How to Build Wooden Stairs for Skateboarding

Lay a 3/4-inch-thick sheet of 4-by-8-foot plywood on a clean, dry surface so it appears wider than tall in front of you.

Draw the sides of the steps. Begin at the bottom left corner of the piece of plywood and measure 3 feet across the bottom. Mark the spot with chalk or a marker. Measure up the side a distance of 1 foot, 9 inches, and mark that spot. From this top mark, measure straight over to the right 1 foot, 9 inches, and mark the spot. From this spot, measure straight down 10 inches, and mark the spot. From this mark, measure straight to the right 1 foot, 3 inches, and mark the spot. From this point, go straight down to the original bottom mark. Use a level to connect the dots with straight lines, working in the same order as you measured and marked.

Cut along the straight lines on the plywood with a circular saw.

Lay the cut-out piece on the remaining plywood in the area above the cut. Align the top edge with the top of the plywood, and align the back side of the cut-out piece along the left edge of the plywood. Trace around the piece to replicate the first piece. Cut out the traced piece with a circular saw.

Measure 1 foot, 9 inches across the top of the remaining plywood from the right corner. Begin at the top, right corner (the uncut side of the plywood), and measure and mark. Repeat this at the bottom, measuring from right to left. Connect the marks with a level down the plywood. Cut along the line with a circular saw.

Measure 1 foot, 3 inches from right to left from the last cut line. Measure and mark at the top and bottom, and connect the marks down the plywood. Cut on the line.

Measure 10 inches from right to left at the top and the bottom of the remaining plywood from the last cut line. Connect the marks with a level and cut on the line.

Cut the necessary lengths of 2-by-4-inch boards. Measure and cut two 2-foot, 7-inch pieces, six 3-foot, 10 1/2-inch pieces, five 1-foot, 6-inch pieces, four 1-foot, 9-inch pieces and five 11 5/8-inch pieces.

Frame the bottom. Use two 3-foot, 10 1/2-inch pieces and two 2-foot, 7-inch pieces to form a rectangle. Use two 4-inch screws at each corner to connect them. Use a power drill on low speed to put the screws in place.

Lay the bottom frame so it is wider than tall when looking at it. This is the layout for the rest of the project.

Attach a 1-foot, 9-inch board at each rear corner, facing the frame. Place a cut board flush to the back board of the frame so the left edge of the board is aligned with the left corner, facing the back. Attach at the bottom with two screws. Repeat this on the right side, attaching the board flush to the right corner, facing the back.

Measure from the rear, left corner up the side 1 foot, 6 inches, and mark the spot. Repeat on the right side. Place a 1-foot, 9-inch board with the edge at the mark, and screw it in place with two screws. Repeat on the other side. The boards should be between the mark and the back corner.

Frame the top. Create a narrow rectangle using two 3-foot, 10 1/2-inch boards and two 1-foot, 6-inch boards. Secure them with two screws at each corner. Equally space three additional 1-foot, 6-inch boards inside the frame. and screw them in place with two screws on each end of each board.

Attach the top frame to the four 1-foot, 9-inch boards standing up from the bottom frame. Align the top of the frame with the top of the boards, and secure it with two screws through the frame and the protruding boards.

Attach the cut plywood step-shaped pieces. Match the long side of the cut pieces with the backside of the frame. Use three screws along the bottom, three along the top and two on the step area. Repeat for the other side.

Create the bottom frame. Connect the last two 3-foot, 10 1/2-inch boards with two 11 5/8-inch pieces to make a narrow rectangle. Secure them in place with two screws at each corner. Equally space three additional 11 5/8-inch boards inside the frame and secure them with two screws on each end of each board.

Attach the bottom frame to the bottom step area of the plywood. Align the top edge of the frame with the edge of the bottom step area of the plywood, and secure them with three screws along the top and bottom on each end.

Attach the plywood tops. Place the largest cut piece of plywood on the top step and secure it with a screw at each corner and one in the center of each side. Place the middle-size cut on the bottom step area, and secure it in the same manner as the top step. Place the remaining piece on the rise area between the stairs.