How to Build Stairs for a Kid's Loft Bed

Making the Pieces

• 1

  Line up two 1-inch by 3-inch by 65 3/4-inch boards on the floor with the wider face upright. Mark a 75-degree angle at the top of the boards using a carpenter’s square. Draw the line of the angle across the board face. This is the first cut line.

• 2

  Hook the end of your measuring tape to the short edge of the board. Position the measuring tape to start at the top of the angle line you drew. Measure down the side of the board a distance of 2 ¼ inches along the same side as the top of the angle line. Mark the measurement for your second cut line. Repeat this step for both boards.

• 3

  Mark a 15-degree angle at the bottom of the boards using a carpenter’s square. Make sure the top and bottom of this angle are on the same sides of the board as the 75-degree angle above. Draw the line of the angle across the board face. This is the third cut line.

• 4

  Cut all the lines using a jigsaw. The end of the boards with the deep angle is the top of the stairs. The smaller angle at the other end allows the stairs to sit firmly on the ground. The cutoff piece eliminates a sharp edge at the top of the stairs.

• 5

  Construct 10 spacers, each 1 inch by 3 inch by 10 3/8 inches. Mark the ends of the spacers at 15 degrees. Make the angles parallel to each other. Draw the cut lines across the board face. Cut the spacers with the jigsaw.

• 6

  Construct two spacers, each 1 inch by 3 inch by 10 inches. Mark one end of the spacers at 15 degrees. Mark the other end at a 75-degree angle. Make the bottom of the angles face each other so there is a long side and a short side to these spacers. Draw the cut lines across the board face. Cut the spacers with the jigsaw.

• 7

  Construct five steps, each 1 inch by 3 inch by 12 1/2 inches.

Assembly

• 8

  Apply wood glue to one side of a 10 3/8-inch spacer. Line up the spacer against the corresponding stringer. Make one end of the spacer flush with the bottom end of the spacer. Press the two together with a clamp. Drill a pair of 1 1/4-inch screws through the stringer into the spacer. Repeat this step with the other stringer and a corresponding spacer.

• 9

  Set the stringers parallel on the floor with the spacers facing each other. Make the ends of the stringers flush. Set a distance between the stringers of 12 1/2 inches.

• 10

  Place a step between the stringers and on top of the spacers. Make the ends flush and the assembly snug. Glue all seams on both sides of the steps. Straddle the stringers at the steps. Drill a pair of 1 1/4-inch screws though the top of the step into the tops of the spacers. Drill a pair of 1 1/4-inch screws through the stringers into the sides of the step.

• 11

  Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for the remaining steps.

• 12

  Apply wood glue to one side of a 10-inch spacer. Line the spacer up with the corresponding stringer above the top step. Make the ends flush with the stringer and the step. Press the spacer to the stringer with a clamp. Drill a pair of 1 1/4-inch screws through the stringer into the spacer. Repeat this step with the other stringer and remaining spacer.