FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Decks

Guide Home
  • Design & Planning
  • Tools & Materials
  • Footings & Foundations
  • Framing a Deck
  • Installing Decking
  • Installing Railings
  • Deck Stairs
  • Custom Details
  • Finishes, Repairs, and Maintenance
  • Complete Deck Builds
How-To

Curved Deck Stairs

A temporary form and laminated plywood stringers make building these stairs easier than you might think.

By Mike Guertin Issue 162
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Synopsis: Veteran builder Mike Guertin shares his solution for building freestanding curved stairs without the benefit of supporting walls. Detailed pictorials and illustrations reveal the simplicity behind this rarely seen adjunct, and the author covers every detail, from finding the stair radius, to dressing the frame with cedar trim.

When I designed a multilevel curved deck for clients, I didn’t consider adding curved stairs. I’d never built a set of freestanding curved stairs and wasn’t ready to offer that option. But while I was away on vacation, the design plans changed, and my brother Bruce framed the deck. When I returned home from my trip, I learned that Bruce had volunteered curved stairs and that I was responsible for building them. I guess it was payback for having taken two months off.

I’d previously built curved interior stairs that relied on the surrounding walls to support the treads and risers; but exterior deck stairs would have to rely on open stringers. Curved stringers require a form, and I didn’t know where to start to calculate the geometry. After a day of swearing at my brother under my breath, an idea popped into my head that seemed too simple to work. And it wouldn’t require any more math than a simple rise-run calculation for common stringers.

My plan was to lay out and frame temporary curved walls like those on an enclosed set of curved stairs. Using the walls as both a form and a layout instrument, I could build and cut precise, curved laminated plywood stringers in place.

The plan worked better than I imagined. The rough stairs took less than three days to lay out and build. The system worked so well that I plan to adapt it to build freestanding interior curved stairs in the future. It also can be used to build stairs in a shop or garage that are later moved to a site.

A plywood floor defines the stairs

My first step in this process was to establish the stair radius. I covered the ground directly below the stair location with a monolithic sheet of plywood made from two layers cross-lapped at the seams; one edge was butted against and secured to the deck posts. Next, I determined the axis by driving a stake into the ground, parallel to the deck face. Now I could hook a measuring tape onto the stake and draw arcs for the inner and outer edges of the stairs. The tread widths were marked next. I knew the approximate stair run and calculated 7-in. rise, so starting beneath the deck edge, I stepped off fourteen 15-in. marks on the outer arc, then snapped chalklines between the axis point and the marks. After making a mirror image of the template, I transferred the tread marks to it, raised it in place, and built the stud wall.

For more photos and details, click the View PDF button below:

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Cepco BoWrench Decking Tool

This tool makes straightening deck boards a breeze during installation.
Buy at Amazon

QuikDrive PRO300s

Whether you're installing floor sheathing or decking, this tool will keep the installer upright, putting less stress on workers while saving time and energy.
Buy at Amazon

FastenMaster Screw Bolt Fastening System

These solid, time-saving bolts don't require pre-drilling and come in very handy when it comes to guard rail posts.
Buy at Amazon
View PDF
Previous: Building Box-Style Stairs Next: Framing Stairs to an Out-of-Level Landing

Guide

Decks

Chapter

Deck Stairs

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Decks

Decks

Hundreds of articles and videos by top deck-building pros on how to design and build a beautiful, sturdy, and safe deck

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Decks Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Design & Planning
  • Basic Design Options
  • Generating Plans
  • Calculating Deck Loads
  • Code Compliance
Tools & Materials
  • Deck Building Tools
  • Foundation and Framing Materials
  • Decking Materials
  • Fasteners and Hardware
Footings & Foundations
  • Choosing a Foundation
  • Sizing and Laying Out Footings
  • Excavation
  • Pouring the Foundation
Framing a Deck
  • Framing Overview
  • Installing the Ledger
  • Setting Posts and Beams
  • Installing Joists
Installing Decking
  • Decking Basics
  • Installation Process
  • Adding Fascia and Other Decorative Elements
Installing Railings
  • Installing Deck Railing Posts
  • Building Wood Rails and Balustrades
  • Non-Wood Railing Options
  • Installing Nonwood Balustrades
Deck Stairs
  • Deck Stairs Overview
  • Laying Out, Cutting, and Installing the Stringers
  • Installing Treads, Risers, and Stair Railings
Custom Details
  • Benches, Planters, and Privacy Features
  • Pergolas
  • Lighting
Finishes, Repairs, and Maintenance
  • Deck Finishes
  • Cleaning and Refinishing
  • Inspection and Repair
Complete Deck Builds
  • Grade-Level Decks
  • Raised Decks

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data