stairs question

[ger]

I have finished my deck.
now I have to start on stairs
I want to have trated pine frames
and screw on top merbau 90 X 19
the frame is to sit on the ground (soil)
which treated pine rating is ok
not sure if if it is one of theese F4 or F7 or H7

thanks

[UteMad]

dont really know what your asking but if your sitting on the soil then no not any treated pine is ok .. Has to be atleast H4 treated and only certain sizes come in h4..
the aim is not to sit the structure straight on the dirt if your after a long lasting stable set of stairs

utemad

[ger]

dont really know what your asking but if your sitting on the soil then no not any treated pine is ok .. Has to be atleast H4 treated and only certain sizes come in h4..
the aim is not to sit the structure straight on the dirt if your after a long lasting stable set of stairs

utemad
thanks UteMad
what would you recomend
where my deck finishes and the strairs will go is grass
so the bottom part of the stairs (frame) will have to touch the soil
so will F7 be ok
or is there another way

thanks

[Ronaldo451]

I suggest you either pave or concrete the area which the bottom of the stair rails sit on. If not an entire landing, then at least the bit that the rails sit on - even a couple of substantial concrete stepping stones/pavers/tiles is going to be an improvement over sitting in dirt....

[binda]

what he said.

[UteMad]

Depends how high and how wide the stairs will be and what the finished look is to be..

Are we talking like these below

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/utemad/stairinter-2.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k287/utemad/stairinter-1.jpg

If so we sit the front on a gal post support set into concrete footing to keep the frame off the ground .. All your F and number is a strenght code all your H and number is its treatment code .. totally different


cheers utemad

[ger]

Thanks for all the info
UteMad the deck height is only 580mm high
I will have 2 steps about 2.5 - 3 metres wide

thanks

[UteMad]

Ok .. build a deck structure the height of the lowest step .. build it the full width of the stairs and all the way back to the deck then put another box stucture on top to create the second step.. Sit the front of the bottem deck / step platform on stirrups set into concrete and either attach the back to the deck or sit it on stirrups too

utemad

[Bloss]

thanks UteMad
what would you recomend
where my deck finishes and the strairs will go is grass
so the bottom part of the stairs (frame) will have to touch the soil
so will F7 be ok
or is there another way

thanks

You are confusing two different rating systems the f-rating relates to the timber strength. What you need to ask about is the timber treatment rating - the H series. For on or in-ground use you need H4 or H5 treated pine as has been said.

There are a number of other ways, including how Utemad has described, but treated pine straight onto the ground is simple and works - and no concreting.

[UteMad]

if you dont want to concrete you could lay a sleeper on the ground nice and level and use it as a bearer.. we just do the stirrup way as its simple to level up and keeps everything off the ground


cheers utemad

[ricey250]

Thought a few photos might help.
These are the steps I'm currently working on.
90x90 H4 straight in the ground wear the steps meet the grass. As utemad said you could use galv stirups if you prefer, i just had the 90x90 left over.
It sounds like you could do a similar thing to this?

Cheers,

Ricey.

[UteMad]

yep as per above

utemad