Check with your city’s building code before proceeding. We needed to replace the railings around our deck. During the process of preparing the deck to receive the new aluminum railings we like the look of the long side of the deck without railings. Our son suggested that we eliminate the railings on the long side by extending the steps the full length of that side. So, we constructed three 16” deep treads the full length of the long side of the deck. We’re delighted with the results.