Verandahs are a way of life for every Queenslander. There’s nothing quite as welcoming as stepping up a set of traditional timber stairs onto a cool, shady verandah. External staircases are a feature of many Brisbane houses but ageing, rotten stairs are often in need of renovating or rebuilding. Here, Finalayson’s give us their tips for buying the right timber and preparing new stairs.
There are two main components in stairs. The treads (the part you stand on, or even better, sit on with a cool beer) are normally 250mm x 38mm or 250mm x 50mm. The stringers (the sides of the stairs) are 250mm x 50mm. Most hardwood used for exterior stairs is called ‘GOS’ hardwood, which stands for ‘Green Off Saw’. This means it has not been kiln dried, so you should expect a small amount of movement as it dries out over the first six to twelve months.
It’s important to use a durable hardwood like Iron Bark or Spotted Gum, which are homegrown and will last for a long time if properly cared for. These species also have minimal shrinkage factors. Other species such as Blackbutt have a high shrinkage factor and are not recommended by Finlayson’s for this particular application.
For long-term durability, it’s important to paint all parts of your stairs with a good oil-based primer before assembly. A minimum of one coat of primer on the faces and edges, but because the end grain will take up moisture more readily, we recommend at least two coats on the end grain. The extra effort at this stage will pay off over the years.
It’s also important to put ant capping under the bottom of stringers, not only to keep white ants out of your stairs, but also to stop them from entering your house’s structure via the stringers.
At Finlayson’s, we’re here to help, and we’ll be only too happy to advise you. Feel free to ask questions or discuss your particular stairs (or any other project you may be considering) with our friendly staff.
