Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. three spaces designed with decking steps (Alamy/Yardzen/CladCo) If your backyard is split level or terraced, you can use decking ...

Picture a stair slope in your mind to estimate about a 40-degree slope and guess at a landing point. Rest any straight piece of deck lumber on the deck and level it over to the landing point. Measure ...

Building a staircase is a job for a master carpenter, but an experienced do-it-yourselfer can usually construct a simple set of stairs for a back-yard deck. Cutting the pieces and assembling them are ...

Are you planning to build a deck this summer? If so, make sure the steps aren't an afterthought. Wide treads and low risers create an inviting transition from deck to garden. Long, wide steps can ...

Dear James: My old wood deck is deteriorating and the stairs could be hazardous. What is the easiest way to install new ones for an inexperienced DIY-er? — Shantell K. Dear Shantell: You are correct ...

The time and energy required to strip, sand and stain a wood deck could instead be used to replace those old boards with new ones made of high-performance, low-maintenance composite material.