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Thread: Wobbly stairs - GIF

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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    The engineer should have either specified taller and thicker stringers or convinced the architect the stairs needed steel stringers. The other work around would have meant go to taller risers resulting in fewer steps while still remaining within acceptable riser height. I would have never signed off on a stair which is going to rely solely on the handrails to achieve stability. But I would never have considered a wooden stair for outdoor use. But that is just me. Wood is for burning in a fireplace or stove for heat.
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    ...another solution would be a couple more of those big posts half way up that span...... I sure would not be bouncing like that without knowing that the connection from the top of the stringers to the landing was solid, I could see either nails, screws or adhesives (or any combo) being flexed to failure there.

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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Another way to take the bounce out of the already existing stair instead of adding posts which would ultimately restrict freedom of access to what may become a shaded patio area would be to add a short drop leg to the stringers at the mid-section then use bar and turnbuckles attached at the top and bottom of the underside of the stringers forming a reverse truss called a Hutcheson cable truss
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    It could be wood but it kinda looks like a composite material like plastic decking boards. It looks like they have 5 or 6 stringers on it.
    Last edited by Floradawg; Jun 11, 2025 at 04:34 PM.
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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Floradawg View Post
    It could be wood but it kinda looks like a composite material like plastic decking boards. It looks like they have 5 or 6 stringers on it.
    Composite is even worse than wood in some areas. The product may claim to be UV stable, but I have a brother-in-law who has had to replace his composite deck boards already after only 6 years of Texas sun and our short but once in a while weird winters



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