DIY Network

Deck and Stairway Glass balusters create a safe, see-through railing for the deck, and a new stairway provides access to the backyard. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-312

Figure A

Thern and Trillia Newbell have a deck that, over the years, has turned into a safety hazard (figure A). Many boards are loose and warped, and the rail is big enough for someone to fall through! There is also no way to access their backyard from the deck. The Newbells would love to make their deck safe and ideal for entertaining. The Grounds for Improvement team helps them build a new and much safer railing with see-through glass balusters and a staircase down to their yard.

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Tools
shovels, spade
rakes
wheelbarrow
sod cutter
hammer
compact utility loader with auger
compressor
framing nailer
landscape marking paint
safety goggles, gloves
pry-bar
circular saw
jig saw
framing square

Building the Staircase

The landing will be 36 by 36 inches, and the staircase will be 36 inches wide.

Materials
16 (2"x10"x8') cedar boards
25 (2"x6"x8') cedar boards
2 (8 step) stringers
2 (4 step) stringers
30 (2"x4"x8') cedar posts
4 (4"x4"x16') cedar posts
4 (4"x4"x10') cedar posts
2 (4"x4"x8') cedar posts
2x12 framing boards
quick-setting concrete
40 glass balusters

	Figure B
	Figure C

The crew starts by marking the area for the landing and steps using landscape marking paint. They use a compact utility loader with an auger bit to dig out the postholes. (They have the utilities marked before digging!) Then they set in the four posts for the landing, check to make sure they're level and then support each post with a 2x4 brace (figure B).

Next, they attach the 2x12 framing boards to the four posts (figure C) and build a smaller frame to go at the end of the stairs. They fill the postholes with quick-setting concrete and water and make sure that the posts are plumb. After the concrete begins to set, they use their hands to build up a small bank around the posts to keep water from collecting around the pressure-treated wood.

The crew then determines the rise and run between landings before starting to construct the steps. For this project, the steps are seven and a half inches high and ten inches deep. They attach stringers for greater structural stability (figures D and E) and attach the cedar boards to the stringers to serve as the steps (figure F). Cedar wood is a great choice for the steps because it's naturally weather resistant, and it's a renewable resource.

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Finally, they attach the glass balusters to the staircase railings to match the railing on the upper deck (see related article), and the staircase is ready to provide safe access from the deck to the yard (figures G and H).

Figure G

Figure H

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