Composite Decking Front Steps Complete Tutorial

Anyone else here because of the thumbnail? 😉😉😉

I bought this as a gift for my friend youtube.com/post/UgkxcZqgZ8Ynkiz5n_LxIWRlAicuzmz5k… who is just starting out in the world of wood work. He loves it!! There is a great section on different wood and what to use for what kind of job and a similar section for tools as well. The projects in it are things you probably would have a go at with clear instructions, pictures, videos and diagrams throughout. Great for a beginner/amateur wood worker.

Having just built a large composite deck myself, I really enjoyed your video. Nice job. As someone else said below hard to believe you have four children. You’ve been blessed.

I’m so glad to see someone like yourself doing a project like this. I’ve been a carpenter all my life and so many times when I’ve given a price to a potential customer they look at me like I’m trying to steal from them. And I’ve always been reasonable with prices.

Way to go! This was an amazing project! I admire your "out-of-the-box" thinking and wish I had the ability to see something like this through! Taking your vision and making it yourself, you're a modern and model homemaker! ¡Te aventaste! "Well done!"

I must say I was very impressed with your ability to tackle a job like this all by yourself. Your husband must be quite proud of you.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT-- YOU DID A GOOD JOB!! As for the finishing touches -- cut the corner edges to 45- 33- or whatever is needed to join them together rather than cut but open-ended corners and extend the water faucet to delete the door altogether. LOVE your enthusiasm !!!

Bravo! You took on this project and did such a great job. I'm really impressed (and inspired) by how you made all those corner ANGLES work. I am now seriously considering doing my decking project myself after watching this. Thanks for sharing!

Impressed would be an understatement, that was a fantastic job! The design and problem solving were exceptionally. You should be very proud of yourself, excellent job!

The front porch looks great. Back porch even better.

Your husband has a precious gem having your creativity, moxy and productivity in his world!

Bravo My Lady! Hats off from an architect from the other side of the world. People like to complain for any little things and here you are giving them all a great example. Great tenacity that you have paid off on this project. Once again...🏆🏆

You’ve got 4 kids and yet look this gorgeous? Wow! 🙌🏻 great carpentry skills too 👍🏻 🇬🇧

Wow, good job. I need to build new steps for the back door & have been thinking of using composite boards so I don't have to paint the steps every other year. It's good to know about the 12" spacing. Thanks for sharing!

Yep, nice job Rebecca! Years ago, I built some front steps of wood, which I configured to cover up a heavy, very heavy, 3-step concrete set that had sunk horribly down and away from the porch landing. There was no railings either. But after careful measurement, I built mine in the basement shop, then took it apart, reassembling and attaching it to the front porch. I think I constructed mine to have four steps. Like yours, it was a very satisfying construct, and it made the house look so much better! Kudos!

You can save yourself a ton of time by only pre-drilling your corner screws. Especially with treated lumber, that moisture content really makes it resists splitting. There are some other tips that could speed things along, but you found ‘your own way’ of doing it, and that’s very respectable!

I’m just here because of the thumbnail pic while scrolling through my suggested videos.

Nice ! Now ill have to re-watch to see how the steps were made.

This video started via autoplay. It was playing in the background until I heard you decided on a 20° angle. OK, time to rewind. With 40+ years in the trade, I just had watch. I've worked with a lot of experienced people who can't do angles like that without my help. There's more than one way to skin a cat, but your calculation method was good (you showed it but I'd have to watch again to know if you talked it out) and your comments about exact math and compensating for irregularity in framing lumber are important things to remember. Extra kudos for showing your cardboard template. Everyone I've ever worked with uses an easily cut, disposable material to figure out complex cuts. It saves time and material which = saving money. I did notice as you were finishing the project you were using shorter bits to drive the screws than when you started. I always use the shortest bit possible because it's easier to direct the screw where you want it to go and it's easier to get the tool at the proper angle in and around your work. I generally keep a 2" and 6" in my belt but the 6 or anything longer only comes out when something obstructs my driving angle. My only negative is footwear. For your sake and the safety of your DIY followers, wear boots with steel or composite toe protection, especially when doing heavy lifting. If your original stairs were heavy enough to require core strength to move (kudos again), they're heavy enough to break bones, crush, mangle or even sheer off toes. I have a steel toe boot that had to be cut off my foot when a pallet of lumber was dropped on it 20 years ago. I also have all 6 toes. Just kidding, but my right foot has the 5 toes I was born with.

First of all, you have FOUR kids! You barely look old enough to drink a cold beer at the end of this project! Second, the stairs look great, and the video has given me ideas and inspiration for my stair project. Really well-done narrative and camera work.