The Easiest Way to Build Stairs || Stair Stringers are Easy

[@Cranedewd]

Being a dad myself, I love you getting the foreman involved. He’s a great kid!

[@seetheworldfrommyharley]

Agreed! "Just close your eyes when cutting" .... you will probably get banned for that one...some busy body that will not be paying for any medical bills due to any mishaps will go "tell on you!" Childeren!... what are ya gonna do! 😜🤣

[@davedavis662]

Guaranteed he tells all his friends I helped my dad build this….. with pride of course as he should. Bravo for instilling in him the knowledge of building with his own hands. Plant the seed and if it takes root only desire and time will be able to hold him back.

[@markstratton228]

Little brother I Love You, really enjoyed your sense of humor and story telling narrating style, beautiful family God Bless You guys

[@larryharvey5818]

"The Foreman"... That is what makes this kind of project a dream come true!!! Love It.

[@billymasoner3735]

The point where you put your hand in it got to me. I got to do this with my grandpa when he built his RV landing pad, and I cherish it to this day. Thank you for all you do, man. Touched my heart today.

[@XtheHardstyleLoverX]

Awesome book that gives you step-by-step photos kzbin.infoUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt and directions to make every day project. I can see myself making a few of these projects and giving them as housewarming and holiday gifts!

[@bundylam]

Brilliant, you never fail to impress, both as a dad and carpenter. You make it so easy for us unskilled people to understand. Thank you 😊

[@dannywilsher4165]

I'm very glad there's at least one creator on KZbin that can say merchandise. Most are too lazy or something to say a complete word. Awesome channel, I always enjoy your videos!!!

[@suearmstrong3404]

And you said you weren't a construction carpenter! You clearly can do it all. What a beautiful job! Love the tip on the stair jig!!!!

[@Aurora-nd1zs]

I mess up my stringer just now and I'm here and all over youtube to find something easier for a dumbo like me to learn. Huaaaaa thankssss

[@klmbuilders5385]

"Little decorative side pieces" are called skirt boards. Good visual treatise on stair building. One point you skipped and it's kind of a big one is the thickness of the riser board is deleted from the top tread cut. I like the pattern you made for marking the rise and run. 40 years in Carpentry and I've never done it that way! You know what they say, A good student never stops learning!

[@Darenator1]

Instead of top tread, need to take thickness off bottom tread. That drops the entire assembly so the first step is not too high

[@klmbuilders5385]

@@Darenator1 read my comment again I'm not talking about the bottom tread.

[@carlstrohm3785]

@@klmbuilders5385 Asking, not questioning ,because I don't know. Does he need to cut that off the way he did it? He put the riser boards on after the treads, so if he faced the structure like a regular riser mid staircase, wouldn't they all end up the same? Again, I don't know, I'm asking. Thanks 😃 PS- if you know, where do you cut extra or add more to the top to account for your flooring?

[@klmbuilders5385]

@@carlstrohm3785 Typically the riser boards go on first in which case you would deduct the thickness of the riser from the top tread cut. Example: If a 3/4 board is used for a riser then 3/4 would be taken off the top of the stringer where it attaches to the deck band. When the riser is installed the tread cut becomes the same length as the remaining tread cuts. If the risers are installed after the treads then no stringer modification would be necessary but I would make the tread cuts shorter so I still have a tread overhang. Make sense?

[@carlstrohm3785]

@@klmbuilders5385 Yes. Thank you. I guess I thought you always did the tread boards first and the riser board kind of locked the rear down.

[@SoniaBDorsey]

Thank you for sharing! Nice tip for creating the staircase jig. You have a beautiful family. Their contribution was golden! 😂

[@williereagan7351]

I’ve been a carpenter for 40 years and I have built a lot of staircases. I really enjoyed your video and the way you put everything together. Great job!

[@kefwals8722]

That was hilarious watching you make the stair jig. I do the exact same thing. I just recently saw for the first time someone else use a step cutout for their pattern. I gave them a tip of adding a stop to make itveasier. I prefer this method because when you run into rounded corners or knot holes or board wane untrimmed or missing areas in the lumber where bark once was or is. Having the full slope spanned with a stop leaves no question that your flush with the edge. Thanks for validating that there's at least a few out there who do it this way. I have worked alone for many years and have had to develop my own methods to produce in a timely fashion while still retaining quality. I see a lot of these tip and trick guys online have a lot of useless tips that really are more for producing content over giving valuable advice. I look forward to seeing you continue do it the right way. Thanks!

