"Bill" wrote in message ...

The design looks poor, so that's where I'll point the blame. ; )

Here is a drawing of the current design along with my proposed solution:
http://web.newsguy.com/MySite/deckstep.jpg

Based on your drawing it appears that there would be room to screw a ledger
board on each of the long sides of the framing and then rest the new
"joists" on the ledger boards and secure them by screwing into the end
grain. The ledger board will support much of the load... they could be
ripped from 5/4" PT decking.

John