, rather than fighting leveling and re-leveling the bottom box.

[@jimzeier3504]

Use your steel roofing panels for the skirting

[@bryanh3057]

Yes. I’ve seen rusted galvanized metal sheets used this way and it looks great

[@robertkurilla7859]

Great job on the stairs they look fantastic. I think the box method is the way to go.

[@charlieBhoy72]

Gregg has gone full mini-me with the beard growing in -- i had to look twice -- haha, love the chat and banter between you guys -- awesome video as always. Detailed, informative, fun and a pleasure to watch.

[@royreynolds108]

When I built a ramp for my wife, I dug holes and mixed bagged concrete for the holes and inserted the post supports in the concrete to keep the wood out of the concrete. I live in NE Texas so my frostline is nil or nonexistent. It has been in use for 6 years now; no troubles. I used all treated lumber.

[@wesvasher]

Versetta stone for the skirting would look really neat. Please get Luna in more videos!

[@Ham68229]

Been needing to build a deck myself, was wanting to learn how this style of steps were done, thank you for sharing this. Cheers :)

[@robertdean9392]

Love this idea with the stairs that you built. Will be using it in the future. Seems alot easier than stringers and gives you more options for treads.

[@collinsmith9941]

That concrete mixer is sweet, I’ve mixed up about 130 bags in the past few days, let me tell ya that is just beautiful watching that mud go with the flick of a switch.

[@jakealtenbernd9350]

Well once you are ready to build an inground pool let me know! We are builders from the Rockford area and would love to help guide you guys or build for you. Also keep up these videos they are addictive!

[@kevincorbin6273]

Never is a bad thing to have a 1/8” cant for water runoff, looks great!

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

Glad you done the view at the end. It really turned out great, Kyle!

[@jimserhant7741]

I was watching this @ 2AM when I couldn’t sleep, it’s like I was wide awake for a reason 😊. I love all your videos, but especially these videos geared towards the homeowner. The deck & stairs look great. The only thing I would’ve done differently is I would’ve carried the deck spine board & herringbone pattern down through the steps. But, I’m a glutton for punishment lol.

[@ryburnsjr]

The box style is so much sturdy...love the idea 😎😎😎😎

[@sparky178]

Excellent vid, I couldn’t stop “stairing” 😂

[@zephyr1408]

I would def do that for a customer! I think those would be nice low steps into a house ! Great job !

[@mikeinmaryland]

I really like the idea of the stone facade. Even if you’re going to make box columns at the piers. I also like the seams being celebrated (routed).

[@samfrank2401]

Love seeing the pups!

[@roderickmarruffo7600]

Sweet doggies & glad to see the Boss make decisions...

[@HighwayBull]

You guys did a phenomenal job on the deck and the stairs, and in my personal opinion I think copper skirting would look really cool and it would definitely make the project pop. 😉👌

[@overwatch2671]

Building steps for decks like this is stronger, gives more options, there safer and they look better. This application will last longer than any stringer style steps Nice job guys.

[@dannygeouge8459]

That looks awesome and the pool looks nice. I like the idea of versetta stone for contrasting appeal. It's your house so you'll win.

[@PaulMikna]

great work.... Love your channel!

[@anthonysmith9410]

Your drone shot at the end shows a beautiful job once again by greg and your self

[@katfudd]

Love the look of the box steps!

[@BZ1340]

I’d run horizontals as the skirting. 1x4 …That way you get air movement under the deck thru the gaps. Plus a more modern look

[@DH-fl3jj]

Tip for the cement mixer: drop the bag onto that jagged bar running across the hopper. It will pierce the bag across the middle and you can lift the ends of the bag, spilling the contents into the hopper in a matter of seconds.

[@vaggeto]

He said in the video he tried and it doesn't work for these specific bags because they have plastic inside vs just paper.

[@BrewdasDM7419]

Definatly need to Grandmaw proof those stairs. Versetta would look really nice, with some 8' foot squared off hedges of some sort for privacy. Beautiful work!

[@tc9148]

Very smart and impressive way to install steps. Learned a lot.

[@ransomtester5347]

👍happy Thursday morning 👍😎👍

[@Tractorgal]

Versetta Stone would be really nice - kind of “ground” the entire structure and make the pool look more permanent

[@ericgabel698]

Versetta would look fire, but for a "short term" deck. Maybe do it so you can take it down and reuse it?

[@stevenfreeman8117]

Nice job guys. I think a 45 miter joint at the corners would have been a nice cherry on top, but it still looks great. I like that you took the time to round over the edges too!

[@GoodwillCriminalsOfDallas]

Wrap the posts in zip tape or singe them with a blowtorch. Drop in a nice set of gravel in the bottom of the hole for drainage. Set the posts in and lock them vertically and plum. You have the option too to extend the posts up to become railings. I would send a nice long bolt through and let it extend out both sides of the post several inches. This will help keep the post from rocking because of the grabbing in the cement. With that height, extending the post up for the railing should be considered. Drop in the cement and vibrate with a Sawzall against the post to remove bubbles. Zip tape does a better job I think covering up the joist's top edges and you can roll it down the sides. This is also a time to think about lighting to mount on/in the steps or on the edge for safety. I would also consider filling in that bottom stair empty space with gravel lest critters dig in and set up living quarters.

