How to Make Deck Risers

Deck risers eliminate visible space beneath the deck stairs.

Deck risers are the wooden boards that close the face of your deck staircase. Many deck stairways consist of stringers and treads, with the vertical spaces between the treads left open. Risers seal these verticals and create a more finished look for your deck stairs. Risers are mounted to the face of the stringers, while treads are mounted to the top. The process of making your own deck risers requires basic carpentry skills and common tools. Risers can be added to existing decks or installed during the construction of a new deck staircase.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Straightedge
• Pencil
• 2-by-8-inch pressure-treated lumber
• Circular saw
• Power drill
• Screw gun
• 3-inch decking screws
• Calculator
• Work gloves
• Goggles

Instructions

1. Start at the top of the staircase and measure the gap between the surface of the tread on the second step to the underside of the front edge of the top step. The gap between stair treads typically is around 7 or 8 inches. If your stair treads are exactly 8 inches apart, no cutting will be required to fit your 2-by-8-inch lumber into the open space, although the length will have to be adjusted. If not, your lumber will have to be cut to fit both the length and width of the opening.

2. Use your tape measure to record the length of your existing deck staircase treads. Use your tape measure and straightedge to mark your 2-by-8-inch pressure-treated lumber to fit the spaces between your deck staircase treads. Use your circular saw to make the cuts.

3. Place one riser in the space between each stair tread. Use your power drill to make pilot holes through the risers and into the stringers behind. Use your screw gun and 3-inch decking screws to fasten the risers in place. Two screws for each stringer location should suffice. Because deck treads have overhangs built into their design, the risers should fit neatly beneath the lip without visibly protruding.

Tips & Warnings

• Calculate the size of your deck risers when laying out the staircase. Measure the distance from the front edge of the deck rim joist to the ground below. Divide this distance by the height of an average step, and you will realize the size of all your staircase components. For example, if the gap between the ground and the landing is 48 inches, and the height of a step is 8 inches, your risers will be 8 inches high, your treads 11 inches deep and your stringers 66 inches long.

• Use caution when working with dangerous tools such as saws, hammers and nails. Serious injury can occur. Wear work gloves and eye goggles for protection.

References

• This Old House: How to Build Deck Stairs
• Decks: How We Build Deck Stairs
• Family Handyman: How to Build Deck Stairs
• Lowes Creative Ideas: How to Build a Deck Part 5
• Creative Homeowner: How to Build Deck Stairs