Wood Deck

Some Important Points About Deck Railings

A deck looks great and is an excellent place to relax if built properly. Deck railings are the sides of the deck that support the deck. So they play a very important role in the building of a deck. If the railings are not fixed correctly it might give a bad look to the deck and mostly it might be dangerous if the railings are not nailed properly.

Screws rather than nails should be used to fix the deck railings since they are more durable and have stronger holding properties than a nail. Another good reason to use the screws is that they can be removed easily if the railing has to be replaced.

Some important points about deck railings:

1. Usually a railing is required if the deck is 18 or more inches off the ground.

2. A local building code is required for building deck railing. If unsure about how to build a deck railing, check with your local building authority who will give you all the needed information.

3. The height of the railing should be 36-42 inches. This again depends on the local building codes.

4. Gaps between the railing balusters should not be more than 4 inches wide to prevent the child from slipping through it.

Different types of wood deck railings:

There are several types of deck railings. Different types of deck railings allow for different design techniques. Aluminum deck railings are easy to maintain and clean whereas wood deck railings are easy to add built in benches and planters. Decorative and functional wood railings are an important part of your deck. They provide security in several ways while creating the design.

Durability is very important when you choose deck railings. Material chosen for creating them should be from treated woods such as cedar, mahogany or redwood. It should also suit the climate and terrain of the selected area. Decorative wood railings are a classic way to make them look contemporary and unique.

Components of wood railings:

Different components of wood railings are Hand rails, insert rails, posts, Post caps, balusters or spindles and finials. You can add decorative post caps to your handrails that can give life to the structure created.

Wood Deck