Building Deck Railings

If you plan on building a deck and part of it is higher off the ground than you think is safe to step off of, then deck railings are a must. While building them to local and state building codes is a must, it doesn't have to be difficult for the DIY weekend warrior. Build your own deck railings with pre-made materials, or make your own from scratch.

Top and Bottom Rails Basics of attaching railings are simple. A bottom and top rail should be the same length; a quick check with a tape measure between posts can verify that. If the measurements off less than an inch, cut both railings the same length and adjust the posts as needed. Anymore than that and your going to need to cut the railings different lengths or adjust the posts.

A deadwood or nailer block can be attached to the posts centers, leaving enough room on each side to allow the railing to attach flush to the posts outer edge, can provide a stable surface for each railing. Attach the outer face side first to both the top and bottom railings. Now a layout can be made for the spindles.

Spindles Sometimes called balusters, these pieces are the bread and butter of deck railing. Spindles can be as simple as a square 1x1 or as complex as a uniquely tailored custom lathed spindle, so long as they fit together between the top and bottom railings.

Spindles are more often then not sandwiched between the two top railing plates and the two bottom railing plates to hold them from being displaced. However this is not always the case and can be secured from the outside with a woodscrew.

Codes and Limitations According to the majority of building codes throughout the United States, spindles can be no less than four inches apart. A minimum height restriction of 36" is typical, but can vary from county to state codes. Always check with your local building department before installing any decking rails.

While many codes exist, common courtesy still applies for deck railing installation. For instance, the bottom railing must not exceed four inches in height off of the decking, but can be lowered if worries over children or pets are an issue.

Gates, stairs and openings of any size need to be addressed when railing is involved. Gates required a high latching safety lock that children can neither reach nor manipulate. Stairs and other openings should have accessible hand railings, even when the ground level is just one step away.