Deck stairs problem

[korjae]

Hello.

We have a wooden deck (walk out from 2nd floor) and wooden stairs down onto our backyard.

We had it installed about 13 years ago and on one corner of the bottom of the stairs, brick that supports deck stairs is a bit broken and that corner is lowered down onto the ground.

(I think the reason was gradually gravity forced this corner down as that part of soil was maybe weaker than other parts of our yard but I am just guessing)

In terms of how far this corner went below the ground, I would say around 3~5 cm compare to other corner of the stairs.

Originally, I was gonna call the deck/renovation specialist to fix the problem but now I am thinking about doing it myself if possible.

I am thinking of renting 'Jacks' from home depot and raise that corner, fill up the soil little, replace the brick that's broken, lower the deck back down onto new brick.

To those experts, would my trial be enough or am I just wasting time? I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks.

[Mikepier]

You could try getting a long crowbar and lift up the one corner( not too much, you have to do it easy) and put somthing solid underneath the stringer like a brick or a concrete paver to make the steps level. Thats what I did with my steps.

[Ed Pawlowski]

You are on the right track. What you have to do is get some solid support under the steps. I'd support the section and jack it back to its proper place (put a solid block under the jack). Next I'd excavate at least six, maybe even 12 inches, then pour in a concrete base. Give it 24 hours and lower the stair back to the top of the pad.

Rather than rent jacks, it may be cheaper to buy a coupleof bottle jacks and use a 2 x 4 as the support.

[aemeijers]

What he said. I wasn't fully awake when I read the first post, and thought OP was talking about a corner post for the deck itself.

-- aem sends, overdue for coffee...

[Colbyt]

3~5 cm is not a lot. Does it give a little when you walk down that side of the stairs?

Have you placed a level on the steps? Steps should be level from left to right and level or off level to the kick portion just a hair. Never off level with the nose pointing down.

I really doubt you will need a rented jack to lift this enough to work. A 2x wedged under each stinger sitting on a brick, board or block and a decent sized hammer should provide all the lift you need. You do not want to jack it more than necessary for fear off pulling it loose somewhere else.

If the stingers were nailed at the bottom to a flat piece of 2x stock and that was set directly on the ground is most likely rotten causing the deflection.

My solution would be to remove that and use a couple of 80 pound bags of ready mix to pour a small footer under where that bottom board needs to rest. With it removed you want this footer to be 1.5" below the bottom of the stingers. Once it cured I would slide in a new bottom board and lower the stringers onto it and secure them to it however I could.

It might be easier if the bottom treads are removed.

Your way might work. My way is easier and better. Total cost is less than $25 and a few hours spread over a few days.

[willshak]

[e-mail] wrote the following:

Buy a bottle jack or a floor jack for the price of a rental.

[benick]

You could try getting a long crowbar and lift up the one corner( not too much, you have to do it easy) and put somthing solid underneath the stringer like a brick or a concrete paver to make the steps level. Thats what I did with my steps.

I agree..Just jack it up a bit and level the dirt out a bit and slide a paver or something with a little more surface area than a brick under it making sure it is level and it will last another 15 years by which time it will need replacing....HTH...No need to make it more complicated or over engineered than it needs to be...

[Red Green]

willshak wrote in news:KvCdnWP8x8EZ8PnWnZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

An automobile sissor jack has many uses. A HD sissor jack from my junked pickup sits in the tub of big tools.