Page 568 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 449

The bottom step of an elevated porch or deck stairway should never be in contact with the soil. Support
the bottom step and stair carriage on a concrete pad or with a pressure-treated post. Figure 16-9 shows
a porch stairway supported on treated posts. Posts like this should measure at least 5 inches in each
dimension and should be embedded in the soil at least 3 feet. Nail and bolt a cross member between
the posts. Then block the inner end of the horizontal support to the floor framing.

Where more than one step is required, use a 2 x 12 stringer at each end of the steps (see Figure
16-10). Bolt the lower end of each stringer to a treated post and attach the upper end of the stringer to
the porch framing. You could also support the stairway on concrete or masonry piers.

Begin the construction of an elevated porch and deck by fastening a ledger securely to the existing sill
with lag bolts (Figure 16-11). Then build a post and beam framework that'll support the joists and wood
decking. Hang joists from the ledger using metal joist hangers. Joist spacing depends of the type of
decking you select. As mentioned earlier, synthetic deck materials usually require joists no more than
12 inches on center. For treated 5/4 inch fir and pine, you can usually space joists 16 inches on center.
Install solid blocking between the joists at all supporting beams. Finally, fasten decking to the joists.
You can face-nail, blind-nail or screw and plug wood decking in straight, diagonal, herringbone, or
checkerboard patterns.