How To Build Free Standing Wooden Steps

If you like to build freestanding steps for both a fun activity and a money-saving venture then you are in the right hand. Building wooden steps is not as hard as it seems, therefore you do not need a specialist to build some steps yourself.

Building a set of free-standing steps is a straightforward project that even the novice carpenter can accomplish. Planning and measuring are critical to the success of this project, so take your time and be precise. Once the steps are built, they will provide safe and easy access to any area where a traditional set of stairs would be too difficult or impractical to install.

Building free-standing wooden steps is a simple project that any do-it-yourselfer can do. You will need to purchase some lumber, a few tools, and some basic hardware. The steps can be made to any height and width that you desire. Just make sure that the lumber you select is of the correct thickness and length. This article will let you know How To Build Free Standing Wooden Steps in just a few steps.

6 Easy Steps To Know How To Build Free Standing Wooden Steps

To build wooden steps, you need to use quality wood and good tools that prevent injury. Freestanding wooden steps are very useful to get access to a patio, a trailer, or even an indoor area. Simply, you can create free-standing wooden steps.

Things You Need

You need to collect some necessary ingredients to build freestanding steps so that you can keep every footstep easily and safely. Without gathering the necessary equipment, you cannot complete the task successfully.

Equipment

Hammer
Hand Saw
Tape measure
16d Nails
Pencil
Framing Square
Jigsaw
Nail gun
Circular saw
Chop saw

Materials

Wood planks
Nails

Instructions

Let’s jump right in and look at the steps!

Step 1: Choosing Wood

You need to choose 5 pieces of wood to build freestanding steps. Make sure the wood you have chosen is straight and comes without cracks. If you fail to choose accurate wood to make free-standing steps, then they might cause serious problems later. To make freestanding steps the ideal dimensions you need are 2x12x16, 2x4x16, and 4x4x16.

Step 2: Calculation And Measurement

First, you need to determine the finished height and then divide the value by 7, which is the height of a regular step.
The depth of the tread is 10.5” and it is a regular tread depth. If you did precise calculations, you might have something a bit different, for example, 7¼ and 10 5/8
The stairs will need three stringers that give the stairs strength. Each of the stringers measurement is 2×12 and the outside stringers will have a width of 36 inches and you’ll need two 2x36x36 to be applied as a header and a footer
The legs are 2×6 pieces crossing the bottom and they keep them spread out and uniform.
You need to create the steps out of 2×12 pieces and give them an inch overhang on every side of the stringers
Every staircase has the same handrails so you need to cut the 2×6 piece for the baluster at around 48” and cut it down later for the proper height
Cut the legs vertically to the ground and you need to keep in mind that the Pythagorean Theorem to get the right height concerning the length of the entire staircase and the diagonal height

Step 3: Set Up And Layout

According to the number of steps, you need to use the treads’ measurements, and having the stair gauges will help you tremendously
Layout the stringers by taking the framing square and placing the 10.5 sides on the right, and the seven sides on the left
Place the square on the 2×12 going as far to the left and the objective is to make outside the framing square
Now you need to take the 7-inch side and carry it across, straight all the way, it is the top step and you will cut it later
Align the 7-inch side with the 10.5-inch side and place your marks, up until you achieve your desired number of steps
Do the bottom step just like the top
There will be a 2×6 on the top and the bottom as a header and a footer, mark those lines and cut them out to make the project level at the ground
Take the precise measurement for a 2×6 is 1.5×5.5, mark that on the top and the bottom of the step running down the back of the 2×6
Make measurements from the bottom up and mark a line for the 2×6 to be cut in

Step 4: Cutting

Do not cut past the lines you marked, return with a handsaw and cut out the little pieces that remain attached
Cut the treads along with the header and the footer, and make sure another person can be reducing the stringers
While you are working on the legs make sure to cut the let inaccurately and cut out of ×4 (width) into the legs

Step 5: Assembling

Start with the header and footer on the outer stringers and then place the middle stringer in between
Drive three 16d nails in each
Flip the entire project over and lay out the treads on the stringers
Nail in one of the sides first, with the correct overhang, then move onto the other side and try getting it as close as you can
After nailing the outside stringers, the middle stringer is pretty easy to fasten
Hold the legs in place as you nail them and alternatively, you can use scrap blocks
Put around four on the side of the leg that touches the header and his stringer and about 2 through the top of the tread
Nail one side, and then fasten the other side in the opposite direction

Step 6: Stand It Up

Do the cross-bracing on the vertical legs at the back and to do that, use a tape measure to determine the length of the wood so you need to take a 2×4, lay it against the points, mark it, cut, and fix it
You can easily add the handrails by fixing a baluster to the tread, but that looks sort of sloppy
The number of balusters you need depends on the number of steps you have
Cut two 2×4 pieces to the suitable length and nail each of them to one

Final Verdict

These are all about the steps that you need to follow while building upstairs. This article mentions all the easy steps of how to build free-standing wooden steps so that you can create your stairs without taking help from others.

See Also:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Do You Build Freestanding Wooden Steps?

There are various ways to build free-standing wooden steps. The easiest way is to use pre-cut stringers and treads. The stringers are the boards that the steps rest on, and the treads are the boards that you step on.

Attach the stringers to the front and back of the stairs with screws. Make sure that they are level. Then, attach the treads to the stringers with screws.

How To Build Free Standing Exterior Stairs?

To build free-standing exterior stairs, you will need:

Tape measure
Circular saw
Chisel
Plywood
Hammer
Nail gun
1-inch nails
Stair gauges
Cordless drill
6-inch hole saw
Paint or sealant
Paintbrush
Staircase kit

Let’s check the ways.

