Deck Railings & Posts

Deck posts and railing apart from creating an embellished look offer safety and security on a deck. These deck essentials come in a variety of materials that can be complimented with the rest of the structure. Deck railing components, including balusters, posts, side rails, top rails and bottom rails are made of wood, vinyl, aluminum, composite wood, stainless steel and even glass! From traditional hand carved looks to simple elegance of a picket-fence to modernistic glass designs, railing systems can define your home stylishly. The deck post railing and the way it connects to the deck is very critical. If it is not done properly, it can be dangerous. Over time deck posts or railing can become shaky and be very unsafe. It is essential to keep checking for a wobbly post or railing. Actually a deck post is simply a lever. Your challenge is to lock this lever into position so that the bottom end of the post barely moves at all. Treated posts are lag-bolted to the rim joists of the deck. Additional blocking is added to prevent the posts from flexing too much.

You must make sure that you install a sturdy hand rail system. Post and rail deck lighting adds an exceptional appeal to any deck. Lights can be mounted to appropriate sized flat surface of the deck posts or railing. Low wattage light on the post can be fascinating on your deck. More than any other feature it is the railings that give deck designs an individual style. By repeating the architectural details of the house on to the railings and posts you can make the entire structure aesthetically more pleasing. Prior to installing railing you must check the local building codes on deck railings. Usually they are required to be installed when decks are higher than 30 inches above the ground.