Amateur carpenters who have laid out the cuts in a stair stringer (the zig-zag structural support for the steps) know the queasy feeling that bubbles up at the prospect of this job. There’s the simple ...

DEAR TIM: I read your recent column about building stairs for a deck. I can handle that, but I’m worried about how to make all the complex cuts required for the deck stair railing. Can you give me a ...

Before you even pick up a hammer, use a long hose or cord to create a general deck layout. This will help you to visualize how it will look in your yard. Not only that, it’ll also help you test out ...