![]() Be sure the distance between the house and the side of the 4x4 post is less than 4 inches to meet code requirements. However, this creates a place for moisture to collect, so most builders install a 4x4 post a few inches away from the house, as shown here. Where the railing runs into the house, some decks use a 2x4 attached to the house’s siding rather than a 4x4 post. Are You Attaching a Post Next to the House? That hardware is discussed at the end of this article.ĭeck railing posts at the top of the stairs must be oriented so the stair handrail attaches to one face of the 4x4 post. Use special deck-railing-post hardware that attaches the post to the sides of the angle-cut floor joists. The tall deck railing post acts as a lever and multiplies any force that pushes outward. Nails driven into the end grain of the joists have little holding power. IMPORTANT NOTE: If this rim joist is just nailed into the ends of the angled floor joists, it will not be sufficiently strong to support the deck railing posts. On a deck with angles, the 4x4 post is always attached to the flat face of the rim joist that creates the outside face of the deck framing. Because the post cap and the decking are the same thickness, the portion of the railing above the framing is an even 36 inches. To 36, we add 9 1/4 inches for the width of the 2x10 joist, plus 1 inch for the thickness of the 5/4 decking, and subtract 1 inch for the top cap - for a total railing post length of 45 1/4 inches. Here we show posts for a 36-inch-tall railing, which is common. Subtract the thickness of the top cap, if there will be one. Add to this the thickness of the decking. Do the following math: Determine the height of the deck joist the post will rest against. What to Consider Before Installing Deck Railing Posts How Do You Cut Posts to Length?Ĭut the post to the desired height of the railing. It’s not uncommon for about 2 inches of wood to be removed to what appears to be a 4x4 deck railing post, that’s actually only a 2x4. The post will be the desired height of the railing, and the width of the framing it is attached to, minus the thickness of the cap that rests on top of the posts (if any). Most local codes call for a railing that is either 36 or 42 inches tall, but check with your building department. Wood railing posts are usually 4x4s, which can be left bare or covered with PVC or composite sleeves. ![]() That means they need to be installed prior to adding the decking. Current codes demand stronger posts, so they are generally not notched and are installed on the inside of the framing. When building a deck, you may be wondering “what is code for deck railing posts?” Many older decks have railing posts installed on the outside of the deck framing, and sometimes those posts were notch-cut at the bottom where they fit against the outside joists. Also, if you are attaching a railing post to an outside joist that is not doubled, install blocking nearby or to the side of the post. However, your building department may require additional hardware for extra strength. ![]() ![]() This article teaches how to install posts with two bolts in order to create a very strong attachment. Proper installation is absolutely necessary to ensure that posts are spaced close enough to keep children and pets from slipping through and secured tightly enough to prevent wobbling that can lead to railing failure and falls. Sturdy deck railings are critical for safety and also required by code for any deck 30 inches or more above grade. Deck railing post attachment is one of the most important things you need to do correctly when building a deck.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |