How to Anchor Aluminum Railing Posts
Aluminum is a strong and low-maintenance railing material. It usually has a powder or PVC coat finish that both prevents corrosion and serves as a decoration. Aluminum railings provide excellent protection and a pleasing aesthetic effect around swimming pools, balconies and staircases. The railing posts must be anchored both to support prefabricated railing panels that fit between them and to withstand wind and weather forces. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
- Aluminum railing posts
- 6-inch wooden marker stakes
- Tape measure
- Digger
- Helper
- Crushed grave
- 2-inch by 4-inch tamper
- Concrete
- Shovel
- Builder's level
Instructions
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1
Examine local regulations on the installation of railings and fencing. These may specify the height of the railings and type of materials. Obtain the written consent of neighbors for the installation if the position of the railings is close to their property.
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2
Locate underground utility lines, drains and sewers. Hire a professional surveyor to find these lines if you do not have any ground plans.
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3
Sketch a plan of the posts’ positions. The posts should support each end of the railing panels. Mark out the position of the posts on the ground with the wooden stakes.
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4
Dig a hole at each post position that has a diameter three times that of the aluminum posts. The depth of the hole should be in the proportion of 2 feet for a 6-foot length post, that is, half the length that extends above ground. Place the post inside the hole and ensure that it is plumb. Enlist a helper to hold the post upright.
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5
Shovel crushed gravel into the hole in four- to five-inch sections by depth. Use the tamper to compact the gravel. Pack the crushed gravel to half the depth of the hole. Check that the post remains plumb.
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6
Fill the hole with concrete leaving a space of four inches below the ground surface. Allow the concrete to dry for at least five days. Fill the remainder of the hole with topsoil. This provides a basis for grass or other vegetation around the railings.
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Tips & Warnings
Ensure that the posts are positioned in a straight line so that the railing panels fit correctly between them.
Avoid post installation in the rain. The excess moisture content in the post hole could cause the posts to lean over.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
