The deck is finally finished — cue the celebratory cowbells. I wrapped up the project on Friday and spent the next few days nervously waiting for the county inspection before I let myself celebrate. Yesterday afternoon the inspector came by and we passed. The relief was immediate and well-earned after all the sweat poured into this build (note to self: build decks in spring or fall).
This new deck is a major upgrade from the tiny, rotting balcony that used to be here.
We had hoped to have it done in time for Sherry’s mom’s visit from New York, so I buckled down, pushed through, and worked long hot days to finish the last stretch.
What I thought would be a few weeks turned into a ten-week marathon. Between heat, thunderstorms, inspections, equipment rentals, material delays, a lot of weekend travel and the fact I was essentially a one-man crew learning as I went, progress was slower than expected. Still, the victory felt just as sweet.
I enjoyed having an excuse to be outside and tinker during Clara’s naps or on Saturday mornings. Stepping away from emails and feedings to saw and build was oddly peaceful. My dad’s help with the auger for the post holes was invaluable — nothing beats a father/son project for a serotonin boost.
If you’re wondering how long a deck project takes: an experienced crew might complete a deck like this in a week, though inspections often add a few pause days. For a first-timer working evenings, a few afternoons and some weekends, expect a month or two depending on weather and inspections. And trust me — sinking the last screw is wildly satisfying.
Here’s a quick overview of how the stairs and railing came together. After all the decking was installed, I cut and attached the remaining posts. That helped me plan and fasten the stair stringers — the diagonal boards that support the treads.
I decided to cut my own stringers rather than buy pre-cut ones. Calculating rise and run felt intimidating until I used an online stair calculator that handled the math. Once I had measurements, I clamped a straight edge to a framing square to mark accurate cuts on the 2×12 boards.
After marking, I used a circular saw to cut the notches, then finished the corners with a reciprocating saw where the circular blade couldn’t reach. Once the first stringer fit correctly, I used it as a template to mark and cut the other two. For a 48″ wide stair I needed three stringers.
One stringer had a knot that caused a chip, so I patched it with a short scrap piece after confirming it would meet code. To attach the stringers to the deck I used angled hangers and continually checked that the steps stayed level.
I added blocking between the stringers made from equal-sized scrap boards to ensure the tread widths stayed consistent down the staircase. Then I set posts to support the center and bottom of the stairs, anchoring them in concrete footing holes and using post anchors bolted into wet concrete.
While the concrete cured, I cut the tread boards. Each tread used two 2×6 boards for the top (with a slight overhang) and a 2×8 for the riser. Once posts were set and plumb, I fastened everything together and bolted the posts to the stringers, then screwed all the tread boards into place — a surprisingly screw-intensive task.
Next came the guardrail. Building the top and bottom 2×4 rail boards to meet the county’s maximum 4″ sweep space was straightforward — I used a 4×4 post as a spacer to keep things level. Installing the railing on the stairs required careful measurement to meet gap and height standards relative to the tread noses, and cutting the angles was fiddly but doable.
I had to replace the original deck posts because I cut them too short for the stair railing height requirements — a frustrating detour that taught me to cut final post heights in place after double-checking measurements. Once corrected, I installed the balusters. We considered more modern options but chose a traditional vertical baluster look to match the patio railing visible from the living room.
The rail cap — a 5/4 x 6 decking board — finished the top of the guardrail. Cutting notches and angles around posts was time-consuming, but manageable. For the stair railing I temporarily removed the rail cap, installed balusters with extra length, then trimmed them flush with a reciprocating saw so the rail cap fit cleanly on top.
Final touches included a code-required handrail since the stairs have more than three steps and decorative post caps attached with a bit of caulk to give the posts a finished look. With the railing and handrail in place, the steps — and the entire deck — were complete and county-approved.
I’m still impressed I built this. Naturally, the first thing I did was text my mom — and a few friends — to share the milestone.
The job isn’t completely finished: we still need to seal the deck and add furniture. We’ll research the best sealant and share a budget breakdown once that’s done. For now, I’ll be out on the deck, sans furniture, enjoying a cold soda and telling Sherry I’m not building another deck for at least ten years. If you’ve recently finished a long project, you know the mix of exhaustion and satisfaction I’m talking about — it’s worth every minute.
Psst — for the full deck timeline and details, we documented the vision, removal of the old balcony, material selection and every step of building from digging post holes to laying decking and finishing the rails.