How To Build a Deck | Wood Stairs & Railings (4 of 5)

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1. 2:49–3:44 Layout and Cut Stringers From How to Lay Out and Cut Deck Stair Stringers, Step 5: Transfer Layout and Cut Additional Stringers

   Once your landing is installed and the rise and run of your steps have been determined, it's time to lay out the steps on your 2x12 lumber for the stringers. Set stair gauges on a framing square to match the exact height of your calculated rise and the length of your calculated run. Hold the framing square firmly at the corner of a 2x12 plank and use a pencil to mark the line for the top run cut. Then, slide the square along the plank, aligning it carefully, and mark both the rise and run for the next step. Continue this process, marking each successive rise and run, until you have laid out all your steps on the stringer board. For the top step, which will attach directly to the deck, subtract the thickness of a toe kick board and strike a perpendicular line; this is where the stringer will connect to the deck, and there won't be a separate toe kick here. At the very bottom step, mark the thickness of a tread board. This mark is crucial to ensure that once the treads are installed, the bottom step will be the same height as all the other steps. After marking, use a circular saw to make the bulk of the cuts for the stringer, and then switch to a handsaw to finish any cuts that the circular saw cannot reach, particularly in the inside corners of the steps. Finally, use this first cut stringer as a precise template to mark and cut all your remaining stringers, ensuring consistency across all stair supports.

The guide that use this video

• How to Lay Out and Cut Deck Stair Stringers