Movement between levels
Identify the exterior levels that need to connect and how the stair route fits into everyday movement through the property.
Exterior stair design and construction
Exterior wood stairs shaped around access, grade, and the home.
Chicago City Deck plans and builds exterior wood stair projects connected to decks, porches, landings, and residential outdoor structures, with each route considered in relation to the site.
Exterior stair planning
Connect the full route, not just the stair run.
An exterior stair project begins with the route it needs to make. Deck and porch connections, rear entries, landings, grade changes, railings, and circulation around the property are considered together before the stair is treated as an isolated element.
Deck, porch, and entry connections
Coordinate where the stair meets a deck, porch, landing, rear entry, or lower exterior surface.
Grade and circulation
Document grade changes and the paths around the home so the complete exterior route can be studied together.
Real project proof
Exterior stairs in 2 documented settings.
One documented deck record and one construction-stage porch record show how exterior stairs relate to levels, landings, and railings.
Glen Ellyn Wraparound Deck
- Location
- Glen Ellyn, Illinois
- Project
- Wraparound deck
- Decking
- TimberTech decking
- Railing
- Horizontal cable railings
The photography shows an exterior stair run connecting the wraparound deck with a lower exterior level. The documented deck uses TimberTech decking and horizontal cable railings; the stair material is not separately identified in the project record.
View the Glen Ellyn project
Jefferson Park Rear Porch
- Location
- Jefferson Park, Chicago
- Structure
- Multi-level wood porch
- Circulation
- Exterior stairs and landings
- Stage shown
- During construction
Construction-stage photography shows exterior stairs connecting upper and lower landings, with railings along the visible porch and stair edges. It does not document final finishes or the project's current status.
View the Jefferson Park projectStair configurations
Exterior stair configurations we can plan around.
These are planning categories for discussing site fit. They do not claim that every configuration listed has been completed by Chicago City Deck.
Deck stairs to grade
Exterior stairs that connect a raised deck with the yard or another lower exterior level.
Porch stairs
Stair runs considered with porch entries, edges, landings, and the route toward the yard.
Multi-level exterior stairs
Connected stair runs organized around more than one exterior level or access point.
Stairs with intermediate landings
Landings used to organize direction changes and transitions within the overall exterior route.
Stairs integrated with railings
Stair and landing edges coordinated with the visual direction of the adjoining railing system.
Rear-entry access stairs
Exterior access studied in relation to rear doors, lower levels, and circulation behind the home.
Landings and level changes
Plan each transition as part of one route.
Entries, upper and lower access points, and intermediate landings shape how an exterior stair fits the deck, porch, and property.
- Transitions between levels
- The route is planned as a sequence from one exterior level to the next, including the points where stairs begin and end.
- Intermediate landings
- A landing can organize a change in direction and connect separate stair runs within a larger circulation plan.
- Upper and lower access points
- Entries, decks, porches, and lower exterior surfaces establish the access points the stair system needs to join.
- Deck and porch geometry
- Stair direction and landing placement are considered in relation to the adjoining deck or porch layout and the space around it.
Railings
Coordinate the stair edge with the structure around it.
Railings are part of the overall stair composition, continuing across stair runs, landings, and adjoining deck or porch edges where the project calls for them.
A continuous system
Railing lines are considered across stair runs, landings, and the edges of the connected deck or porch.
Documented cable railing
The Glen Ellyn project shown on this page documents horizontal cable railings along the deck and exterior stair.
Project-specific direction
Railing material and detail direction depend on the adjoining structure, visible transitions, and project requirements.
Material and detail considerations
Keep surfaces, edges, and transitions connected.
Final material selection follows the project needs and the adjoining deck, porch, landing, or home. Species, coatings, fasteners, and performance are not predetermined here.
- Wood stair structure
- The stair structure is considered with the levels, landings, support conditions, and adjoining exterior work in the project scope.
- Tread and landing surfaces
- Surface direction is coordinated across the stair route and the deck, porch, or landing it meets.
- Visible transitions
- The points where stairs meet landings, entries, and adjacent surfaces are treated as visible parts of the composition.
- Railing coordination
- Railing lines and stair edges are developed together so they read as parts of one exterior system.
- Material selection
- Final material and finish selections depend on the project needs and the materials of the adjoining deck, porch, or home.
Chicago / Site context
Start with the conditions already there.
Early planning begins with documenting the site. These are project conversation topics, not engineering, code, permit, or inspection guidance.
Existing conditions
Early planning begins with documenting the home, current exterior structures, entries, levels, and ground conditions.
Rear access and staging
Routes to the work area, including narrow or constrained side access, help frame movement, staging, and sequencing questions.
Levels, grade, and circulation
Doors, decks, porches, landings, lower surfaces, and grade changes are recorded as one connected circulation context.
Neighboring properties
The relationship to adjacent properties and the available space around the stair route are documented early.
Design / Build / Finish
An exterior stair process grounded in the route.
Each stage keeps access, levels, landings, railings, construction sequencing, and visible transitions connected.
Design
Document access, entries, level changes, landings, railing direction, deck or porch relationships, and exterior circulation.
Build
Plan access and sequencing, then coordinate the stair structure, landings, railings, and adjoining exterior conditions.
Finish
Review surfaces, railing details, and visible transitions, then provide project-specific handover information where applicable.
Exterior stair project questions
A practical starting point.
Can exterior stairs connect a deck directly to the yard?
Yes. Exterior stairs can connect a raised deck with the yard or another lower exterior level. The route is planned in relation to the deck layout, grade, landings, and circulation around the property.
Can exterior stairs include intermediate landings?
Yes. Intermediate landings can organize direction changes and connect separate stair runs as part of the overall exterior route.
Can stairs be integrated with a porch or multi-level deck?
Yes. Stair runs, landings, railings, entries, and the adjoining deck or porch can be considered as one connected exterior system.
Can cable railings be used with an exterior stair project?
Cable railings can be considered as part of a project-specific railing direction. The Glen Ellyn project shown here documents horizontal cable railings along the deck and exterior stair.
What information should I provide when starting an exterior stair project?
Start with the site ZIP code, the exterior levels that need to connect, and whether the stair relates to a deck, porch, rear entry, or another outdoor structure. Existing photographs can support the initial conversation.
Your exterior stair project
Tell us about the site.
Start with ZIP code, the exterior levels that need to connect, and the type of deck or porch involved.