| In this article, you will learn more about | | | | Deck Railing Choices |
| the functions of your deck railings. Deck | | | | |
| railings serve two different purposes. The | | | | Safety is the major reason for deck railings, |
| purposes are to keep you and your friends and | | | | but they can also add character and visual |
| family save and to help make the deck more | | | | interest to your deck and home. You can even |
| visually appealing. | | | | create an unusual look by using multicolored |
| | | | railings that will draw the eye. There are |
| Deck Railings Are A Necessity | | | | several different materials that you can use, |
| | | | including wood, PVC, aluminum, or even a |
| Decks definitely need deck railings. In most | | | | combination of materials. |
| cases, deck railings are necessary due to the | | | | |
| building codes. If you are not going to | | | | Railing Requirements |
| follow the building codes, then you need to | | | | |
| realize that you are setting yourself up for | | | | In railing installation, you need to keep two |
| some painful consequences, including | | | | things in mind. These things are: |
| lawsuits, fines, and more. By simply adding | | | | |
| railings to your deck, you will be able to | | | | 1. Railing Height: This is usually dictated |
| save yourself the unnecessary harassment and | | | | by the building codes of your particular |
| the financial drain that may occur. A lower | | | | area. The height is usually at least 30 |
| deck railing height than is required by the | | | | inches, but check with your local city or |
| building codes is sometimes the corner that | | | | state building commission to ensure that your |
| some people cut and there are some reasons | | | | railings are the correct height. |
| why this is not safe. | | | | |
| | | | 2. Railing Construction: Depending upon the |
| Railings and Building Codes | | | | building codes, you will need to place your |
| | | | posts at intervals that are dictated to you. |
| Building codes are different depending upon | | | | A proper deck railing needs to have a few |
| where you live, but most of them have a law | | | | different components, including a bottom |
| that says that if the deck is more than 3 | | | | rail, vertical rail, and a top rail. The |
| feet from the ground or another horizontal | | | | bottom rail helps to make the railing look |
| surface, that you will need to have a way to | | | | more complete. The vertical rails need to be |
| protect from falls. A wall is an acceptable | | | | spaced so that a child cannot get through the |
| way to protect from falling, but a wall can | | | | railings. A top railing may be one piece or |
| be an obstruction to your view. This is a | | | | two and they are used to give additional |
| very costly way to meet the building code and | | | | strength to the railing structure and to |
| it does not make you any safer than deck | | | | attach the verticals to. This is the piece |
| railing would. | | | | that sees the most wear from hands and from |
| | | | weather. |