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The project:
I built these DIY outdoor timber stairs to provide easy access to my caravan. I used treated timber boards for the treads and heavy-duty metal stair stringers to create a strong and practical staircase. The stringers made it much easier to achieve consistent step heights and spacing, while the timber was cut to size and securely fixed into position. I also added a small landing at the top to make the transition easier. The finished stairs are sturdy, functional and blend nicely into the garden, providing a simple solution that can be replicated using readily available materials from Bunnings
- Materials:
- Treated pine timber – 50 x 200 mm – used for the stair treads.
- Four-step prefabricated steel stair stringers – used as the main stair framework.
- Treated pine square post – used to create the supporting base for the stairs.
- Zinc-coated timber screws – 8G x 40 mm – used to secure the timber components.
- Galvanised/zinc-coated bolts and fixings – used to securely attach the steel stringers to the retaining wall and timber base.
- Tools:
- Ozito impact driver – for securing the timber treads and fixings.
- Trojan spirit level – to ensure each step was level and correctly aligned.
- Tape measure – for measuring and marking timber.
- Pencil/marker – for marking cut and fixing positions.
- Timber screws – purchased from Bunnings for securing the timber.
- Treated timber – purchased from Bunnings for the stair treads.
- Prefabricated metal stair stringers – purchased from Bunnings and used as the main stair framework.
- Step 1:
Measure, Build & Install
- Measured the height between the two levels and selected the most suitable prefabricated stair stringers - in my case, the four-step option.
- Built a solid base using a treated pine square post and securely fixed the steel stair stringers to both the retaining wall and the base.
- Used a spirit level throughout the installation to ensure everything was correctly aligned and level.
- Cut the treated pine timber to suit each stair tread and positioned it onto the steel stringers.
- After initially fitting the timber, I realised the treads needed to be wider, so I ripped additional treated pine timber to size and fixed the pieces together to create the required width.
- Securely fixed the completed timber treads to the prefabricated steel stringers.
- Checked the finished stairs for alignment, level and stability. The completed staircase turned out extremely solid and sturdy.
