Why Deck Stairs Trip People
Uneven deck steps and missing handrails cause falls. Learn the stair rules, warning signs, and how The Great House rebuilds deck stairs.
OUTDOOR LIVING & DECKS
12/28/20263 min read
ASK MASON · DECK
Why Deck Stairs Trip People, and How to Fix Them
Mason shows what makes deck stairs safe, the warning signs, and how we rebuild them.
Many deck falls happen on the stairs.
Watch Mason’s video, then read why uneven steps trip people, the warning signs, and how we fix them.
IN THIS GUIDE
01
What Mason Checks
What Makes Stairs Safe
EVEN STEPS
Every step the same height, within 3/8 inch.
A HANDRAIL
Needed with four or more risers.
SOLID FOOTING
Stringers on concrete, not dirt.
Every step on a stair must be the same height, within three-eighths of an inch. Your brain memorizes the first few steps, and your feet expect the rest to match.
Stairs also need a handrail when there are four or more risers.
And the stringers, the angled boards that hold the steps, should rest on solid footing, not on dirt.
Mason’s diagram: even steps vs. one odd step
Most trips happen on the one step that’s different, often the top or bottom one.
02
Warning Signs
Signs Your Deck Stairs Are Unsafe
ONE TALL STEP
A step taller or shorter than the rest.
NO HANDRAIL
A missing or loose handrail.
ON THE GROUND
Stringers sitting on dirt.
When one step is taller or shorter, your foot catches, and you trip.
Stringers on dirt soak up water, rot and sink, so the stairs slowly tilt and loosen.
Check this today
Measure each step from the top of one tread to the next. If any differs from the others by more than 3/8 inch, it’s a trip hazard.
03
How We Fix It
A Small Project That Prevents a Fall
We measure every step. We rebuild the stairs with even steps, set the stringers on a concrete pad, and add a solid handrail you can grab.
Caught early vs. caught late
It’s a small project that can prevent a serious fall.
In Northern Virginia
Fairfax County’s deck guide, based on the 2021 Virginia Residential Code, allows a maximum riser of 8¼ inches and a minimum tread of 9 inches, and every deck needs a building permit. We rebuilt stairs like these on our Marilyn Dr rear deck in Alexandria.
Planning a bigger project?
Building a new deck? We lay out every stair so each step matches, with a handrail and a concrete landing. See prices and real projects on our deck and outdoor living page.
The fix: even steps, a solid handrail and a concrete pad
ASK MASON · DECK
Want to know another problem?
SPOTTED ONE OF THESE SIGNS?
We’ll check it before it turns into a big repair
Free in-home visit from a Class A licensed team. We check the problem and the rest of your deck, then give you a clear written plan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Great House team
Written by the team at The Great House LLC, a Class A licensed builder and remodeler in McLean, VA (License #2705197237). We have renovated 30+ Northern Virginia homes since 2022.
PLANNING A PROJECT?
Our deck and outdoor living service
See prices, real photos and how we work: our deck and outdoor living page. Real projects: our project gallery.
Serving McLean, Vienna, Great Falls, Fairfax, all of Northern Virginia.