From what I’ve read online and in a few books, the two most common ways to attach stringers to a landing (concrete pad in my case) is either with angle brackets or by notching out the stringer for a 2×4 kicker. I can’t find hot dip galv or stainless angle irons in any of the stores in my area. I don’t think I should use regular zinc plated ones, cause I think they’ll rust. So the kicker seems like the best option. I’m gonna secure the kicker to the concrete with redheads. My question is, how are the stringers fastened to the kicker?? Each article I’ve read omits this particular detail. It can’t be that the nothced stringer justs rests on the kicker with no fasteners holding the two together. Help.
Second question:
What method do you prefer for attaching the top of stringers to rim joists? Lag throught the back of the joist or use joist hangers? The top of my stringers is flush with the top of the rim joist.
Now if it will just stop raining I can get back to work and start messing up this deck.
Thanks
Replies
I normally run screws through the bottom of the kicker and up into the stringer. Holds great and no exposed fasteners. I also screw through the back of the rim and into the stringer, once again, no exposed fasteners.
wdwrkr,I'll go with both of your suggestions. One more issue. The outside two stringers are flush to the outside end of the deck, so there's no access from behind the rim joist to screw through due to the intersecting rims. Any suggestions?Thanks,
Dave
I use 6" right angle framing connectors on the inside of the outside stringers and on BOTH sides of any inside stringers that aren't seen. Rock solid.
As worthless as home depot is, they do have a purpose at times.
They have all kinds of simpson strong tie (the joist hanger company) that you can use for stairs and they also have different size angle brackets. Just make sure you use the ones that say Zmax, I think that is all they sell now, those are the galv acq rated.
Okay,Stringers are up. I screwed the kicker in from the bottom with 3" stainless screws (same ones I'm using for decking). I attached the two interior stringers with angle brackets on each side and two 1/2" in lags through the rim joist. For the two end stringers, with no access for lags through the rim, I used one angle bracket and also toe-screwed from the exposed side into the rim. I know this shows two small holes and screw heads on the exposed portion of the stringers, but it made me feel better, and those stainless screws the bling-bling of hardware. Kicker was set to the concrete pad with 5" galvy redheads.The whole thing is rock solid. I put the treads on today. Now I can run up and down it like Rocky.Thanks for all your suggestions,Dave