Looking for suggestions on Deck Railing
hacker454
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Looking for suggestions on a deck railing for my cottage. I am going to bust up the concretecinder block patio and replace with TREX Decking and 2×8 PT joistes. I do not want the railing to “take over”the front of the cottage but would like them to blend in. My thougts are:
1. No Glass (to expensive to many kids)
2. Powder coated (black) aluminun spindles (would the black look good)
3. White Vynil (maybe two much white, will be replacing bushes to the right with a white fence)
Does anyone have any other suggestions or web pages with examples?
Thanks for your help…………….Hacker454
Replies
What will the depth of the deck be? And how high up is the finish surface above grade?
Is there some other way to contain the crowd (how old are the kids?), keeping them from falling off w/o a rail? Tiered continuous steps down, wide and completly around the perimeter. Or a large tiered step area with benches taking up the remaining room? Planters? Posts with a living fence (year round ivy on 2x4 grid galv fence) growing up it?
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Go here.
http://www.rdirail.com
Endurance railing. We've put a bunch in. Not that hard. Looks real nice.
Great with the posts on top of deck.
Good luck.
I have always liked the look of horizontal wire. 1/4" to 5/8" plastic coated cable secured with SS eye bolts at each end. This look is kinda modern or industrial but the 'railing' disappears. You will need check with your local codes because this might not be allowed and it is not a great option if your have small kids around.
Day
I am not a expert, just a know-it-all.
Just did a deck rail with 1/2" copper pipe pickets; safe for kids, zero maintenance.
Think about it.
Advocate
Hacker,
I have done black-painted aluminum pickets, 5/8" solid rods. The black helps them disappear, IMO. I also did one for a different customer using 1/2" rigid type L copper (also 5/8" diameter, BTW) left to weather. The second one was in the mountains on a natural wood home, and it harmonizes perfectly with the wood. The black one was on a painted home, and it looked good there.
So much depends on the owners, the budget, and the neighborhood.
Bill
One thing that came to my mind after looking at the photos was the old fashioned porches with solid sides--in your case you could put the same siding material that's on the upper part of your house. Then the deck would sort of blend in. (More work though, but very sturdy and no worries about kids falling through!) Have to leave holes near the bottom (scuppers, I think their called) to let water out.
Hey all ! First post here but... I just recently sanded down and restained my cedar deck at the cottage. I rebuilt the railing and like you, I wanted a relatively unobstructed view through the railing system. I considered many options and ended up using a product from a company called Deckorators http://www.deckorators.com . I wanted a product that would not require any maintenance. I considered using the black posts but decided that the contrast was not what I was looking for because I wanted them to disappear a little more. My deck is stained is stained an opaque cedar colour, and I ended up using the "bronze" colour spindles (classic style). I am very happy with the look, and the product itself.
You mentioned glass also... This same company also has tempered glass panels which are about 4" wide ( a couple of colour options). I was a little freaked out about using glass panels which are only 4" wide (breakage) but I did consider using the clear panels.
I would go to http://woodwayproducts.com/category.asp?cid=12 it is on a expensive side but it is well worth it.
Was going to go with what Restorationday said with the metal cable system. Don't think the "modern-look" would work in this case, though.
If you're not affected by code issues (and guardrails aren't required in our locale unless over 30" above grade), horizontal rails will go with your siding better than pickets. Maybe wood 2 x 2's, 6" - 8" apart with supports at 36" - 48" o.c.? Nice thin look, painted the color of your house.
Just think pickets will look more busy (especially if they're white).
We used the aluminum ballusters from Deckorators on our log home. Obviously, it is a completely different style house, but we love them. You can be creative with them.
How high is your porch? Do you actually need anything?
Paula