Building A Deck Stair Railing

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Building a deck stair railing.

The bottom post is the toughest post to make solid when you build outdoor stair railings. Deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 stringers spaced about 12 to 16 inches apart. Composite decking and railings. Before building and installing deck stair railings we have to attach the deck posts on the deck surface.

After building the main deck platform locate the footings for the stair landings and pad. Mix thirty two 60 pound bags of concrete in a portable power mixer for this step. Wood decking and railings. They rest on a solid foundation and are attached to the deck with hangers.

Consequently according to the structure of your deck you can either anchor the posts on the floor using post anchors or you can fasten them to the deck joists using lag screws. The railing posts for this deck are cut from 4 x 4 lumber. An inch or two higher than the railing will look nice. Most building codes require railings for decks over 24 inches in height and most codes require these railings to be at least 42 inches high.

How to install deck stair railings guardrails must be provided on the open side of a stair where it is more than 30 above the floor or grade. Mount posts on the inside of the rim joist if you plan to upgrade to vinyl railings later. Building codes define the minimum height and strength of the railing system as well as the size of gaps in the railing they must be small enough that a small child cannot slip through. To learn how to mount the posts on the on the inside of the rim joists see how to build a deck.

An important step in building deck step railing is to stiffen up posts at the bottom of outdoor stairs or deck railings by bolting them on three sides. Sturdy deck railings are an important safety feature for raised decks and are required by code for any deck 30 in. Start by dividing the spacing of the posts to create equal distances for each rail section. This deck already has wood decking and deck railings installed.

The posts extra height above the railing is just for looks. Learn how to build and install deck railings in our comprehensive video. Measure relative to an existing deck structure for the most accuracy. Most building codes require deck railings to be between 36 inches 91 cm and 42 inches 110 cm high.

Learn the details in how to build a deck. You ll need enough length hanging below the surface of the deck to attach the posts securely to the supports.