Deck build

[sean_hogan]

Ok guys I need your help here! I'm building a deck at my home and I'm wanting too build curved steps leading up too the decked area but I don't know what material too use for the risers that will curve and stand the test of time. It's a softwood deck and the steps will be about 2 meters wide. I will only need 2 risers and I'm staining it all the same colour. Really struggling here!
I would greatly appreciate your input

Sean

 

[Vindingo]

You could laminate some thinner material (cedar or cypress are both good for exterior use) with resorcinol glue a la boat building.  Set up a form with the curve you want, glue, clamp, wait... you're done.    You could cut the stringers afterwards. 

 

[jmbfestool]

How curved are the steps?

If only slightly just Cut aload of slots in the back of the boards To bend it round.

If its very curved then rip down the wood and thickness it and laminate the riser.  

Just you gotta be selective with the wood your going to bend using the slot method or laminate method use a piece with no knots  as this will cause problems when bending

Simples!

 

[sean_hogan]

How curved are the steps?

If only slightly just Cut aload of slots in the back of the boards To bend it round.

If its very curved then rip down the wood and thickness it and laminate the riser.  

Just you gotta be selective with the wood your going to bend using the slot method or laminate method use a piece with no knots  as this will cause problems when bending

Simples!
What do you mean by rip it down then laminate it, do you mean the chosen material make it thinner then laminate 2 or 3 bits together in a form ? Never done anything like this before(laminating)

 

[sean_hogan]

resorcinol glue any more info on this vindingo? What about title bondIII that's waterproof would that work ?

 

[Vindingo]

resorcinol glue any more info on this vindingo? What about title bondIII that's waterproof would that work ?

I'm using TB III on some cedar carriage doors at the moment, so I am banking on the fact that it is waterproof. 

the only reason I recommended resorcinol glue is because your's is a structural application.  http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=43

here is a good article on bent lamination http://americanwoodworker.com/blogs/techniques/archive/2009/10/07/bent-wood-lamination.aspx

Yours would be on a larger scale obviously, and you wouldn't need as many laminations, but the idea is the same. 

 

[jmbfestool]

How curved are the steps?

If only slightly just Cut aload of slots in the back of the boards To bend it round.

If its very curved then rip down the wood and thickness it and laminate the riser.  

Just you gotta be selective with the wood your going to bend using the slot method or laminate method use a piece with no knots  as this will cause problems when bending

Simples!
What do you mean by rip it down then laminate it, do you mean the chosen material make it thinner then laminate 2 or 3 bits together in a form ? Never done anything like this before(laminating)

Yeah using the same material your using for your decking so it's a same as the rest of your decking.    Rip it down and thickness it so it's a  consistent thickness.     It's really easy.  

Have a play around thickness a piece to 10mm thick or less  and try and bend it to the curve you want until your happy how it bends not to difficult then make a few of them so make a riser  1 1/2  to  2inch thick.     Then make a quick template out of plywood to bend them round glue them up with some decent exterior glue   Get some ratchet straps to pull them round the curve job done.

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

resorcinol glue any more info on this vindingo? What about title bondIII that's waterproof would that work ?

I'm using TB III on some cedar carriage doors at the moment, so I am banking on the fact that it is waterproof.  

the only reason I recommended resorcinol glue is because your's is a structural application.  http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=43

here is a good article on bent lamination http://americanwoodworker.com/blogs/techniques/archive/2009/10/07/bent-wood-lamination.aspx

Yours would be on a larger scale obviously, and you wouldn't need as many laminations, but the idea is the same.  

Structural..   Well that all depends if he uses the rises as part of the structure.  He could if he makes the risers thick enough to support the tread    But he could build a support underneath behind the risers and then just uses the risers as cladding to hide it all.

Jmb

 

[sean_hogan]

I was thinking of building open treads and the risers would be like cladding , thanks for your help guys a feel a lot more confident about it now. How would you guys do the treads, don't forget the steps are only going too be about 2 meters wide so their not that big, I was thinking of individual boards the jigsaw them too the curve but obviously have a lip but then am thinking the edges will be easily damaged

 

[jmbfestool]

I was thinking of building open treads and the risers would be like cladding , thanks for your help guys a feel a lot more confident about it now. How would you guys do the treads, don't forget the steps are only going too be about 2 meters wide so their not that big, I was thinking of individual boards the jigsaw them too the curve but obviously have a lip but then am thinking the edges will be easily damaged

I think its easier and better if you do use the risers as part of the structure though but you don't have to,  just all depends on how you build the steps really

Well. Again how curved are the steps! Now I HATE end grain on show on decking my pet hate.    

Most people  if your using 4-5inch deck board would lay the first ones to fallow the curve so mitre them cutting the back edge to fallow the internal curve but the front is straight and then the second row the back is straight and curve the front but I'm not fond of the straight line look you get between the two board.

Now if it was my decking job. I Would get wider boards and cut the boards into a curve front and back so their wont be any straight lines. Looks much much nicer. Buts it's more work and you need widder boards to compensate for cutting out the curve.

Jmb

 

[Vindingo]

Structural..   Well that all depends if he uses the rises as part of the structure.  He could if he makes the risers thick enough to support the tread    But he could build a support underneath behind the risers and then just uses the risers as cladding to hide it all.

Jmb

I misread it as stringers...  no real structure to the risers. I was thinking curved stringers

You might not even need to laminate them if you can get a single board to bend, then screw it in place.    

 

[jmbfestool]

Structural..   Well that all depends if he uses the rises as part of the structure.  He could if he makes the risers thick enough to support the tread    But he could build a support underneath behind the risers and then just uses the risers as cladding to hide it all.

Jmb

I misread it as stringers...  no real structure to the risers. I was thinking curved stringers

You might not even need to laminate them if you can get a single board to bend, then screw it in place.    

Thats why I have been asking how curved but  Sean has not answered that question lol

Cus after all this  it can just be some simple grooves in the back of the board to bend it round a shallow curve lol

Unless he's going to make really curved then it's a different ball game and lamination looks like the way to go.

Jmb

 

[sean_hogan]

I hate end grain too. Think I'm goin too have too get some material and practice 1st and see how it turns out, might try the wider material option . Not sure how curved it will be its all still in my head just now lol

 

[sean_hogan]

Sorry I explained it wrong I'm thinking of about 4 or 5 open stringers placed next too each other and creat a soft curve, get me ? Lol

 

[jmbfestool]

Sorry I explained it wrong I'm thinking of about 4 or 5 open stringers placed next too each other and creat a soft curve, get me ? Lol

Yeah I get you!  Well if it's a Soft curve you might not even need to do the lamination option saving you a lot of work.

Make it a sharp curve to give you a challenge more fun! 

Jmb