How to Attach Deck Railing Posts to Joists
Typically, a residential deck requires a railing when the deck level exceeds 18 inches above the surrounding ground level. The basic components of a sturdy and safe deck railing are the railing posts, which are secured to the deck's perimeter joists, referred to as rim joists. The procedure for attaching the railing posts is simple to complete and can be adapted to all common deck post sizes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- 48-inch wood deck posts
- Sawhorses (optional)
- Hand square
- Circular saw
- Handsaw
- Power drill
- 1/2-inch wood drill bit
- 1/2-inch flat washers
- 1/2-inch machine bolts
- 1/2-inch nuts
- Level
Instructions
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1
Mark the desired deck post locations. Typically, deck posts are positioned 6 to 8 feet apart and adjusted, as necessary, to equalize the spacing between corner posts. Mark a vertical line down the outer face of the rim joist at each post's center line.
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2
Mark the post height. Lay one post on sawhorses or a flat work surface, and mark the post at 40 1/2 inches from the end. Extend the mark across the width of the post using a hand square.
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3
Cut one post to height. Set a circular saw's depth of cut to 1 1/2 inches. Keeping the blade cut on the side of the line toward the bottom of the post, cut the height line you just marked on the post. This is the top of the post's notched cutout and will rest on the rim joist when installed.
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4
Draw lines from the end of the saw cut you made to the end of the post. Rotate the post 90 degrees onto a side adjacent from the side you just cut, and use a hand square to mark the line from the end of the saw cut to the nearest end of the post. Roll the post over to make an identical line on the opposite side of the post.
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5
Cut the lines you drew. Adjust the depth of cut on the circular saw to its full depth, and cut the lines on both sides of the post you just marked, ending the cut where it meets the cross cut completed previously. Cut on the narrow side of the line.
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6
Complete the removal of the post's notch. Use a handsaw to complete the cuts to where they intersect.
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7
Mark the vertical center line for bolt holes. Position the post's cutout notch down, and use the hand square to mark the center of the post width opposite the notch. Extend the line to match the notch. This is the vertical center line for the bolt holes.
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8
Mark the bolt centers. Measure from the bottom of the post, and mark on the center line at 2 inches and 5 1/2 inches for the bolt centers.
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9
Bore two 1/2-inch holes at the center points you marked.
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10
Mark bolt holes on the rim joist. Place the notched post on the rim joist, aligned with the center line you marked for the post earlier and centered in the two drilled holes in the post. Hold the post vertically plumb, and mark each bolt hole on the surface of the rim joist.
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11
Bore two 1/2-inch holes into the rim joist at each of the two center points you just marked.
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12
Attach the post. Slide a 1/2-inch flat washer onto a 1/2 machine bolt, and then insert a bolt into each of the two drilled post holes and through the rim joist. Put a second flat washer on the end of the bolt, and thread a nut onto the bolt until it is hand-tight. Use a level to hold the post plumb. Then tighten each nut until the post is held firmly in place.
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13
Repeat the procedure for the remaining posts to be installed. Then you can continue with the remainder of the railing assembly.
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