Typical deck codes say that a railing should have no opening larger than 4 inches.
Fasten top railing cap.
Tip centering the cap on the rail if the railing cap is 5 1 2 inches wide and is resting on a 1 1 2 inch thick top rail with 3 4 inch thick balusters which do provide some support then to be centered the cap.
Install them flush with the top.
Attach the top cap to the posts using two 3 inch screws diagonally 2 inches apart.
If you are working with wooden railings you can make top rails from 2x4s or 2x6s.
01 48 how to attach deck railing.
How to do it yourself patio deck attaching railing and balusters.
For a more finished look bevel the bottom of each baluster.
Step 6 install the balusters.
Most designs have the top rail flush with the top of the posts so the post cap can rest on it.
Just lay the spacer on the deck and the bottom rail on top of it.
Follow the instructions in this article to attach the boards to the top rail and for drilling pilot holes and driving angled screws.
They can be placed flat horizontal or on edge vertical.
Better predrill those holes too.
Run them along each post flush with the top.
Cut another 2x4 to the same length plus the combined width of the outside joist and the decking thickness.
The cap rail that goes over the top rail is grooved underneath to fit nicely over the 2x4 on its edge.
Screw the top cap to the top rail every 12 inches.
The deck railing is built.
00 12 how to measure cut and prepare deck railing.
Attach with structural screws not deck screws.
Sthe bottom rail is typically 3 1 2 to 4 inches above the decking.
These run along the top of the posts and top rails.
Good to know make miter cuts at the ends of rail caps that will meet at corners.
Install your cap rail by running 2 3 screws per end into the adjacent post run screws up from bottom edge of 2x4 cap rail into post to hide those screws.
Screw the balusters into the top and bottom rails.
The easiest way is to use a 2 4 as a spacer.
On your existing 2x4 top rail using a countersink bit predrill a hole 1 below the top edge at an upward angle every 18 or so.
Each railing panel is between a 4x4 post and consists of an upper and lower cedar 2x4 rail oriented on it s edge with aluminum pipe spindles every 4 inches.
To make a regular post cut two 1x4s and one 2x4 to the height of the railing minus the thickness of the rail cap.
Mix and match post and top rail sizes.
