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Cheap and fast stairs

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428PI

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I got tired of racking my brain over stairs from shed floor to lean to. I was going to cut some concrete into treads etc. Well I had this warped 2x8 20 ft long that was in the way. Used my nail gun and 2 structural screws holding it to studs. Took an hour and a half. Gave up trying to design a stair stringer and decided that my simple plan will work. Don't be too hard on me.
 

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WillyBoy

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Yeah, that will work. Maybe as you get the time, add a second board to the lower tread to make it the same width (depth) as the upper. Just to make it bit safer. Another horizontal piece under the stringers would help keep them from sinking into the gravel and pulling against where they're nailed or screwed into the door frame.
 
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428PI

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pulling against where they're nailed or screwed into the door frame.
That could be a problem if it does sink. I'll have to watch that. I don't want to have leverage on the wall studs and pull them out of the sill plate. Edit: I went ahead and removed the screws from the wall studs and moved the stairs out 1/2 inch so it won't bind on sill and stud. Stairs are stiff and work great.
 
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Youngandfree

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What's there to design? A stair stringer is straight forward, free calculators available. Could have built a safer setup in the same time than it took to figure out that and nail it together.
 
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428PI

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What's there to design? A stair stringer is straight forward, free calculators available. Could have built a safer setup in the same time than it took to figure out that and nail it together.
Geeze Louise!!! For one thing I didn't have a 2x12 or 2x14 to make the stringer and the thought of trying to double on the width of 2 2x8's didn't look all that stronger. Did you just get out of bed?
 

Youngandfree

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Geeze Louise!!! For one thing I didn't have a 2x12 or 2x14 to make the stringer and the thought of trying to double on the width of 2 2x8's didn't look all that stronger. Did you just get out of bed?
Why would you need a 2x12 or 2x14 for a 2 stair stringer?
 

Jeff C

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Looking at your title reminds me of the old saying about there being three choices (cheap, fast, and quality) and you can only pick two.

Unfortunately when I look at the picture it confirms that saying. It was definitely cheap and fast. A 7-1/4” run is rather unsafe, especially if you’re carrying something or not paying full attention to the steps.

@Youngandfree is definitely direct but he pretty much hit the nail on the head. Your comment at the end of your first post saying “don’t be too hard on me” would indicate you already knew what was coming.
 
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428PI

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@Youngandfree is definitely direct but he pretty much hit the nail on the head. Your comment at the end of your first post saying “don’t be too hard on me” would indicate you already knew what was coming.
I thought that he was an a hole if you want to know the truth. Said you didn't need a 2x12 or 2x14 to make a stringer and didn't offer no explanation but just *******. I may try and extend the lower step but I'm practically all out of 2x4 material and don't want to rip down another section of 2x8. I knew what could come and was trying to have people not be an a hole but I see that didn't accomplish my goals.
 

Youngandfree

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I thought that he was an a hole if you want to know the truth. Said you didn't need a 2x12 or 2x14 to make a stringer and didn't offer no explanation but just *******. I may try and extend the lower step but I'm practically all out of 2x4 material and don't want to rip down another section of 2x8. I knew what could come and was trying to have people not be an a hole but I see that didn't accomplish my goals.
I said free stair calculators are available. All you have to do is look one up. For stairs that short, I'd have no issue using a 2x10 for stringers, which is why I said no 2x12 or 2x14 needed. I've never seen stringers cut into a 2x14.

But what other explanation do you want. Being too cheap to buy 1 piece of lumber to make a safe set of stairs set something any help from someone here can fix.
 
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428PI

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I said free stair calculators are available. All you have to do is look one up. For stairs that short, I'd have no issue using a 2x10 for stringers, which is why I said no 2x12 or 2x14 needed. I've never seen stringers cut into a 2x14.

But what other explanation do you want. Being too cheap to buy 1 piece of lumber to make a safe set of stairs set something any help from someone here can fix.
My wife point blank said I don't need friends like that. Get a clue how you come across. If you read my post I said I had a 20 ft piece of 2x8. You said to make a stringer and I explained I didn't have another board that I could build a stringer out of like you were thinking. I'm not going to buy another piece if one doesn't need to. You offered no explanation how to build a stringer out of a 2x8 and just bitched because I didn't build a stringer like you wanted. Mine is perfectly safe and I'll just extend the lower step if I can find some 2x4 laying around. I'm at the end of my project and am done buying things thus why I posted what I did. Just be more kind and offer suggestions instead of bitching.
 
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428PI

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Knowing the context of what they are used for and how often might get you some slack... or make it worse.
Yea, you're right. I'm probably the only one going to use the steps. It leads from my main room in shed to lean to so won't use it very often. I should have said that I guess. It's not the main entrance to my shed. For the main walk in door I raised a 900 lb piece of concrete 1 ft and added for stairs some broken concrete pieces incased in rock to keep it steady. I'm really afraid to post a pic as some here would call it unsafe I would assume. Again, I'm probably the only one going to use them.
 