[@kefwals8722]

I've done the extra skirt board a couple times on exterior stairs but mostly interiors. And "screw stick" I imagine is for after murder boarding is no longer providing a challenge it's time for tree slaying. The larger, tougher, cousin of the board.

[@robertkerby2581]

Your superior Craftsmanship shines through on this project and it's awesome that you are building this "Tree house" for your son! You and your friends are doing a great job working together on this project! Well done, Jason and Crew!

[@thsfl23]

Skirt boards aka little decorative side pieces.

[@cjcheshire]

The family hand prints was a lovely touch. Really enjoying this series. It’s looking so cool Jason!

[@jim7smith]

Loved your interaction with your son.... awesome. Stairs were awesome, too!

[@toasgreece]

Huffing pressure treated wood dust is a bad idea, awesome simplicity and instructions. Thank you

[@lrparrish227]

I have struggled with the build of stairs. I love your plan they are perfect! The only thing you didnt mention was making them square to the structure. I guess I could use a laser to check that. Love the video. You are a great dad. And to cook dinner afterwards too!

[@sapelesteve]

I really liked all of the steps that you took while building those stairs! Now all you need to do is add a nice handrail on either side for safety reasons.

[@bernardjones6162]

You are a great Father! God bless!

[@cameronsanders8033]

I love the way you have a good relationship with your son!! May God bless you and your family to grow closer to each other!!

[@captaintortuga3191]

Perfect timing on this video! I used your stringer template/jig method today for stairs to my pool deck. It was quick and easy and lined up perfect! Thank you!

[@miguelnavarro6473]

Thank you I learned alot not only how to build things ..but the love of family 👪 I'm mexican im for unity..live let live ..I look forward to moore of your work video of you and the hard working forman..good day we are out in California san diego oceanside

[@davidwoods8982]

Good job! I haven’t done stairs in 25 years ( different tradesman😁) so I needed a refresher. I think you made it as simple as it could be! Thank you.

[@luksaantono2311]

Dude you’re really kicking ass with the audio editing here. Your volume usually varies wildly but this one was edited very well. I didn’t have to change the volume once! Thank you! Also awesome video, looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@lowellmccormick6991]

I've been drawing stairs for fabrication shops since 1978. I give you an A+ for those stairs. Had I drawn these stairs, the only thing I would have done differently would have been to make the 2x4 spacers at the top a continuous piece that would have run from out to out of the outside stringers and notched the underside of the stringers to rest on top of that nailer. But all the stairs I draw (mostly steel) are for public areas and have to be designed for 50 people or so dancing on it them during a New Year's Eve party (worst case scenario). Your stairs are overengineered (a good thing) and will last a lifetime or more. Over the years I have noticed that not all pressure treated lumber is equal. I've seen decks built with Yellowwood from a box store (my AC deck) and after 5 years rot away. We have a local lumber yard that kiln dries the lumber, pressure treats it and then kiln dries it again. It's 75% more expensive but it's dry and very stable. And it lasts. The stinger covers make a great base for handrail posts. I love that worm drive Skillsaw.

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

I definitely agree with the added 2×4 at the top - it makes it far more stable. I wonder if you're in the same area I am, as I too have a local lumber yard that does that with PT lumber. They use clear grade for the 5/4 decking and also make some beautiful hollow columns from the same lumber.

[@lowellmccormick6991]

@@jameshaulenbeek5931 Gueydan (gay dawn) Lumber on Airline Hwy in Metairie, La.

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

@@lowellmccormick6991 if you ever find yourself in NC, Capitol City Lumber Co in Raleigh is fantastic.

[@sixtomidnight1492]

I agree on the ledger up top, it gives the stringers a bearing surface instead of relying on the shear strength of the screws. Also, all of the stringers should be notched at the bottom to allow the toe plate to run continuously through all of them. Another big thing to consider when building exterior wood stairs or decks is rot prevention. It's best practice to install a moisture barrier or an air gap anywhere the wood contacts another surface (ie wood to concrete, wood to wood, etc). That alone can make the difference between a 5 year build and a 30 year build!

[@frediscruz4924]

Sweet dad God bless you and your

[@chadwaller6072]

Pull saw. Best tool ever

[@lisawoods9391]

I absolutely LOVE "The Forman" !! I enjoy watching him come and help you! :)

[@CraigularjJoeWoodworks]

I’m glad to see corded tools, woodworkers don’t always need the cordless. I love my corded tools for their endless power supply

[@fletchro789]

Yes, they're kind of indispensible on a construction site, when you're making cuts all day long! 👍

[@jmarshman3454]

Good video! The only thing that I would do differently is for the bottom thrust board, I would definitely use 2x6 - 2x8 pressure treated or redwood with cut a 2x6 or 2x8 notch on the bottom of all 3 stringers as they set on the bottom landing. Then cut the rise on the bottom by 1/2" so that the stringers are not touching the concrete.

