How does one replace the outside front steps of a house?

Answer 1

If the current steps are wood and wooden replacements are desired, the whole project may be doable by a savvy homeowner who has some handyperson's skills and a working brain. Concrete may be doable if a homeowner has some forming (wooden form building) experience. Steel probably isn't a good choice, and a welder is worth his weight in iron for a job like that anyway. Are their handrails? These add considerable difficulty to the job. There are two (possibly a third for a broad run of stairs) stringers that slant up and have flat horizontals cut into them to support the steps (treads). Remember that all this stuff was cut with a hand saw back in the day. Measure what you've got. Make a drawing. Be sure to note what the top of the stringers are attached to and what the bottom of the stingers sit on. Are these areas going to take the new stringers? Are there any supports for a really long stringer? You should have a drawing of what you have with measurements. Now would be a good time to check local building ordinances to see what may or may not be allowed. Want to recreate this or see what's possible? Go to a local bookstore (new or used) and browse for something that has "enough" relevant information. Do the bookseller a favor, and yourself, too, by buying the book. Read and learn. Go to a local big box home store with questions like these: What kind of wood do I use? What kind of fasteners? What kind of wood treatment? (You'll have a good idea about these things already if you've done your "homework" properly.) It should be something a competent thinking person who is not "emergency room prone" can handle. Be smart about this one. Challenge yourself, but be honest about your abilities. Or you could call a handyperson or contractor. Then get an estimate and pony up for the repairs.