Exterior Projects. How to Build Just-Right Stair Stringers. ... When the landing surface slopes toward your measuring point, the stairs are higher at their landing point than where you measured.

First, build a level landing pad for the stair stringers. You don't need to pour a footing. Just dig out and compact a minimum 4-in. thick gravel base, then pour a concrete slab or lay paving stones.

Stairs are about the most complicated piece of carpentry in a house, and when they go bad, repairing and restoring them can be a tricky business. We started the stair-rebuilding part of our current… ...