[@dougcarlson6800]

Yes thank you, there should be a mid span brace for the stringers as well anything over six foot on the run . The skirt boards on the outside cover the cleat board so please notch all stringers to lock them in to place.

[@robertblitch4702]

Nice to see you have a good little Foreman there that can keep you in line and help you out

[@hermiWormi]

You have a great voice brother! Keep on teaching us!

[@healinghousesavl]

You’re a good Man, a good father and a good craftsman. Great video.

[@funnyguy55able]

when you cut into PT lumber you remove the treatment. You should go over all the cuts with an endcut product to reseal. I imagine this build is probably finished at this point but if you can go back over any cut ends it will make the project last longer. The construction is solid.

[@JWill6969]

Yup I was gonna say the same thing. Gotta treat the ends.

[@davidcurtis5398]

This person is right but with the way you built this "tree house" it will get by for about 75 years, enough for all of us not to be around to care...

[@michaelogle1315]

@@davidcurtis5398 He lives in the Willamette Valley, a very wet rainforest environment. Open ends will allow water egress, potentially damaging the wood.

[@daveklein2826]

NOT TRUE ANYMORE BUT NICE TRY AT TRYING TO SOUND KNOWLEDGEABLE

[@daveklein2826]

NOT

[@fivestringpat]

I love the two tone of the treads/risers vs the rest

[@ryanstewart6121]

Best part of my day is getting a notification that you posted a new video! Look forward to the next video in this treehouse series

[@brettfrancis1527]

Ill eventually be doing this. My son is 2. I love your videos. Informative funny and wholesome

[@danwilkening888]

What a great dad you are!

[@Yackhammer75]

A little tip for your wedge anchors. Start the washer and nut then pound them in tight. Will help keep from messing up the end of the threads and will also give less bolt sticking out when you tighten them.

[@ewetuber186000]

Beautiful staircase. Beautiful family.

[@baron24601]

Love seeing the whole family in these. Hope to see more projects with the Foreman helping and learning how the worker does it!

[@brucemarmy8500]

Ya! Wait a minute.. Doh!

[@brentfrench752]

Great job on them there stairs! Very informative. If there’s ever a zombie apocalypse, severe weather event or some other catastrophic event, you have a fortress that will withstand anything. Just stock it with food and water and your good.

[@kristopherwinstanley4373]

Good job mate watching from Australia. Making my tree house look a bit pathetic. Think my kids want something like this!

[@jackww839]

So cool to see a fine wood worker in a different environment. Great ideas👍

[@Shy_Hulud]

I vote for more Forman participation in builds! It's great watching him be excited to learn your trade.

[@PurpleTrapezoidProds]

JASON! This is one of the best video series you have done so far, BUT… Could you do a video showing how you make your ideas in Sketch-Up? How to navigate the program and use it properly?

[@MDay8]

Steve Ramsey has a video on it that helped me understand sketch-up completely. Though I'd appreciate a how-to from Jason as well.

[@paigecox6000]

Check the building codes for stringer spans... max span for cut is 7' and uncut is 16.5'. Without those "decorative" uncut outer boards, a brace would be needed.

[@steveperreira5850]

At least somebody understands what is going on here. The right way to build that staircase is with the two uncut stringers, none of the other stringers are needed if you use 2 x 12 planks as the treads. So many missed opportunities here. I’m going to do a video pretty soon, in 2025, to show people how to build a staircase the right way, the way Jesus did it 2000 years ago. That means with two outside and cut stringers and planks in between, nothing else

[@carolinepflueger5087]

Super cool that your son is learning how to do all of this and getting a cool treehouse!

[@brianrivers8382]

Great Job, Great Family. Thanks for sharing.

[@shwemoor]

You are fun to listen and learn; I followed few others who confused the poop out of me - switching from mm to inches: stick to one measurement with no conversions in the explanations.

[@prodeous]

you always find an enjoyable way of presenting it. and your voice is like cherry on top. Though when ever the Forman shows up.. you have no competition :D Eager to see the next progress video.

[@dangre00]

You have my vote for the greatest dad on youtube.

[@Sunnyside--Up]

Gives me courage to get my stairs to my deck. Thank you!!! Very nicely explained.

