Wood Deck Covers Old, Sagging Steps

The initial visit with this customer involved discussing options for repairing the old concrete steps that were crumbling in spots and had settled unevenly away from the 1930s house. Concrete patch material would have been an option for shoring up weakened areas of the steps, as well as attempting to level individual steps and the top landing. However, the amount of material required and the varied colors of the original stairs, past repairs, and new application of material would have been a challenge to produce an appealing end product.

After talking through the concrete repair option with the customer, I suggested building a deck over the existing stairs might be an option, with composite decking material for low maintenance upkeep. During the estimating process, the customer and I instead “landed” on CedarTone pressure-treated wood for both the framing, decking, and rail supports, with horizontal cabling for the railing barrier.

The settling of the original poured concrete steps required cutting joists at various heights to account for the uneven surfaces. The finished deck includes a larger landing at the top of the stairs, as well as skirting to cover the side of the concrete structure. The combination of CedarTone pressure-treated decking and support posts, along with cable railing, provide an attractive mix of traditional and contemporary design.