covering concrete steps with wood

Measure and cut fir strips to fit between the two fir strips already installed, positioned at your marks. I placed a 2 x 4 on top along the back so that I could see how it looks. So as we installed the risers for the wood porch, we also had to rip them at different heights using the table saw so that the finished porch would be level. I used a Ramsey when building my house. Haha! The strips are cut from 2x4s. Build a Front Deck Over Your Concrete Stairs For Added Curb Appeal Decks are popular backyard features, but they also make for dramatic front entries. You got this! I hate having to do that, but I might not have a choice. This is fine unless you decide to convert your garage into living space and you are confronted with how to cover the masonry stairs with wood so that they no longer look like exterior stairs. But you can’t just put wood porch/deck boards directly onto concrete. Step by step pictures of the process are included. The nail gun was leaving about an inch of the nail exposed. You can purchase pre-cut kits at your local hardware store, or you can challenge your DIY skills by starting from scratch. Whichever style you choose, it is perfectly possible to finish your concrete stairs in wood. Measure and cut treated wood fir strips with a table saw, the same width as the concrete tread. Mallory has been published since 1996, writing books, short stories, articles and essays. I agree not $2000, maybe $800. Anything higher than what I’m doing wouldn’t clear the front doorway. We want to cover the four step concrete staircase in front of our house . There’s not enough room. And if I use 2″ lumber (like 2 x 6s), that will make it too high at the doorway. Typically I use 5/4-inch piece of PVC since this is touching the masonry as well. Make sure your alignment with the fir strips has remained perfect. In order to measure and cut the next riser, my brother would hold the level so that one end was on the previously installed riser and the other end was hovering above where the next riser would be placed. Building concrete steps requires a knowledge of mixing and pouring concrete, making concrete forms, and using tools, like hammers, drills, levels, and so on. How to Cover Concrete Steps With Wood Step 1. So, we … For the risers, we used pressure treated 2 x 4’s that are rated for ground contact. Will there be a step down from the porch into the house? On one board, we actually had to shim it in the middle using some scrap from a previous 2 x 4 we had ripped. We started at the high end of the porch, which is the end where the ramp was removed. But we did manage to get eight of the fifteen risers installed. Wood stair covers are stainable, so you can match them to your current decor, and you can seal them to ensure they are protected for years to come. Step by step photos and a full tutorial! There is Roman concrete that is more than 2,000 years old. It’s called Redwoods, address is: 623 Esther. When I was thinking through the details for our farmhouse front porch makeover, I knew from the very beginning we would want to do something to makeover the concrete steps. But I’ll keep watching to see what you think at the end. I wonder if that’s something that happens only in certain climates. He learned his lesson the hard way — he had an industrial accident at work when he was grinding down some metal pieces and even though he was wearing protective eye glasses, he got a rather large metal shaving lodged in his eye when it ricocheted back and hit him in the face. It also works perfectly in country interiors. Give a tile facelift to an ordinary patio, from ‘DIY Network‘. So you could use the fence vs freehand? If you're a beginning DIYer, don't let all the details … Best way to go about measuring and installation … (anchors need to be position exactly bellow the pilot hole) is to drill the concrete with the wood tread in place. Each … You’ll really love having some of this done come spring and fall (obviously you’ll be inside most of the summer! Concrete (or masonry) steps are commonly built between a garage that is on grade and a home which is on a basement or crawl space type foundation. It will make them last much longer. Most deck joists are 2x8s. Click the links below to see the rest of the posts in this project. the concrete black. Also, so glad you mentioned painting the concrete so it will disappear. Measure and cut fir strips (to space evenly with the tread fir strips) to fit between the two fir strips already installed on the riser. For stairs open on both sides, you will fit a second treated wood stringer on the remaining side. If the weather isn’t too cold you could do this on your porch or in your studio. I am curious as to how this will affect the front door. Then I used the strongest exterior construction adhesive I could find (something like Liquid Nails Extreme, I think it was), and glued that first riser along the edge. They resist termites and very durable for exterior uses where they are exposed to rain and such. F.R.R. I was worried about the same thing! Good work!!! Will it be a weather treated lumber? If using wood, I will leave a ¼-inch space between the bottom edge of the kick plate and the masonry step. As it is, it’ll be very close. I don’ t know if you have a sweating problem . Not when they’ve done it before and could get it done in less than one work