[@jlr1487]

❤I love those skirts you added for aesthetics, it makes it look both beefier AND cleaner at the same time. Try picturing those stairs one moment without the skirts; all those exposed ends 😡.

[@COLLAR01]

Ive been building stairs with stair nuts for 40 plus years, your jig is freakin awesome cant wait to try it on next job.

[@NHancock31]

The stringer creation was great, I never thought about creating my own. Thanks!

[@lopaka76]

These look great. Well done. A few weeks ago I got the idea to build stairs on the back of a single story house, so I don't have to get a ladder out whenever I need to get on the roof. I really like the idea, but the two places I can put them, would cause an obstruction in walking areas. An it would provide easy access to being able to jump from roof to the pool by my 16 year old son and his friends. Soooo.

[@johnlee7085]

I think a 10’ high platform dive requires an extra deep pool. You might want to check into that before you become liable.

[@kevintimmons446]

Very cool build. Great job by both you and The Foreman 😊 He's a lovely kid and has a great dad.

[@shawnagullett8770]

Love this build... what a lucky young man to have a dad (and mom!) that'll build him this!

[@patshipp9195]

Sweet build and the boy too, so cute. Awesome Dad Award to you! 💖💖🏆🏆

[@queenshell-shocked3547]

I literally enjoyed watching this. Great guys!!!

[@mattloveless8587]

Love your work bourbon moth, youre a bona fide effing national treasure

[@clutteredchicagogarage2720]

When attacking those side pieces to your stringers with screws, I would predrill the screw holes to prevent splitting. I've found that over the course of many years when wood soaks with rainwater and expands, contracts, swells, and twists, if you don't predrill, the wood can start to split along the grain at the screw holes. Years ago, a friend of mine had a staircase on the deck at his country cabin that had stringers that split where deck screws were driven. The stairwell started to sag. I helped my buddy jack it up and sister the stringers to add some more life to it. He planned to rebuild the whole staircase a few years later. I would also probably use some kind of steel joist hangers for stairs instead of screwing the stairs with those long timberlock screws from the back. If you're going to use those timber lock screws then I hope you pre-drilled pilot holes. I know that long screws like that are generally self-tapping, but I still pre-drill a pilot hole that's at least 1/16 in (or about 1.5mm) smaller than the shank of my screws when I'm going to drive deck screws that can possibly cause wedge action that can split the wood along the grain over time. I personally think that this is helpful when your wood gets soaked one day and then is exposed to rapid drying in the hot sun the next day.

[@maicjager8969]

Once again a cool video handmade and familiar! Such a treeless tree house would also be a nice project for my grandson!!! I think that your Foreman can also actively participate in your projects in 1-2 years... I'm already looking forward to it… Greetings from Brazil/ RJ😎

[@davidcurtis5398]

Why wait?? Get him started now.. That is about the age that my Dad started me and I'm 74 now...

[@einarquay]

Close or skirt string, cut or open string, are the terms for stringers. Nice work. You make it look easy.

[@stevenjohnson1623]

Nice video. I'll definitely try the layout gig next time. It looks superior to the framing square stop method that I've been using. To save time and insure my stringers are exactly the same I just do the layout on one stringer. Then I clamp that stringer on top of and inline with the next stringer. I set the saw blade full depth and cut away. My saw doesn't cut all the way through the second stringer but it is cut exactly the same as the first. I then clamp the second stringer to the third and use the cuts as my guide for the second and third and so on. This method eliminates layout variations and insures that all the stringers are the same.

[@Robzolito]

You got a beautiful family, mate. Thanks for a great video, as always 😊

[@alsteeves2044]

Fantastic job simplifying this mysterious subject involving stair layout and building. Kudos to you sir! Subscribed.

[@davecurda2350]

What a great dad you are 👏👏👍

[@edwardsimmons3721]

Great to teach them early. Love to see family projects. Great work.

[@rwbuchwald]

Love the hand prints

[@johnleeclair]

"Let's murder this board!" - Shop Foreman

[@JmanRx81]

😂

[@mattkent655]

Great work. Also love how the saw, when you're doing cuts, becomes the kilsaw(killsaw) c'mon, doesn't get much more metal than that

[@paulhopkins1905]

All of The Formans little Foreman friends are going to be at your house all the time. That is one lucky little kiddo, he's going to love it

[@JonasBerg]

Man, i love your videos! Thanks for pushing content, and to be honest you also get me building things. Win/win, bi-winning, tiger heart and so on! Thanks again for having a great channel.