[@HenrikJanssonFilipstad]

You could do horizontal ribbs on the bottom, using 2x2" ribbs with 3/4 or 1/2 spacing. Cheers from Sweden

[@scotthager8691]

Yup gonna do it that way too just a smaller scale , thanks!

[@jerryhubbard4461]

I have done this many times as long as you have a deck fairly low to the ground. The deck on the back of my house is about 5 feet from the ground. Instead of having steps up to the deck, I built three seperate decks. One runs all the way across the room, one takes the next step down on the right side of the deck and the third deck runs along the side of the room. Works like a charm with NO stairs or steps to maintain. The last step into the house from the large deck is a box made the same width as the door coming out from the door 3 feet.

[@gssuper1438]

I thought i was the only one that builds stairs that way. I rarely ever build stairs, so i keep it as simple as possible

[@leebernardo1000]

You should have a Post Hole Auger that you just hand drill in your post holes. They are what all the old farmers used for fence posts. You can get them almost anywhere but places like Fleet Farm, Tractor Supply. They let you cut in A post, usually up to 48", in a matter of minutes. You can then use the Clam Shell diggers to enlarge you hole as needed. I have an old one from an old family farm and it make the job so much easier - especially in hard soil.

[@FredMcIntyre]

The steps look awesome Kyle! 😃👍🏼👊🏼 .... For the skirting, what if you got some 1x2 cedar, run two horizontal nailer strips (top & bottom) on top of the deck posts, then cut pieces (slats)of the 1x2 and either run them vertical around the deck with a 3/4 inch spacing, or if you wanna get fancy, on the front of the deck, you can run them at whatever angle the slope of the steps are at, opposite angles on on either side of the steps, kinda matching the sections of decking that you ran at 45's (though a slightly different angle) obviously if you do any of this you're gonna have to do some blocking going up the steps to nail some of the smaller bits to, and I'd suggest that with the blocking, the nailer strips, and probably even the Posts, consider painting them black so that all of it disappears visually into the shadows within the slat spacing.

[@robertmorris8709]

Board and Batten with a 3 or 4 inch scribe with chain saw to match lawn terrain. Easy to finish and hang flower pots.

[@amanakifolauaf1701]

Wats up guys very nice work you do. My only suggestion for your stairs is for the corners framing. Because it’s an outdoor stairs and it’s a solid backing under, you could have cut or drill holes so water don’t sit under and damage your piece of deck. But other than that. Great job 👏👏

[@bobme2787]

I bought a used toro morter mixer from a Iron Planet Auction. All in it was $1,000. Technically that type of mixer is not used for concrete but it works for me. What you have there is more money (when buying new). I have seen that there is a learning curve to get proper amount of water flowing. With what you have there would never be fumes if using in doors or basement since it is powered by electricity.

[@kevincarver9949]

Looks awesome Kyle and Greg. Maybe use the aluminum for the handrails and around the bottom so it would match. If that’s possible. Or use the cable system just use larger diameter cable. Thanks

[@NDB390]

I would bring the deck pattern into the skirting. Do a V pattern and make panels and screw then to post to give it some dimension and depth.

[@tgmod]

awesome work

[@user-ng2se9cp5q]

Love the Great Dane.

[@danrao3707]

Versetta skirt all the way. Don’t forget your step lighting before adding the skirt. Might be tough to crawl in to wire them after the fact. Heck you might as well add under deck soffit lights to illuminate the Versetta skirt.

[@tycoates99]

Greg = Awesome router table!

[@austinfackender]

Now this is the kind of deck building and troubleshooting i have to do daily certian times of the year

[@mattyb7607]

Brilliant as usual.

[@keithparady2594]

Yes the stone around the skirt with a ss cable system around it would look wicked

[@chibiconsulting]

Kyle, If you can not decide on how to cover the underside of the deck, my suggestion is to paint the visible posts black and wrap some black fabric around scrap 1x2 so you can nail it up between the posts and leave it hanging just off the ground . This could give a floating deck vibe and would not last long, so in a year or two you can put whatever covering you would like at that time. For the fabric, probably a geo-textile in black should last at least a season, maybe two.

[@johnnyfreeman1018]

I'm filing this in the memory banks....nice job gents....from an electrician.....😁

[@Bros35]

Love the steps!

[@2chipped]

Hang window boxes in 2 layers matching the 2 stair layers on the front. The other sides simply run 5/4 as vertical siding. For fast footings add a little "anchoring concrete" to regular concrete with hot water,and you it will set in 30-45 minutes...and 70% cure in 3 hrs. Have set a lot of fence posts using this method. Using anchoring and hot water only,you get 3 minutes working time and 70% cure in 15 minutes. Mix with a paddle in a bucket and prepare yourself for dumping in 2 minutes .