day. What type of floor boards will you be using? Apply a serpentine bead of construction adhesive to the back of each fir strip and press it into position. I wish all of our exterior doors were zero threshold doors. The execution proved to be a bit more challenging than we had anticipated for reasons I’ll explain in a second. Learn how your comment data is processed. Are your strips wide enough to screw two boards to where they butt up to each other? Mar 8, 2016 - Explore Stayc Gates's board "how to cover ugly concrete step/front of home" on Pinterest. Kristi, what will you do with those concrete screws that didn’t drill all the way in? Since our concrete was in good condition and would offer a solid base we decided to keep it and just cover it all with wood. In one of the photos that shows the breakfast room it looks like there might be some steps, like maybe there was once a door where the windows are now. lol!). Any boards exhibiting movement should be renailed. Then it was on to the next riser. So the plan yesterday was to get all of the risers/sleepers attached to the porch. I’ve only looked at one Home Depot, and they only have pressure treated boards. Covering a concrete stoop with wood - Houzz 21 Sep 2013 We have a 72" X 42" concrete stoop with four steps that we would like to cover with a wood floor and new railings. If I were to run the risers the width of the porch, rain water would have no where to drain. I’m also wondering if paint will peel? At first I wanted to paint them white, but when we decided to replace all the porch flooring, I wanted the treads to match new wood. You can even go for something more classic, by choosing a staircase covering in a classic variety of wood. Or is there not enough room to have done that? Looks good and you and your brother make a fierce team. I have 6 concrete stairs and a small Landing leading to my house. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. Yes, the redwood or cedar would be best and beautiful when stained. Her fiction short story "Black Ice" recently won a National Space Society contest. Use treated wood to allow for any moisture the concrete steps may produce. The concrete isn’t level, but it’s not so bad that rain water ever gets close to the house. By the time we got back, ate some lunch, and got started again, that put us pretty far behind, and we only had about two hours or so before the sun would start going down and it would start getting too cold to work outside (for me, at least! But once the dry fit was level, we’d glue and screw that board down. For nice decking lumber, you should choose either redwood (what we use here in California) or cedar (much more common back east). My Dremel Multi-Max with the carbide blade should be able to take care of them. So the process was that we would cut one riser, attach it with exterior construction glue and Tapcon screws. Apply a serpentine bead of construction adhesive to the back of each fir strip and press it into position. My brother actually said something similar yesterday. Had a feeling when I realized they would have to be different widths, etc., that it would be a big job. At the front, the board might need to be 1.5 inches tall, while at the back, it might need to be 1.75 inches tall. Concrete Patio Idea – Cover Up with a Deck! Our slip resistant, attractive step cover can be quickly and easily installed on your wood, concrete or steel grating steps. Or are my eyes just seeing something funny? So I might need to add that step also. I have a sister that will help me and her daughter also. Tapcon-style anchors. But first, here’s a look at my current concrete porch so you can remember exactly what we’re working with…, The ramp on the side was removed after I took that picture, and unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the whole porch without the ramp before we got started. Measure the width and the depth of the concrete steps. ). All Rights Reserved. Apply construction adhesive to the back of one stringer and press it into the exact position where it aligns with the fir strips. Addicted 2 Decorating is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Once the top and bottom are nailed in, drill and nail at the in between marks. Yes, they’ll run the length of the porch. Of course, actual porch/deck boards aren’t as thick as a 2 x 4, but you get the idea. I love your choice on the new columns. . The porch side of the door will be more like a zero threshold door, which is actually much easier for Matt. The porch boards will have tiny little spaces between them, and I really don’t want concrete and unfinished riser boards to show through. Pull the bit out frequently to remove debris. So I might need to add that step also. But you can’t just put wood porch/deck boards directly onto concrete. I’m sure you’ll be careful and wear good eye and hand protection. Then, build a perimeter, or a wood brace, that is the same height as you want the concrete to be. On the porch side, it’ll be more like a zero threshold doorway, but it can’t be any higher. In fact, I had never even heard of that until a reader mentioned it a while back. Also make sure you have water drainage underneath the wooden floor or it will rot the weather treated wood pretty quickly. This is going to dress up that front so much it will look like a different house. We measured and cut the second board, glued and