Hello Everyone,
I am rebuilding a deck railing and the posts are not plumb. A string pulled across the tops show that they are all off center by upto an inch. Also, the measurements between the tops of the posts are pretty much all up to an inch different the bottom measurements.
My questions is, how often to pros get perfectly plumb posts and is it necessary? I can force the posts into alignment with each other by flexing them, but is this adviseable? Would it stress the railing system too much? Should I try to plumb everything or just cut the top rails and bottom rails to fit (different lengths)?
Thanks, Eric
PS: I am using Trex 4×4 posts, anchored to the deck from the top with Titan Post anchors. The railing is Trex 2×4’s on edge, with Deckorator aluminum tubing balusters.
Replies
A professional would get all the posts plum an inch is totally unexctable
Can you explain why they are so far out of wack?
How are they fastented to the deck do they run all the way to the ground
I know I would make them plum and you will see the difference when you install the spindles because they will want to be plum and the railings level also otherwise it will look terrible and unprofessional
In some of the worse cases things cant be plum and level but they must be parllel and square to each other to give the illusion of being true.
You have to always shoot for plum and level deck (but also with a slight slope away from the house) a 36" post or something 1" out of wack in no good the end result will not be satisfying.
IMHO all of the posts need to be plumb and cut to the same length. Unless they are intentionally all out of plumb in the same way or amount as a design element. I plumb each post as I go and run a string from each corner to tweak all of them.
If any are out of alignment, I shim the bottom or side if they are attached to the rim joist and resecure them.
After all are plumb, I use the same string to mark the locations of the top cut.
"It is what it is."
I have no experience with the Titan post anchors. If the holes for the anchor are not drilled in straight, the post is not cut square or if the deck surface isn't uniform, I can see issues. I use shims when necessary with notched out posts. When you cut your rails, make the top and bottom the same. Use some clamps or bungee cords to pull the posts tight to the rails. This will keep everything in line with the rails evenly divided. Plumbing the other way will likely require some shimming of the anchors.
I'm not much of a fan of an anchor that only holds a post by the bottom, The lags in the deck could let go under time and a force. All the posts should be cut the same length, it's not like you are installing a fence on uneven ground. I would loosen the lags in the deck and install the railings. Once the rails are in place and keeping the posts evenly spaced, I would tighten the lags, shimming where needed to keep the posts plumb in the other direction. Once everything is connected up, I think you will find things come in line much better.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Here is a picture of the Titan Post Anchor. It is bolted down to blocking under the deck with 8 more Lag screws. I had to use this method because my original posts broke. I found out that the contractor had notched them severely, with only about 25% of the wood remaining. Since I have some permanent porch posts existing, I would have had to notch the new posts in the same manner in order to line up the new railing posts. So I decided to try these. They feel pretty strong installed (stronger than the previous notched PT) and pass code. The instructions do say to use galvanized washers as shims under the anchor if necessary, but I was hoping to avoid that since they will stick out a little bit.View Image
Yes, they should be plumb in both directions. It'll stick out like a sore thumb once the railing goes on if you don't. Shim, add blocking, whatever you need to do.... but get 'em plumb.
If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.