Input on this deck stair issue?

[Kaizen]

Been replacing stairs to a 2nd floor deck and have an issue that i'm interested in your opinouns. I came in pretty close to the height with just 1/4 inch off at the first tread. I thought i could hit the edge of the 6" exisitng slab to anchor but i was a step off. So i decided to notch the stringer for a 4x4 to anchor to the pad as the last tread is over pavers.
The pavers are sinking and can be fixed in spring as we are frozen in place now. But i'm concerned with only the two inches of meat left on the stringers above the 4x4. I will be double blocking the 2nd tread for 2x2 metal posts so i'm really just concerend with people stepping and increasing the strenghth. Would adding 2x material as big as i can fit along the stringers and between them be enough or should i cut some metal plate and attach? I will shim that bottom step until the pavers can be fixed but don't want to be chasing it every season with the freeze and thaw.

 

[cgrutt]

I've done similar cuts at bottom of stringer to anchor to pad but always used 2x lumber flat against pad to maximize the amount of solid wood left under tread. It's pretty thin there I'd be concerned about the stringers splitting on long grain. Probably would have been better to not notch outer stringers. Assuming you're using risers, maybe glue some p/t 2x4 across stringer just under tread on each of stringers. Maybe both sides of center stringers? I'd through bolt them front and back as well. Cross grain less likely to split esp if glued. If there is not enough room for 2x4, I'd notch the 4x4.

 

[Kaizen]

I've done similar cuts at bottom of stringer to anchor to pad but always used 2x lumber flat against pad to maximize the amount of solid wood left under tread. It's pretty thin there I'd be concerned about the stringers splitting on long grain. Probably would have been better to not notch outer stringers. Assuming you're using risers, maybe glue some p/t 2x4 across stringer just under tread on each of stringers. Maybe both sides of center stringers? I'd through bolt them front and back as well. Cross grain less likely to split esp if glued. If there is not enough room for 2x4, I'd notch the 4x4.

Thanks. Yea this one got away from me. I thought the space over the pad would be too high for 2x so when making them i notched for the 4x. Then to get level i had to add the notch around the pad. In retrospect i could have used 2x and still hit the pad. I actually still have that stringer that i cut too short. same rise and run so i think i'll take those and bolt in as you said. Probably do all 4 and then add risers and cross bracing anywhere i can. Probably be strong enough at that point.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks. Yea this one got away from me. I thought the space over the pad would be too high for 2x so when making them i notched for the 4x. Then to get level i had to add the notch around the pad. In retrospect i could have used 2x and still hit the pad. I actually still have that stringer that i cut too short. same rise and run so i think i'll take those and bolt in as you said. Probably do all 4 and then add risers and cross bracing anywhere i can. Probably be strong enough at that point.

I wouldn't sister another stringer if grain will be oriented same direction I'd run a 2x4 across the grain of stringer to make it less likely to split along grain. It's probably fine since you have four of them but I get super paranoid with stairs because a failure could leave someone badly hurt.

 

[no704]

Wouldn’t be a long fall! I’d just put some shims between the stringers and pavers till u can Jack the pavers up.

 

[Kaizen]

I wouldn't sister another stringer if grain will be oriented same direction I'd run a 2x4 across the grain of stringer to make it less likely to split along grain. It's probably fine since you have four of them but I get super paranoid with stairs because a failure could leave someone badly hurt.

i was thinking of using the other stringer and redoing the 4x4 cut out down to a 2x4. I get what you are saying. i'll have to ponder of a whiskey while looking it over to make the right decision

 

[Youngandfree]

Looks good. I just rebuilt my front porch steps. Originally had step risers that were 8" steps. I added a third step and made them 6.25" tall. Max height steps are for the birds.

 

[Kaizen]

Looks good. I just rebuilt my front porch steps. Originally had step risers that were 8" steps. I added a third step and made them 6.25" tall. Max height steps are for the birds.

ayuh easy to do hard to get perfect

 

[rayra]

i was thinking of using the other stringer and redoing the 4x4 cut out down to a 2x4. I get what you are saying. i'll have to ponder of a whiskey while looking it over to make the right decision

Making a lot of extra work for yourself for nothing. Just shim the bottom end of the stringers to the pavers.

/I'm more concerned with how deeply you notched the underside of the stringers for that 4x4 crossbrace / pad attachment. That should have been a piece of treated 2x. Those nice big stringers have now been reduced to that tiny chord between the 4x4 notch and the stair-step. But it is pretty much moot. It's at the very bottom and all the weight of the stairs is resting on that 4x4. And that narrow chord will only possibly be an issue because the last step is hanging out there unsupported. So just temp shim the tails of those joists until you re-set the pavers.
And don't ever notch the bottom edge of a stair stringer again.

 

[Kaizen]

Making a lot of extra work for yourself for nothing. Just shim the bottom end of the stringers to the pavers.

/I'm more concerned with how deeply you notched the underside of the stringers for that 4x4 crossbrace / pad attachment. That should have been a piece of treated 2x. Those nice big stringers have now been reduced to that tiny chord between the 4x4 notch and the stair-step. But it is pretty much moot. It's at the very bottom and all the weight of the stairs is resting on that 4x4. And that narrow chord will only possibly be an issue because the last step is hanging out there unsupported. So just temp shim the tails of those joists until you re-set the pavers.
And don't ever notch the bottom edge of a stair stringer again.

I originally measured and to hit the edge of that concrete pad a 2x would not have been tall enough. Thats why i used the 4x4 and the problems ensued.

 

[Zeke]

Use construction adhesive between the stingers (and A35 framing clips if you choose) and the 4 x 4. It will be a lot easier to knock the top corner off the first tread cut than it will be to split the stringer along the grain.