[@sebastiaotavares8549]

Nice job ,enjoy every second,very professional

[@brianelliot2719]

Very good video. Perhaps the tree house is only intended for a few years use by the kids then dismantled, but I would use “end cut preservative” on any cut or sawn parts. I’m currently replacing a set of stringers (23 years old) that should have lasted many years longer but rotted out on the runs of each step. The pressure treating is only a thin layer and any time you’re cutting into it then the coating is gone and rot sets in quickly. It doesn’t take much time to paint the cuts and will make the structure last much longer.

[@ronallman6055]

Loved the fact you're starting to let the "foreman" get his hands dirty. I loved it when I got to help my dad. Why not start him out sanding instead of the chop saw. Would love to see more of him in the videos with you.

[@dotgp]

Fantastic job as always when i did this. i didn't know the math so I just eyeballed it although a tad steeper than i intended it worked out well and the kids love it. hope to see the foreman pulling his weight as he gets older.

[@russellfelsinger678]

Love most of the design other than screwing into the end grain of the small anchor boards, this is a good reason for metal brackets. Anchor the brackets and bolt your stringers to them.

[@steveperreira5850]

Don’t need any metal pieces. That is a waste of money and it’s ugly. Maybe pre-drilled the holes for the screws or locate them elsewhere.

[@drhender6943]

That "bracket thingy" that hangs the stringer from the front of the deck is a stringer hanger. I like your method, but in a lot of areas, including mine, a stringer hanger is required. I prefer to do both-- add the lower 2x board like you did and use a stringer hanger because the inspector says so. Thanks for the tutorial on cutting stringers. I am about to add another set of stairs to an existing deck where I'll need 4 stringers. I usually buy precut, but with the length and umber I need, cutting my own will save me a couple hundred dollars!

[@ragingrevenge1]

I wet set a treated 2x6 in the concrete, it isolates the stringer from the board and also provides for nailing or a solid hardware connection at the landing connection

[@williamloeffler4915]

It's really looking great and coming together. You should consider making the hand rail with twigs and branches to make it even more tree house vibes.

[@luns486]

My thoughts exactly

[@nichiniker]

That’s what the foreman was getting ready for with his stick and deck screw

[@DIYwithUncleCy]

21:16 The decrative parts are called "Skirts" I was a trim carpenter for many years that's what we called them back in the 90's/ BTW loving this project.

[@steveperreira5850]

By the way, from an engineering standpoint, the only real strength in this staircase is in those skirt pieces. The two skirt pieces represent at least 2.6 Times the strength of the three notched stringers.

[@junsterable]

Nice work again. Made my saturday evening!

[@danielbourne4302]

Awesome job being a dad and treeless treehouse builder!

[@djmoqua]

Yeah, I really like how you put the foreman to work! This kid is learning so much from you, that's awesome!

[@sjors6048]

The foreman is the real star of this channel

[@167curly]

Looking good there, young Jason. I once had a metal spiral staircase made between floors in a corner for a home I owned. Now that took lots of calculation for them not to end up facing the lower level!

[@yvonnehughes3036]

I am loving this project!!!!!

[@themultiverseiscallingbvig4092]

Super cool,and richly knowlegeable.Thanks.

[@captainwaldo]

Quality video, miles ahead of all the other KZbinrs I follow. Great content thanks!

[@seanlester307]

excellent video. I may buy in pre-built stringers as this may be a little bit advanced for me but still a great vid.

[@hamzterix]

This is absolutely my favorite DIY channel. The entertainment vs education balance is spot on

[@lifeisgood952]

Very nice man!!! The way you did looks very simple.

[@donavanyoung9087]

Well done dad, you make your video fun to watch

[@seki0123]

Love the hand prints by the family…

[@RFMongoose]

You could also put small clamps on your square for marking your stringers

[@psidvicious]

I usually use to use the brass buttons you can purchase but in a pinch, yes, a couple small pairs of vise grips do just as well for making consistent markings.

[@jasonleskiw9942]

Looks great. A couple tips: -The decorative end boards are commonly called “skirts.” -While not necessary, it’s often a better look to nail/screw from the inside of the tread so that the head doesn’t show on the skirt. -The cuts should be treated with copper green, or another type of wood preservative. Makes the PT last significantly longer. -Lastly, the stuff used to treat spf is really bad for you. I try like hell to cut off my foot so the dust settles to the ground as quickly as possible. And by “cut off my foot,” I’m saying that I drop the board on my toes and then bring one edge up. That way, the weight of the saw will react with gravity, and give you a really nice cut.

[@daveklein2826]

LMAO

[@daveklein2826]

Dude, it's a Griffin tree house not fine carpentry..... LMAO