Youngandfree

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You said you're too cheap to buy 1 piece of lumber to do it right, because you want to use what you had. Now you say you're too cheap to cut up any remaining lumber you have to at least finish your project. 🤣

It seems apparent no amount of help provided here would be of any use.

Please post pics of your concrete work.
 
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428PI

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It seems apparent no amount of help provided here would be of any use.
And there you go bitching and offering nothing but criticism. There was a thread about how Ryan is tired of moderating here and suggested ignoring people. You're getting ignored. You had your chances. Hope you feel better.
 

Youngandfree

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And there you go bitching and offering nothing but criticism. There was a thread about how Ryan is tired of moderating here and suggested ignoring people. You're getting ignored. You had your chances. Hope you feel better.
Pointing out the blatant obvious facts. I'm not bitching about anything.
 
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mike93lx

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I think I would have done it as a platform, top landing and a bottom step. Maybe a little more wood, but a bigger bottom step and not attached to the studs. At a minimum, make that bottom tread deeper

The Pic below is what I built at my last house to go out to a patio. Took longer than an hour though :)
20180415_150140.jpg
 

The Tool Tyrant

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According to a study, falls down stairs cause an average of approximately 1 million injuries per year. In total, this adds up to the second leading cause of accidental injuries in the entire country. Additionally, falling down the stairs causes an average of 12,000 deaths per year.

Just say'n... Proper rise & run and design can save you from injury. Not including a 'toe kick' (recessing the riser back from the front edge of the step as Mike 931x did above) may cause your heel to catch the face of the riser when descending the stairs which can cause a fall.
 
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428PI

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I think I would have done it as a platform, top landing and a bottom step. Maybe a little more wood,
I wanted to keep the stairs "open" so rodents wouldn't build nests underneath. I did have some concrete anchor bolts and could have attached to the concrete but decided that would be problematic since the end could go up and down slightly with the seasons etc. and very little end grain of that board to attach to. I assume your sides are more or less solid?
 

Old tool guy

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Looks good for the purpose. I agree on adding a second first tread, and a board to spread the load on the dirt. Go to HD, look in the cull pile for a piece of PT wood.
 

mike93lx

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I wanted to keep the stairs "open" so rodents wouldn't build nests underneath. I did have some concrete anchor bolts and could have attached to the concrete but decided that would be problematic since the end could go up and down slightly with the seasons etc. and very little end grain of that board to attach to. I assume your sides are more or less solid?
Yes, solid. The frame was built in three layers, each smaller than the one below. This is what it replaced. Probably more like what you want
20180415_142134.jpg
 

msharley

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I got tired of racking my brain over stairs from shed floor to lean to. I was going to cut some concrete into treads etc. Well I had this warped 2x8 20 ft long that was in the way. Used my nail gun and 2 structural screws holding it to studs. Took an hour and a half. Gave up trying to design a stair stringer and decided that my simple plan will work. Don't be too hard on me.
First?

Great job with the material to hand.

Second?

For the detractors? (go **** some else's old lady) :bounce:
 

NUTTSGT

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Some times stairs are built to fit the need, space and what is at hand for an intended use and user.

You guys would probably **** at how step my steps are going down to the basement. They are for me and not the general public.

I'd suggest just getting something on the bottom of the stringer as it will draw moisture, then insects.
 

The Tool Tyrant

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By not building a stair stringer? Or even having the bottom slightly short? Not having a railing? A lot of variables in that survey.
Re-read my post as I elaborated a bit. It's more about design than execution in your case. It would behove you to not be so defensive with your remarks. Don't enter a pie baking contest if you can't handle someone stating that your pie tastes like ****!
 

dcg9381

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According to a study, falls down stairs cause an average of approximately 1 million injuries per year. In total, this adds up to the second leading cause of accidental injuries in the entire country. Additionally, falling down the stairs causes an average of 12,000 deaths per year.
I'm perfectly capable of tripping going up or down code compliant stairs! Sometimes it's not the stairs!
 
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428PI

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Here. Found an old 2x4 in the north wall not attached and half an hr later.
 

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PBCampbell

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Depending on how much floor/ground space is there, you may consider a ramp for the future.
 
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428PI

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My son does structural analysis at a major aerospace company. I'll have him run the numbers or maybe not.
 
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428PI

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Depending on how much floor/ground space is there, you may consider a ramp for the future.
Thanks. I needed the laugh. I hope I'm not that old but maybe you were thinking of rolling stuff into and out of shed.
 
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PBCampbell

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Yes, no joke was intended. I'm guessing that's a storage area and there would be times a dolly would be used and even when hand carrying heavy items, a ramp is easier/safer to navigate than stairs.
 
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428PI

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You wouldn't believe how frustrating having say an engine stand with wheels on it in the rocks in the lean to is.
 

dave*99

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I have found this calculator to be quite handy when building stairs.
It makes it easy to equalize all the rises and runs.
It also gives the dimensions of the lumber needed for the stringers.
 
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