I agree. I am looking into this and already planning for it. In the process I bought an angle finder as well. Thanks for the idea!

Thank you for this info. In the new photo I added, Photo 5, it appears that the rot is on the trim boards where they touch the soil. The risers behind the trim boards appear good.

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Basic question: I was looking on HD for boards to replace the trim board with. The only pretreated option I am getting is pine. Am I looking for pretreated Cedar or Accoya?

Great points. Exactly the kind of insight I was looking for. Thank you.

That is great to know. Thank you for all this wonderful info.

Took some bad parts out. Photo 5 in the post now. Looks like the rot was starting from the bottom where it was touching the soil. Some roots of the plan were creeping behind the front white fascia!

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What you wrote about the wood selection still holds? Looks like I need something that can touch soil. Wonder if there is any thinig I can treat the wood with to make it last longer.

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Edit: typos.

Did that. See Photo 5 that I added in my post. The wood parts under the top painted fascia seem good. Looks like I just need to replace the top parts (?)

Link to the photo in the original post: https://preview.redd.it/v9vcztj3zp2a1.jpg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f964b7cf02bed33322d36b7e69901215621a89b

That is good to know. Should I need to put in new screws, I now know what to get.

Thank you for the reply. I know zero about lumber and only now beginning to learn, so this was very helpful.

Another Q: what kind of lumber do I need to replace the riser? If it matters, this is near Boston MA.

I will try that tomorrow. Assuming I need to replace one or more risers, what kind of lumber do I go buy?

I believe the stringers are separate from these, at least that what I gathered when I got under the stairs for a look see. The stringers looked good from my first looks. However, now that you point this out, I will take another closer look tomorrow from under the stairs.

Thanks. This was very helpful!

Good points. Thanks. One more Q: Once I remove the composite treads, do I reinstall them using screws at new locations? Then do I need to fill the holes where old screws were? (sorry, new to this stuff).

Thanks for the explanations.

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Yes, newel extends through the tread. The treads are cut around the newel.

Thanks. Dumb question: how to get the bottom riser off? Pry it off, or remove the tread and then pry it off?

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Also, the treads and the deck flooring is of something composite material secured with square slotted screws. Is removing the tread just removing the screws and lifting the tread off? Sorry for this basic question, but I am really new to how deck stairs and railings are done.

By redo it all do you mean to re do the whole railing+stringers+treads? If so, I am assuming to leave the newel posts as they are if they are not rotting?