Deck Railing Instructions

Install railings on your deck.

A wood deck can be a beautiful addition to any home, either in a form of a porch or a separate garden structure. If your deck is higher than three steps, installing a hand rail may be necessary according to your local building codes. However, railing is an attractive element for a deck structure even if it is not a necessity. Either way, decks often look more finished and refined when outlined with suitable railing. Installing a hand rail on your deck is an enjoyable and relatively easy task.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• 2-by-2, 2-by-4 wood planks
• 4-by-4 posts
• Level
• Power drill
• Screws
• Ratchet
• Planks
• Clamps
• Nail gun
• Hammer
• Sandpaper
• Primer and paint

Instructions

1. Plan your railing by measuring the deck and making a quick sketch. Decide the height of the hand rail and the disposition of the railing posts. It is always best to have all the distances between the posts exactly the same, preferably around six feet.
   Make a plan for the material purchase according to your sketch.

2. Mark the places for the posts on your deck by using a pencil and measuring tape. Start from the corner posts and then position the middle ones. Double check the post distances before proceeding to the next step.

3. Place the corner post and prepare it for drilling. Before using a power drill, use a level to check if the post is perfectly vertical. Also, secure the post with diagonal planks and clamps to make sure it doesn't move when you drill.

4. Install the post by inserting bolts all the way through the deck and the post. If needed, tap the bolt with a hammer to push it all the way through. Add washers and nuts and tighten the bolts with a ratchet.

5. Repeat steps three and four with all the other posts as well. Remember, always start from corner posts and then work your way around. The corner posts need to be fastened on two adjacent sides. The rest of the posts can be attached only through the rim joist.

6. Install the bottom railing by nailing a 2-inch-by-4-inch wood plank to the posts. Instead of nails, you can use screws in pre-drilled holes. Position the bottom railing on the height you choose. Generally, the distance between the rail and the deck should not be more than five inches.

7. Install the top railing in the same way, but on a height that is two inches lower that the final height of the deck railing. Both bottom and the top rail should be installed with the longer dimension, four inches, on the side.

8. Mount the hand rail directly above the top rail, this time making the longer dimension on the top, which is a typical, flat position of a hand rail. You may want to treat the surface of the handrail with sandpaper to make it smoother.

9. Attach the 2-inch-by-2-inch balusters all the way around the deck rail, on the top and the bottom rail. Use a nail gun or a power drill to mount them onto the rails. Before attaching the balusters, double check the distances and dispositions and mark the places for the balusters with a pencil.

10. Treat the surface of your new deck railing with sandpaper, primer and paint to make it compatible with the deck.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider various ways of attaching posts to the deck: you can screw them to the deck side, instead of the deck surface. The corner posts can be bigger and higher that the rest of the posts.

• Be extremely careful and apply all the necessary safety precautions when using power tools.

References

• Hammer Zone: Building a Basic 2x4 Deck Handrail
• Ideas for Deck Designs: Installing Deck Railing Posts to Last