How to Install Aluminum Deck Rails for Modern Look

Deck I built with aluminum balusters and rail brackets

My mom wanted me to build her a deck but i was really sick of the look of the average deck that came standard on most new houses, I mean the decks with the pressure treated railings, or balusters, as they're called in the trade. These in my opinion , while functional, don't do much for the decks appearance. To solve this problem and keep costs under budget, I found a neat system that is sold in most hardware stores that solved my problems. The maker is called decKorators and they come in white, black, bronze, forest and rust.They sell all of the parts I describe in this article.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum balusters
• Rail brackets
• Baluster attachment plugs
• Drill
• Square
• Carpenters pencil

Instructions

1. First you need to calculate how many balusters you need on your deck and buy the appropriate amount of fasteners. Figure on whether your going to use the fastening system that attaches the lower and upper horizontal rails made of 2x4's to the vertical deck posts. For a seamless look I recommend using the aluminum baluster system together with the rail attachment brackets that are sold by the same manufacturer. I bought these items at Lowes and they're easy to find in the decking section.

2. 

   Attach the baluster plugs to the top and bottom rails at four inch intervals (refer to illustration), than attach the rail brackets to the vertical posts at the correct heights for the length of your balusters and for the height you want the rail to be off the deck. Lowes sells the deck rails at two different heights so buy what length works for you.

3. 

   Take the bottom rail and slide it down into the bottom rail bracket but don't fasten it yet. Put the aluminum rails on the plug brackets on the bottom rail, than take the top rail and carefully lower it down so it goes down over the rails, with the plugs lining up, than push down firmly until it slides down into the upper rail bracket ( refer to illustration if like me you're a visual learner).

4. 

   After everything lines up and fits together screw the upper and lower rails to the rail brackets. Repeat this process all the way around your deck until done for a beautiful finished product.

Tips & Warnings

• The balusters for the stair railing use an angled plug so be sure to buy the right ones for that application.