I am trying to make a UV map for these stairs. I created the stairs by join multiple blocks which you can see in the image. When I just select the faces on one side and select 'F' to 'Make Edge/Face' it doesn't make them into one face. I have been able to do this before on another object but can't seem to get it to do it on this object. What am I doing wrong? 

When I join I would prefer it to just get rid of all interior edges anyways so it is just one object. Is there some setting I am missing?

[![face_issue](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Gs1Nv.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Gs1Nv.png)