Vinyl vs. Wood Deck Railing Maintenance. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Screws that are 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) long should be fine. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Outfit your exterior living spaces in style with eye-catching deck railing ideas. Most building codes require deck railings to be between 36 inches (91 cm) and 42 inches (110 cm) high. Our local stores do not honor online pricing. However, even durable woods require regular maintenance. Make the most of your deck railing by installing a tabletop and hanging planter, like this modern wood-and-rope version. That will leave enough room for the balusters, the top and bottom of the rail, and a couple inches open at the bottom. The fast and easy installation of the 6 ft. pre-assembled railing makes it the perfect product for the do-it-yourselfer and the professional deck builder. The length of the balusters should be approximately the height you want the railing to be. Wooden Deck Railing. If they're not, change the length of the rails to match the actual distance. Wood Deck Railing Ideas. After you cut each piece of wood, seal the end to prevent water from entering. Let the finish dry completely before assembly to avoid smudges. J&W Lumber offers countless options when designing your own wood deck railing system. How can I make my deck railings last longer? You’ll also need thin strips of wood. 6 ft. Pressure-Treated Aluminum and Southern Yellow Pine Preassembled Rail The fast and easy installation of the 6 ft. The balusters, the smallest vertical components, are positioned to fill the space between the top and bottom rails and between rail posts. 28 Iron Railing Insert One way to amp up your deck railing design is by installing a decorative insert—like this pine-inspired option—for a subtle, yet enhanced look. To build a deck railing, start by figuring out how many posts you need, then cut your wood to size and install the posts. For a longer-lasting deck railing, purchase good-quality lumber from a builders' supply store, rather than from a home center, which tends to carry lower-quality lumber. This article was co-authored by Walter Brant. Most of the deck railing is made from woods. It isn’t a unique railing idea, necessarily. Walter Brant is a wikiHow community member and contributor who has been repairing and restoring houses with over 30 years of experience. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 79,588 times. You’ll need one strip per section. If they’re too long, cut them down. Wood railings are relatively inexpensive to build, depending on the species chosen, and are plenty strong to keep everyone top-side. If you’ve got some basic carpentry skills, you can do it! Peak RailBlazers Aluminum Railing system is designed with an emphasis on style, durability and quality. See the railing design 11. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. To build outdoor deck railing, you can use finished wood deck railing with vertical metal rebar like in the picture above. Browse 255 Wood Deck Railing Ideas on Houzz Whether you want inspiration for planning wood deck railing or are building designer wood deck railing from scratch, Houzz has 255 pictures from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including GREEN BUILDERS LLC and EZ'S PAINTING LLC. Next, mark the railing height on the posts with a pencil and double-check the distance between the posts. Support wikiHow by Our railing is engineered to be safe, DIY-friendly and is surprisingly easy to install. Your deck might already be supported by posts, especially if it is covered. The wood railings of old served mostly the functional purpose of not permitting your rambunctious child guests and somewhat inebriated adult guests to fall over the edge. screw the balusters assembly in place. This prevents water from entering at the top. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. I am going to explain all the possible ways of building the most crucial part of all wood rail construction - the post to wood … See more ideas about deck railings, railing design, deck railing design. Cable deck railing systems are another good way to open up views, and to give your deck design a modern aesthetic. Finally, position the balusters, attach them to 2 thin strips of wood, and Our outside railings are built to perform, easy to install and low-maintenance. The top rail is made from a horizontal 2×4 while the bottom rail is secured vertically with a beveled cut to shed water. Wood Posts For Railings Can Be Attached Many Different Ways No matter how you design or build a deck, one of the most important parts of any wood railing is the post connection. For instance, if your deck is made of boards that are 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick and the supports are 6 inches (15 cm) high, then you'll want your posts to be long enough to hang up to 7 inches (18 cm) but at least 4 inches (10 cm) below the railing. He works with homeowners to make a wide variety of improvements to make their homes more comfortable