[@Dad9700]

box framing for steps like that is the way to go. Ive got 45 years as a carpenter and that is the way i do it often. much stronger as well.

[@douglewis1960]

And looks great did a great job

[@baddad79]

Expanded metal or hog panel powder coated black and picture framed with 2x material for underneath. Or an mdo panel with whatever design cnc cut. Couple of thoughts, probably a little fancy for a pool deck.

[@charickter]

That does indeed look good.

[@robertmorris8709]

Will also make mamma happy cause it matches your new shop.

[@evoltd]

Its a Scott Brown Carpentry step design.

[@bedef1980]

Totally mate

[@giovannifiorentino8947]

Kyle, Greg should remaind to put on the eye glasses when operating the circular saw. Also, it is recommended not to use gloves while sawing because if caught on the blade it will make more damage than without them. Big fan since you were using foam for a post foundation on a construction materials expo.

[@TwoSierraEcho]

Use an old brick to empty the dirt on those post-hole diggers makes it a lot easier. A scrap piece of lumber works too.

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

True, protect the from and you can always replace the deck 10 or 15 years down the road!

[@thebigkahuna2753]

Box method looks outstanding, and.....using the University of California school of vet sciences formula for calculating the equivalent human age of dogs, your pupper is 70.75 years old !! which is an enormous age for a Great Dane.

[@jonpatterson9550]

Barret outdoor privacy panels back-lit with LED ribbon to skirt the pool deck.

[@bwright051679]

🙋🏼‍♂️… my vote for skirting is some rusted or patina tin.. that rustic look with that pretty dark wood would be legit… but thats just my thought

[@frankabel5064]

Looking Great as usual with your work. Any info on these cedar tone deckboards, Menards, sku if possible? Thanks

[@roywaite5793]

Install Cement board around bottom of deck, then do a stone veneer. Saw someone do this and it looks great

[@donjensenep]

THe verseta stone would be great just make sure you build some sort of door access somewhere incase you need to ever access the underside. Plus a door with build in versta stone would be a neat vid

[@RW-to2fy]

I like the minor cuts on the end where the deck boards meet together on end

[@EwokMatt]

Yea, what's the reason for no mitres? Just preference or is there a good reason not to?

[@matthiaslonartz1313]

Nicely done, if you have replaced the posts with galvanised angle iron, predrilled the mounting holes on a drill press, it would not take much longer und it should not rot at all.

[@freddien7]

Better making the boxes lot easier. Good job

[@d777b]

perfecto!

[@farmboy5622]

Soooooooo,.....when is the pool party for us 1.7M subscribers?!?!

[@RRBuildings]

just hit 1.7!!!

[@brandon_907]

@@RRBuildingson my way!

[@KDlGG]

@@RRBuildingsnow I’m not judging your craftsmanship, but I have a feeling that deck would crumble with us on it 🤣

[@butter262]

Byob

[@2chipped]

​@@KDlGGam tiering up just thinking about the load bearing 😅

[@AustinBrewer18]

Love yuns 💙💙

[@comingtofull-ageinchrist6736]

The stone would look great and would last forever!

[@davidzierler4430]

I like how Kyle says, it’s an outside deck no big deal if we are off 1/8 of an inch…and then they go all surgical and produce a laser precise masterpiece 😂

[@bobzotzman5253]

You were talking about composite decking and I was going to use it on my deck and that weekend I went to my nephews daughters birthday and we sat around the pool so I kicked off my shoes and almost burned my feet. I don't know if some brands are better but I used wood because I want to walk barefoot on my deck when the sun is on it or it is not convenient for regular use to me.

[@thisisnotmyname91]

Hey Kyle, sonotubes are still susceptible to frost even below frost line. As the ground freezes and expands it will grip the outsides of the pier and lift it.

[@deftar86]

Builder in VA here. I try to always do my deck steps with boxes like this when under 4 steps as they're easier to get stout and straight this way.

[@garlandschuster5054]

Love those shades,where did you get them? Great job,looks the boss approved!!! Lol 😂

[@robertlaird6746]

You should get the Rousseau portable table saw stand. It's the best.

[@bedef1980]

Correct me if I’m wrong… that semi serrated bar in the hopper is there to cut open the bags. Love ya vids always. Hi from New Zealand

[@RRBuildings]

Yes but not the plastic bags… doesn’t work well

[@mikem1436]

The lattice allowed good air flow. I'd give some thought on what you put on the sides of the deck.

[@jamespaddon6091]

it would look better with the decking as your facia for steps and deck.... but so far i love it

[@stuckster]

Great box stairs. About to do the same on our deck. Do you suggest using plastic or gravel under the base? FYI in Australia your shovel would be called a spade. Used for cutting though soil. Our shovel typically has a larger head, set on an angle with turned up sides, designed for scooping up loose soil and moving it from A to B.

[@n16665]

Get somebody to do old dry stone wall bild around the decking... I'm from Ireland and there a lot of drystone wall in the country no mort it all stone... You should look up a video of old drystone wall... Also you can put plants into the wall to help make it a nice feature to your garden and pool