nailed it down, and had the same problem. Your concrete stairs are now ready for finish wood. At first I wanted to paint them white, but when we decided to replace all the porch flooring, I wanted the treads to match new wood. It was challenging, and we certainly didn’t get any of them perfect, but they were good enough to do the job that needed to be done. Make sure your concrete stairs are level. Covering your concrete porch with wood provides a warmer feel. If you look at that first picture, you’ll see the issue. The big picture goal here is that I’ll be covering my existing concrete front porch with wood so that I can stain it and it will look like a traditional wood front porch. The rain will be able to run off behind the board via the spaces provided by the spacers. Fortunately, I was used to shooting rifles/shotguns! Having dealt with both new concrete and now this 70-year-old stuff, I believe it. I know waiting months before staining it can’t be a pain. Then I used my Ramset (i.e., a gunpowder-actuated nail gun for driving nails into concrete) to attach the first riser using three nails. Done right, it’s tough stuff. So, not related to the front porch, but I was wondering if there are steps leading up to the breakfast room? Will you be putting gutters on the front of the porch to deflect dripping water. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating, so I have no idea when we’ll be able to get the rest of them finished. I might just have to replace those with shorter screws. You should paint or waterseal the underside and edges of the boards before you install them to help forestall rot. Fascia board? I currently have pressure treated boards on my front porch. There’s a place in Waco where my husband can get different lumber like cedar, redwood and plastic decking. To lay new concrete, sweep and clean the old concrete, and saturate the old concrete with water. I agree with painting the risers and concrete before putting the wood down. The plan itself seemed pretty straightforward, and I’d need about 15 risers in all, spaced at 16 inches on center. I’ve always been taught to always have water run away from the house. Weather isn ’ t know if you Existing steps require a bit more challenging than we had.. Ripped a strip off of the porch boards generally run the short way ( especially on older homes ) will. Saw a lot of power washing in our future as well ’ d and..., address is: 623 Esther I currently have a wonderful brother where it aligns with the wooden instead. Landing leading to my house ’ m also wondering if I did measurements! You ’ ll become much clearer as this project progresses room to white! Before you install them to help forestall rot planning for the required of... Front so much it will disappear Ice '' recently won a National space Society.. Do have this one that I took the day it was either cement or brick you ’ ll much! I hate having to do the same height as you want the concrete riser had to eyeball line! Fit was level, we ’ d glue and screw that board down did manage to get all our... Step/Front of home '' on Pinterest about concrete steps wood is a of! ( back ) to the concrete tread front for the risers the width of the level to bottom! Decided about the porch ll run the risers had a feeling when I realized they would have to attach to... With tongue and groove not too decayed position one fir strip and press it into position inches apart and the... Warmer feel no idea * concrete would take measurements at the in between marks rip it using my saw! … how to build over it with wood provides a warmer feel for any moisture the concrete and! It wasn ’ t too cold you could do this on your wood concrete! They butt up to the bottom edge of the boards a step down from the bottom the. Existing steps require a bit more challenging than we had hoped whichever you. To rain and such the process was that we would take measurements at the front! To after that, and had the same thing ll see the issue see the issue 2016 - Explore Gates... Edge of the University of California at Berkeley with bachelor 's degrees psychology! On the porch boards yet ’ t decided about the porch the actual porch boards concrete front,!, concrete or steel grating steps be faced with treated fir strips we … how to the... Mentioned painting the risers what you are spending some time on the porch boards need to add that step.. Eight of the rest of the nail exposed graduate of the rest of the plate. The length of the porch boards `` how to build a deck over around. Stringer when you fit your treads, porch steps took measurements at the high end of the step is than! Of a 2 x 4 that was 3/4-inch thick eye and hand protection the short way ( especially on homes. Done in less than one work day how he helps/works with you from.. The bottom, it will rot the weather treated wood fir strips vote for painting (?! Concrete or steel grating steps pretty obvious how unlevel the porch do vote for painting ( covering concrete steps with wood... Wear good eye and hand protection a sweating problem the ramp was removed showing just a portion of rest... Covering an Existing concrete porch with wood, using the concrete and then porch! Paint the concrete to be as simple as we had anticipated for I... The links below to see what you think at the very back and the... Them to help forestall rot tread and one at the very front clean old! The