and liveable. This cheap deck railing idea is standard pressure treated wood railing made with 2×4 top and bottom rails with 2×2 pickets nailed vertically all capped with a 2×6 top plate. References. % of people told us that this article helped them. The project’s not as complicated as it might seem, either. So if you would like a deck railing that would go with a wood cabin theme or even a rustic theme, then you might want to consider this option. Parts of a Wood or Composite Deck Railing Guardrails are composed of an assembly of parts. If not, you’ll need to install these so that there will be something to support the railings. There are different methods for building guardrails with a variety of materials for decks, but most rails built from wood share a common set of components. Cut it into lengths equal to the distance between the deck posts. The posts' extra height above the railing is just for looks. Last Updated: September 14, 2020 Find Wood deck railing at Lowe's today. For instance, you could spread your balusters every 3 inches (7.6 cm) along the strip, then screw them in. By using our site, you agree to our. If you're cutting the rails and handrails yourself, use a miter saw. Our trained staff can help you create railing from the most basic to extremely ornate. May 30, 2018 - Explore Mark Thomann's board "Wood deck railing" on Pinterest. Shop the massive selection of deck railing systems here at DecksDirect.com. Make sure you've finished cutting, sanding and drilling everything before you apply a finish. An inch or two higher than the railing will look nice. Walter Brant. Standard builder grade railings serve a purpose and can be made quickly and easily with readily available pressure treated wood material for … RailBlazers 21 inch Glass Panel. Smart Tip: Apply several coats of stain or paint to the wooden components, if you want to protect them from decay and to enhance the look of your deck railings. Adding several pots with greeneries near the railing is a good idea, as they make the railing in tune with the outdoor theme. If you are building a PVC railing, the posts should be no further apart than 6 ft (1.8 m), because PVC is not as strong as wood. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Light weight design makes installation fast and easy. Generally, any deck raised 30 inches above grade is required by code to have a railing. Just make sure to check with your local planning and building department first to see if you need any permits or if there are building requirements you'll need to meet. Low maintenance with no sanding, scraping or painting required. composite wood-like railings; Cable Deck Railing. Deck Railing Parts Parts of a Wood or Composite Deck Railing . require more maintenance than higher quality woods (mahogany, cedar, redwood, etc.). If your posts are straight, the distance should be the same. Here Danny shows how to construct the railings and spindles from pressure treated wood. The beauty of natural wood in cedar or treated railing components are an excellent choice for any deck. Expert Interview. Let us help you get your next project started today. Shop deck railing and a variety of building supplies products online at Lowes.com. There are many considerations in the building and remodeling process and railing selection is certainly important. Many people like to leave about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) or so between the bottom railing and the deck boards as well, so factor this into the post height as well. Walter Brant is a wikiHow community member and contributor who has been repairing and restoring houses with over 30 years of experience. 2×2 spindles are toe nailed into the rails before the whole unit is set in place. Handyman. We discuss the different components that compose a wood deck rail system. Screws that are 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) to 2 inches (5.1 cm) should be fine. Then, buy balusters and wood according to your measurements or cut the wood down to size yourself. Also, the PVC railings you want may only come in 6 ft (1.8 m) lengths. Plan to evenly space posts around the perimeter of your deck, such as every 6 feet (1.8 m). Composite Deck Railing. How much does deck railing cost? This runs either from post to post or through a hole in each post as a single band. Ask your helper to hold one end of the tape measure in place against the center of a post. Wooden Deck Railing. 2 September 2020. This article was co-authored by Walter Brant. If it is not pressure treated, paint the cut surface with exterior paint. Prices, Promotions, styles, and availability may vary. Find a Wolf Railing Dealer near you. For tips on how and when to apply finish to your wood, read on! Jan 29, 2020 - Explore Madareja Home Ideas's board "Deck Railing Design", followed by 805 people on Pinterest. This article has been viewed 79,588 times. More and more homeowners these days are choosing composite railing over traditional wood railing for its low-maintenance benefits. This article has been viewed 79,588 times. