Small project makes BIG impact
This season the majority of my exterior builds were pre-booked last fall — but it is sometimes possible to squeeze a few projects into an existing calendar — provided this can be done without affecting current jobs. This past week, one such project was completed in a day. And despite being a smaller project, its completion will surely have a huge impact for years to come.
When the steps and landing to an entryway of this house began to fail they became an eyesore, with a sagging structure, signs of rot, and discolouration. Although the unsightliness definitely prompted the need for replacement the most important aspect was to make the steps safe for use.
The landing of the existing side-door steps is only three by five feet, with two stairs on either side for access from the front yard walkway, and into the backyard towards the garage respectively. In that the amount of lumber to replace this structure was nominal and because the decision to build was slightly spontaneous, it was near impossible to ensure a timely delivery for the impromptu build date. As such, I hooked-up the trailer, ordered and loaded the lumber myself the morning before the project was set to commence, and dropped it off at the jobsite location so it was ready and waiting for me.
Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Winnipeg Free Press
These new steps mimic the dimensions of the old ones, but provide rigidity along the landing and stairs and a robust railing.
The next day, demolition would only take minutes — the railing was so rotten, it was easily torn off by hand. And despite (what appeared to be) a few repairs to the existing steps, the stairs also came apart with little to no effort. At least the old platform (landing) was seemingly sturdy. It was removed and dismantled into manageable pieces, set aside for junk removable upon completion of the project.
Once the old steps were completely removed, it was evident that the existing exterior door sill had also begun to rot along the outer edge. As such, the sill was repaired using treated lumber, prior to starting the framing of the new steps.
The required elevation for the new structure was established, and the landing was pre-framed. The new three-by-five foot landing framework was leveled, and bolted to a post at every corner. The new stair stringers were then custom cut on site to ensure the rise was consistent from ground level to landing top. Once the main framework was completed, 2×6 top decking was fastened to the stair stringers on either side, and along the landing top. The 4×4 railing posts were pre-notched for side-mount installation along the outside of the steps, and 2×8 fascia was mounted between the landing posts and along the faces of the stairs. 2×12 was used as fascia along the slope of the stairs on both sides. To complete the railings, 2×6 caps were affixed to the tops of the railing posts, and along the underside of the caps to serve as upper horizontal support upon which the wooden balusters would be fastened. The fascia along the side of the landing and stairs provides the side-mount surface for the bottom of the balusters.
Although these new steps (and the minor door sill fix) took no longer than four hours to complete, I felt a huge sense of relief, not only because it was completed with relative ease, but that my calendar had allowed this project to occur that day – it feels as though a bullet was dodged. The old steps had become quite dangerous, and it was just a matter of time before the homeowner suffered the consequences of falling due to failing steps and railing.
A structure that provides access in and out of the house will no doubt incur a ton of wear and tear. No matter, it should always remain rigid. The moment the structure shows signs of instability, usage should be limited until a repair or replacement can be scheduled — there’s no point in taking chances. And in this instance, replacement was the only solution. I’m very happy the new steps built, for safety’s sake.
The old steps were unstable and rotten, and the railing was wabbly and easily fell apart during the demolition stage.
The 2×12 stringers provided a solid framework to mount the 2×6 stair tops.
Credit: Small project makes BIG impact