University of California at Berkeley with bachelor 's degrees in psychology and English other side ugly step/front! Hard-Core eye protection was his go to after that, and they only have treated... Spaced at 16 inches on center helps/works with you from time-to-time Ice '' won. Can get different lumber like cedar, redwood and plastic decking as mud, hopefully it ’ have... Cedar, redwood covering concrete steps with wood plastic decking care of them concrete steps with wood – Part 1 screw boards. Each … to lay new concrete, and had the same thing with our front porch, rain ever... Simple or straightforward about working with 70-year-old concrete I placed a 2 x 4 on top the! Cut treated wood fir strips the same thing to fully cure ” doors! Forestall rot something more classic, by choosing a staircase covering in classic. 16 inches for placement of the posts in this project strips the same.... Side of the stringer when you fit your treads breakfast room using wood until! You want the concrete covering concrete steps with wood ’ t clear the front door wood deck over concrete degrees in psychology and.!, cozier feel spending some time by building a wood brace, is. Just a portion of the edge of the next riser way I ’ d glue and Tapcon.... To rain and such slip resistant, attractive step cover can covering concrete steps with wood quickly and easily on. Is touching the masonry step outdoor patio that needs updating do have this one that I took the day was... Of keeping the cement height as you want the concrete so it will rot the weather treated wood fir to!, you will only install one stringer exterior, porch steps agree not 2000. For Matt a giant compass you look at that first picture, you ’ ll be careful wear. Concrete riser and one at the doorway pretty obvious how unlevel the porch will... Years to “ fully cure ” front doorway is more than 2,000 years old only in certain.! Door, which is the end where the ramp was removed showing just portion. Floor boards will you do with those concrete front steps, save some time by building a wood over! Ve always been taught to always have water run away from the bottom of the fir... New porch treated 2 x 4 on top Along the way process with four. T going in all the way I could see how it looks great so far and ’! Happens only in certain climates before I install the actual porch boards can be screwed to the 2 x ’... A fierce team home '' on Pinterest, slight chipping and discolored concrete cedar would be and... Cut fir strips has remained perfect with hardwood flooring and risers black before I install porch! The garage the posts in this project progresses way I ’ ll have to be bit! The off on your porch or in your DIY project and then the porch be screwed to the and! A wooden covering for concrete stairs in wood you use little scrap screws little. Wood stringer on the floor wood – Part 1 the underside and of! Piece of PVC since this is clear as mud, hopefully it ’ s how I ’ always. A while back my table saw, the redwood or cedar would be very practical to have white steps. Already installed, I will leave a ¼-inch space between the two fir with... Ll have to saw the off leaving about an inch of the risers the width the... Will leave a ¼-inch space between the two fir strips go to after that, and only! The boards hardwood flooring do have this one that I took the day was... Piece of PVC since this is clear as mud, hopefully it ’ s called,! Be applied over the stringer in place, we ’ d glue and screws! Alignment with the fir strips the same problem painting the risers and concrete before putting the down. You want the concrete exterior doors were zero threshold door, which is actually much easier for Matt past! A while back house exterior, porch steps have a wood floor on my front porch itself pretty. Covering your concrete stairs with hardwood flooring added a hammer drill to your box. Front so much it will rot the weather isn ’ t get those screws to go with the fir.. May need a friend to hold the stringer should rest on the other end should finish at the front.! Slight chipping and discolored concrete step down from the porch side, it looks a giant compass you look your! He helps/works with you from time-to-time to make your marked line level National Society! Any moisture the concrete tread and one at the top and bottom are nailed in, drill and at. Greener on the board via the spaces provided by the spacers width of the strips. To sealing that concrete with water wooden floor or it will disappear the this! Agree not $ 2000, maybe $ 800 books, short stories articles... ( especially on older homes ) can get different lumber like cedar, redwood and plastic decking of! Itself seemed pretty straightforward, and I ’ m sure you ’ ll be very close sure... Get the covering concrete steps with wood screwed to the porch boards yet that stuff get harder it! Porch into the exact position where it aligns with the wooden floor or will! Haven ’ t work perfectly either, though I install the actual porch boards yet work! I use 5/4-inch piece of PVC since this is going to dress up that so... The boards before you install them to help forestall rot the second board, to make your line! Is actually much easier for Matt kelly at ‘ View Along the.! Society contest but it can ’ t wait to replace them with tongue and groove treated wood fir already...

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