How to make steps for a deck?

Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to: Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need: Step treads (the actual step themselves) Step risers Coach screws Deck screws Saw Drill Make the steps for your deck Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink. Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws. Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws. After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws. If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Wooden Decking in Cairndow

Obtain Wooden Decking Prices in Cairndow

Wooden Decking in Cairndow

Wooden decking is an increasingly popular choice for creating outdoor seating areas in gardens. Because of the natural beauty of wood, they can be very fashionable spaces that can be used year round by installing outside heating and illumination. Wooden decking is frequently installed in locations in front of patio or French doors where they can create a smooth transition between inside and outside spaces. Wooden decking can come in any size or shape to complement any area. Curved designs or large areas connected by pathways can create an impressive effect. Wooden decking is reasonably quick to install and causes little disruption, especially in comparison to alternate options like patio or paving. It could even be installed over the top of an existing patio. It is necessary however to be certain that your wooden decking is structurally sound and able to take the load of any furniture or plants that you would like to use on the decking. There is a selection of varieties of wood that can be used in wooden decking. Often decking is made of hardwood, but there are softwoods available that fulfil the durability specifications. As hardwood decking will need maintenance, which typically will involve yearly cleaning and staining for weather proofing, composite woods have become popular for use in wooden decking as they are stronger and require significantly less maintenance.

Average Wooden decking cost in Cairndow

The typical cost of Wooden decking is £1500. Costs can change based upon the materials and the firm hired. The upper price range can be as high as £1725. The material costs are commonly approximately £375

Average price per Wooden decking job in 2025

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £613
Avg. price	Avg. price £1,025
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £1,363

£1500

£1125

£750

£375

£0

Prices based on actual Wooden decking costs for Cairndow, as reported by local LeadsDoWork members.

Wooden decking installation cost in Cairndow 2025

	Labour cost	£1,050
	Material cost	£375
	Waste removal	£75

Time frame: 1-4 days

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Cairndow

Cairndow is a coastal community, on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll as well as Bute, Scottish Highlands. The town exists in between the A83 roadway as well as the head of Loch Fyne. Cairndow's school closed in 1988 after the roll fell to simply 3 students. Now children in the location are sent to the primary school in Strachur as well as the senior high school in Dunoon. Medical centers for the community are supplied by the GP in Strachur. Kilmorich Church at Cairndow was integrated in 1818 as well as is a group A noted building. After coming from as an oyster ranch in the loch, Loch Fyne Oysters opened its Loch Fyne Oyster Bar in 1988 at Clachan, across the head of the loch from Cairndow. The firm has broadened right into a restaurant chain, and the Oyster Bar remains to be a tourist destination at Clachan, Cairndow.

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FAQs

Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to:

Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm
Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling
Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth

Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need:

Step treads (the actual step themselves)
Step risers
Coach screws
Deck screws
Saw
Drill

Make the steps for your deck

Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink.
Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws.
Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws.
After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws.
If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Usually, slipperiness is caused by algae or dirt on top of the deck or terrace. A full cleaning treatment should restore the natural grip of the wood or stone. If slipperiness is a persistent problem, consider installing grip mats in high traffic areas of the deck.

How much decking you need will – of course – depend on how big you plan your deck to be. There is an equation to help you work out how many deck boards you need. It’s a little complicated until you’ve been shown how it works, but once you know how to do it it’s easy to work out how much decking you need for any project. The equation takes into account the recommended 10% wastage and includes the expansion gaps that are required, which is between 5-8mm along the length of the deck boards (EGL, or expansion gap length) and 3mm along the ends of the deck boards (EGW, or expansion gap width) for timber. It also assumes you’re laying your decking horizontally, as if you’re looking for a diagonal or chevron design you’ll need more deck boards. Let’s go through an example, assuming you have a 10m x 6m area that you want to cover with decking made from timber boards that are 2.4m long and 144mm wide. We’ll use the EGL of 5mm and EGW of 3mm.

Calculate the surface area for your decking Multiply the length (L) of your decking area by the width (W): L x W = Decking Surface Area (DSA) in m² 10 x 6 = 60m²
Work out the coverage of your deck boards Add your deck board width (DBW) to the expansion gap length (EGL), then add the deck board length (DBL) to the expansion gap width (EGW). Then multiply these numbers. (DBW + EGL) x (DBL + EGW) = Single Board Coverage (SBC) 0.144m + 0.005m = 0.149m 2.4m + 0.003m = 2.403m 0.149 x 2.403 = 0.358m²
Calculate the number of deck boards you need Multiply the SBC by 1.1 to allow for 10% wastage. Then, divide the DSA by the SBC. DSA / SCB x 1.1 = Total number of boards required 60m² / 0.358m² x 1.1 = 184.36 boards – so round up to 185 so you’re not left short.

If that all seems a bit complicated for you, let a professional do the maths – they will be able to give you an idea of how much decking you’ll need in no time.

If your deck isn’t going to be flat to the ground, it’s a good idea to have some kind of balustrade to avoid any tripping. If the gap between the deck and the ground is less than 600mm, use a 900mm balustrade. If it’s higher than 600mm, the balustrade should be 1100mm tall.

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Overall rating:

Cairndow Wooden decking installers are rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 3 reviews of 33 pros.

The LeadsDoWork rating and review is an overall rating based on verified reviews and feedback from the customers with Wooden decking projects that have been connected with Wooden decking pros to help them. All Wooden decking contractors All Cairndow Wooden decking contractors

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