Landing stringers on deck with landing
I have done a few decks with straight stairs and am now faced with building one with a platform/ landing half way down (basically another small deck, 4×4, with a change of direction). I can’t seem to find any specific information on whether the stringers should land on the decking (similar to int. stairs) or hang off of the band via hangers and/ or blocks. Your feedback, ideas, suggestions, etc. appreciated.
Thanks,
David
Replies
I would suggest notching them onto the landing. The will be much more solid and you dont need the extra hangers.
I considered notching but it would seem to me, then, that the bearing portion of the stringer is reduced even further, from app. 5"+ to 3"+/- (meaning of continuous uncut stringer). I already dislike the idea of cutting down a x12 from an integrity standpoint, so you can know where I am coming from. Thanks again.
If you use hangers, then the stringers must cut to the EXACT horizontal distance betwen the two levels of the deck. Even 1/8 off will be a problem. On the other hand, if the stairs land on the landing, you have more room for error. Not that I'm implying there will be one!
Matter of personal taste and site conditions.
Either way works fine.
Thanks, that's what I was wondering. I do believe it would be stronger to land on the deck but then there's additional blocking and such to tie in to the platform properly (securely). Any other thoughts always appreciated, too.
Inside or out, if there is enough headroom and it won't hurt the design I find it simpler to just land the stringers on the landing.
When headroom is an issue, or if it will make for cleaner lines in the end, I hang the stringers off the landing.