repairing stair with missing riser?

darsunt

I have an exterior stair where the top step needs replacing. The last risers on the top of the stringer is missing, and someone had nailed in triangular pieces of wood in place of them. The old triangular pieces have cracked.

I plan to just replace the triangular pieces. I plan either to use pt wood or western cedar.

Is this a reasonable plan? The stair is outside and has to bear up to furniture, etc. Also if I get cedar, do I have to specify heartwood?

gregzoll

If you are able to, purchase the pre-cut stringers & stair treads. No mess, no fuss. As for outside, Pressure treated in the norm. Just remember to double check with the City Permit dept. in case you have to pull permits to replace.

darsunt

Do not want to buy precut. Only top step is potential trouble.

Cutting the triangles and such a pain in the butt. But that was what whoever installed this stair did before, and it did work for quite awhile.

TexasEd

I would not re-do the triangle kludge.

I would use pressure treated 2x and cut new short stringers for the 1-2 steps you have the problem with and set them inside the current stringers and attach them to the existing stringers so the old and new are side by side. If you can also attach them to the top landing Joist that would be best.

If you want a uniform appearance cut a fill piece (your triangle) to match the appearance of the rest of the existing stringer.

Then attach your treads and risers to the new stringers.