Measure the height from the ground to the door or window where you will be mounting the stairs to. This will be the height of the first step.
Cut a piece of plywood for this measurement using a circular saw.
Using a chisel and hammer, remove the wood from the center of the plywood so that it is the same width as your stair stringers.
Attach the plywood to the top of the stringers using a nail gun and 1-inch nails.
Measure and mark the location of the steps on the stringers using stair gauges.
Drill a 6-inch hole in the center of each step using a hole saw.
Paint or seal the stairs using a paintbrush and paint or sealant.
Assemble the staircase kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the staircase kit to the top of the stringers using screws.
Paint or seal the screws using a paintbrush and paint or sealant.

Instructions

Cut the stringers to the desired length using a saw.
Drill a hole in the center of each step using a hole saw.
Paint or seal the stairs using a paintbrush and paint or sealant.
Assemble the staircase kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the staircase kit to the top of the stringers using screws.
Paint or seal the screws using a paintbrush and paint or sealant.

How Do You Make Simple Wood Steps?

There are many ways to make steps from wood. One way is to use a circular saw to cut four pieces of wood to the same length. Then, use a power drill to create the screw holes for the steps. The next step is to use wood screws to attach the steps together. Finally, use a hammer to drive nails into the steps to create a non-slip surface.

How Do You Build Outdoor Wooden Steps?

You can build outdoor wooden steps using 2×6 inch boards. First, you need to cut four boards that are each 29 inches long. Next, you need to cut six boards that are each 16 inches long. The next step is to attach the four longboards to the six shortboards. You can use a drill and screws to do this. Then, you need to attach the railings to the steps. Finally, you need to stain or paint the steps.

How To Build Freestanding Outdoor Stairs?

Freestanding outdoor stairs are a great way to add some extra flair and functionality to your backyard or patio. Building freestanding stairs can be a little tricky, but with careful planning and execution, it is a project that most people can manage.

The first step in building freestanding stairs is to mark out the area where the stairs will be built. Ideally, the stairs should be placed so that they lead to an upper-level deck or patio. Once the location of the stairs has been marked, use a level to make sure the ground is flat and even. If the ground is not level, use a shovel or spade to level it out.

Once the ground is level, the next step is to build the frame for the stairs. This can be done using 2×4 or 2×6 lumber. The frame should be built so that it is slightly wider than the stairs themselves. The frame should also be tall enough so that the stairs will be level with the upper-level deck or patio.

Once the frame is built, the next step is to install the stair treads.

How To Build Free-standing Steps With Stringers?

Building steps with stringers is a great way to add a sturdy set of steps to your home or property. Stringers are the slanted boards that line the edge of each step on a staircase. Building free-standing steps with stringers is a relatively easy process that can be accomplished with a few basic tools and supplies.

To build free-standing steps with stringers, you will need:

Tape measure
Circular saw
Chisel
Hammer
Pry bar
Stair gauges
Level
-Straight edge
-Paint or a sealant
-Staircase kit (optional)

Following these steps-

Decide on the size and location of your steps. measurements for steps are typically 24 inches wide by 6 inches deep. Mark the location of your steps with spray paint or stakes and strings.
Cut the stringers to size. The stringers should be cut so that they are the same height as the finished steps and extend 2 inches past the edge of each step.
Use a circular saw to cut notches in the ends of each stringer. The notches should be cut so that the stringers fit snugly against the steps.
Use a chisel and hammer to remove the waste wood from the notches. Make sure that the notches are completely smooth and level.
Test the fit of the stringers against the steps. If the fit is not tight, use a pry bar to adjust the notches until the fit is snug.
Use stair gauges to mark the location of the notches on the steps.
Cut the notches in the steps using a circular saw. Make sure that the notches are the same size and depth as the notches in the stringers.
Sand the notches in the steps until they are smooth and level.
Paint or seal the notches in the steps and stringers.

How To Build Free Standing Wooden Steps With Handrail?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the design of free-standing wooden steps with a handrail will vary depending on the specific situation. However, some tips on how to build free-standing wooden steps with a handrail include ensuring that the steps are both sturdy and level and that the handrail is securely attached and properly positioned.

How To Build Outdoor Wooden Steps?

Outdoor wooden steps can be built using two methods- the first method is to build the steps on site, and the second method is to build the steps using a kit.

To build the steps on-site, you will need to have a solid foundation to build on, such as concrete or gravel. The first step is to mark out the area where the steps will be built, and then dig out the area so that the foundation is leveled. Once the foundation is level, you can begin to build the steps.

The steps can be made out of lumber or masonry, depending on the material you choose for the foundation. If you choose to use lumber, you will need to cut the pieces of lumber to size and then assemble them using galvanized screws or nails. If you choose to use masonry, you will need to lay the blocks in a staggered pattern and then use mortar between the blocks to hold them in place.

Once the steps are built, you will need to paint or seal them to protect them from the weather.

What Kind Of Wood Did You Use For Outdoor Stairs?

You would use rot-resistant wood such as cedar or treated pine.

How To Build Back Door Steps?

You can build back door steps using a concrete form, wooden frame, and rebar. The first step is to pour a concrete form using plywood and 2x4s. The form should be 2 feet wide and the same length as the steps. The next step is to cut and install the rebar. The rebar should be spaced every 1-2 feet and should be bent into a U-shape.

The third step is to attach the wooden frame to the concrete form. The frame should be made of 2x4s and should be the same size as the form. The final step is to fill the form with concrete and allow it to cure.

Dig two trenches parallel to each other, using a shovel. The trenches should be the same depth and width as the desired width of the steps.
Place a layer of concrete blocks at the bottom of each trench.
Position the lumber for the steps on top of the blocks in the trenches. The lumber should be the same length as the desired width of the steps.
Nail the lumber together to form the steps.
Fill the space between the steps and the trench with concrete. Smooth the surface of the concrete with a trowel.