How to Build a Porch Railing

If you have a porch that you are looking to dress up a little bit, building a porch railing can make it really stand out. With a few supplies and tools, you can construct your own porch railing that will not only add beauty to your home but provide protection as well. In this project, an 8-foot rail is made with 2-by-4 inch studs and 1-by-2 inch rails, so adjust the length of the the studs and rails according to your configuration.

Things You'll Need

• 2 8-foot 2-by-4 inch wood studs 2 8-foot 1-by-2 inch wood rails 24 2-by-2-by-20 inch wood slats Saw Hammer 2 1/2-inch finish nails Paintbrush Wood primer Wood paint Sandpaper 25-foot ruler Pencil Sawhorses

Instructions

1. Measure between column posts to obtain the length of your top and bottom rails. Distance can vary between each column post as well, so check each section to get exact measurements.

2. Lay out the 1-by-2 inch rails and fasten a 20-inch wood slat on the end, between these rails, with finish nails. Make sure the end of the rails overlaps the end of the wood slat. Repeat the same procedure on the other end of the top and bottom rails with another wood slat. At this point you should have the top and bottom of your porch railing as well as the two end slats, so that you have a rectangular frame to work with.

3. Measure from either end of the top rail and place a mark every 4 inches across the length of the rail. Repeat the same procedure for the bottom rail. These marks are the center points for the remainder of your wood slats. Fasten each slat to the top and bottom rails with finish nails. Place a mark on the end of the top and bottom rails to mark their center points.

4. Lay out your 2-by-4 inch studs, and mark the ends in the same way you marked the 1-by-2 inch rails in Step 3, finding the center point of each. Line up the center point of each of the studs with the center point of the rails. Nail the top stud to the top rail so that the stud acts as a cap for the new porch railings. Turn the unit over and repeat the process with the bottom stud, nailing it to the bottom railing.

5. Sand the entire unit and then remove any remaining dust. Lay the porch railing unit across sawhorses and apply a coat of wood primer. When this dries, paint the porch railings with your desired color and allow them to dry. Apply a second coat if needed and let the railings dry.

6. Measure 30 inches from the top of your porch up the porch columns and mark with pencil. Repeat on the opposite column. Stand your porch railings up and set the top of the unit on the line you just drew on the columns. Fasten the rail unit into place with finish nails by nailing the end rails into the columns. Toenail finish nails from the upper and lower studs into the columns for added support.

7. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for any additional gaps between porch columns.