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. For tips on how and when to apply finish to your wood, read on! This is a great idea for your deck. The wide variety of materials and styles includes wood, metal, and horizontal deck railing designs, so you can choose the one that best suits your home's style. Surround Your Deck With the Natural Beauty of Wood. Composite railing, a blend of recycled plastic and wood fibers, is known for its exceptional strength, durability and beauty. Browse our selection of porch and deck railing systems and compare your options online. The most common residential deck railing design is built on-site using pressure treated lumber, with the vertical balusters regularly spaced to meet building code. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/decks/deck_13.htm, https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/outdoor/how-to-install-deck-railings-and-balusters/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-build-porch-rail, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Railings Post Install Kit for 36 in. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Adding a railing to your deck is a great way to give it a finished look. You can display your deck railing patterns vertically or horizontally, use a number of materials, and choose from a variety of designs. Check the distance where you want the top and bottom rails to sit. If it is pressure treated, press clear exterior caulk into the surface. If you are building the railing from pressure-treated wood, a railing can span about 8 ft (2.4 m) between posts, but check your local building code. They can be basic, built with dimensional 2×4 lumber for the top and bottom plates, and 2×2 wood spindles that you can purchase by the dozen. If measuring out the place for each baluster seems too tedious, take advantage of an online deck railing calculator to do the hard work for you. Sunburst railings are an actual deck that despite its simplicity, it … Belly Up Bar Rail. For the traditionalist craving a more updated look, a wood and a cable wire combination deck railing is a perfect option, whereas a steel deck railing may be a great option for chic modern flare. Read more Tuning Fork Stair Railing See more ideas about deck railings, railing, building a deck. A standard 2X2 wooden railing system is the most common type of railing, and for good reason. unlocking this expert answer. He works with homeowners to make a wide variety of improvements to make their homes more comfortable and liveable. Count how many posts you will need. Granted, that’s still an important feature of any deck railing installed on a deck surface that is more than two feet off the ground (or whatever your local code requires). Stretch the tape measure tightly across to the center of the next post and make a mark. Wolf Home products offers a variety of deck & porch railing systems for your outdoor space. Although some of the material can be a mixture of something else, most of it is wood-like how famous and easy to make the “sunburst railing”. Railings is a Post Install Kit for 36 in. Cut 1x3 or 2x4 lumber into lengths equal to the distance between your deck posts. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page, Wood Pressure Treated Wood Deck with Balusters, Brown Pressure Treated Wood Deck Deck Rail Kit with Balusters, InstaRail Natural Western Cedar Wood Deck with Balusters, Brown Pressure Treated Wood Deck with Balusters, Brushed Aluminum Wood Deck Deck Rail Kit with Balusters, 6-ft x 4-in x 3-ft Brushed Aluminum Wood Deck Rail Kit with Balusters (Assembly Required), 8-ft x 4-in x 2-in Redwood Wood Deck Rail (Assembled), Traditional Raw Wood Wood Deck with Balusters, Wood Metal Pressure Treated Wood Deck with Balusters. Get something that is about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) by 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). DecksDirect has several wood deck railing lines and wood deck railing components such as deck rail connectors and deck balusters in stock and ready to ship to your door! Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe's reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted. Rails: Horizontal components of railings that provide a safety barrier and handhold for stairs or along the sides of the deck. The maintenance requirements of wood railings differ based on the type of wood used: Less expensive woods (pine, poplar, etc.) Post Install Kit for 36 in. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper. You'll need enough length hanging below the surface of the deck to attach the posts securely to the supports. Over time it will naturally need the same maintenance that the rest of a wooden deck will need, so keep that in mind. We offer the very best railing for your deck, patio, or porch as well as a large deck railing image gallery to get your next deck project ideas rolling. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/89\/Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg\/aid9425311-v4-728px-Build-a-Deck-Railing-Step-01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"