Well-designed steps create a great first impression, and when properly built, they will last for years. Popular Mechanics Senior Designer Michael Stillwell and his father Tony Stillwell recently ...

DEAR TIM: I need to build some simple outdoor steps to replace ones that fell apart and rotted (even though they were made with treated lumber). I’m fairly handy and have a decent grasp of the math ...

You need a framing square, a circular saw, a router, and a wood chisel to make perfect mortises. For the sake of discussion, let’s say you’re building a simple set of stairs for a deck, basement ...

Outdoor deck stairs take a beating from weather, foot traffic, and time — making safety-focused repairs and maintenance essential. From rotting stringers to loose treads, knowing how to spot and fix ...

Building a set of stairs is a tricky endeavor. Using a pair of brass stair gauges and a builder’s square to mark the stringer (the zigzag boards the steps and risers attach to) can make the job a ...

You may be like most folks. I’m guessing you give very little thought to the stairs you go up and down on a regular basis. They might be constructed from wood, steel, or concrete. The vast majority of ...