Do you have to put railings on a deck?

All decks higher than 30″ above grade must have a guardrail. The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36″ in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail.

How much does it cost to add railing to deck?

The average cost to install a 10-foot deck railing is $925, with projects varying from $420 to $6,480. Materials alone can range from $150 to $6,000 for a 10-foot section. Labor varies but averages at about $70 per hour or $30 per linear foot. Prices vary depending on what materials you choose.

What is the best railing for a deck?

The Deck Railing Cost Comparison seems to show that Iron and Aluminum are the best valued deck railing options. Composite Railing with aluminum balusters or composite baluster infill is more expensive than all-aluminum rail, and Cable infill with composite railing will be more expensive than cable with aluminum rail.

How do you install a railing on a deck?

Notice that the top cap terminates into the rail post at the same height as the deck guardrail. Install the 2×4 or 2×6 rail cap over the top rail. Pre-drill and screw the ends of the top cap into the rail posts and secure the center with additional screws.

How tall should a railing post be on a deck?

Here we show posts for a 36-inch-tall railing, which is common. To 36, we add 9 1/4 inches for the width of the 2×10 framing, 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.

Can a railing post be attached to an outside joist?

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. Otherwise, the post will be wobbly.

How tall does a deck have to be to have a guardrail?

In most municipalities, decks higher than 30 in. above the ground must have a perimeter guardrail. It’s critically important that railings be kept in good, sound condition. Start by confirming that each railing post is firmly attached to the deck frame and free of large cracks, rot and insect damage.

How do you install a rail on a deck?

Insert your half-inch through bolts, with one washer on each side, and fasten in place using your wrench and ratchet set. Repeat the process around the entire outer rim of the deck wherever you wish to install your railing. Use your tape measure to record the distance between the bottoms of two of the posts you installed.

What do you need to know about deck railings?

If the bottoms of the posts are notched around the rim joist, check to be sure the posts aren’t splitting at the notches. Each vertical baluster must be securely fastened to the horizontal rails. They must also be in sound condition and spaced no more than four inches apart.

How are the rails cut on a deck?

For this deck we built five sections of 2x2s cut to the exact gap between the posts. Cut the bottom rails pieces from 2×2 to the exact gap between each of the railing posts. The 45 degree corner section required the 2×4 bottom rail to be cut at about an 11 degree angle.