Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. This tool will save you time and show you how far apart to set your balusters from each other and from each post so the balusters appear perfectly balanced in each of your railing sections. spacing between the cap rail and the railing section below, fasten 2×4 blocks with 2-1⁄2-in. Copyright © 2021 Trex Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Inspired by the design of the Union Jack flag, this timber-style balustrade emphasizes the flag’s diagonal pattern. When using fascia mounted railings around the deck, it is recommended that you also use fascia mounted rails on the stairs. Step 4 While a 16-foot-by-16-foot backyard deck for recreational purposes, such as an outdoor kitchen and general lounging, may only require deck posts spaced every 7 feet, a larger deck may require that the spacing … Mark the placement of the posts on the deck. Start by determining the number of posts you need and the post spacing. Determining the spacing of posts is the first step in installing a railing on your deck or porch. The same gap is allowed between the decorative elements of the deck railing. Railing. These deck railing height diagrams are a great reference for your design and building portfolio. While a spindle or baluster can touch the deck, they often have a bottom railing to hold them in place. After removing the blocks spacing the rail off the deck surface, drive the lower screws. Building Code Deck Railing Post Spacing Requirements According to the International Building Code, deck railing posts should be spaced no further than 6 feet apart. Engineered railing systems must be tested to meet IRC and IBC building codes. I have a 42" high wood railing with 2x4 bottom rail 3.5" off deck with wood 2x2's attached to outside of 2x4. In either case, you are allowed to build taller guardrails as long as they conform to all other requirements stated in the code. Divide the length of your railing to create sections of equal lengths between five and seven feet; the thicker your railing posts, the longer you can make the subsections. Commercial decks attached to multi-family buildings, such as apartment buildings or businesses, are regulated under the International Building Code (IBC). May 31, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Basic Deck Designs. Inspired by the design of the Union Jack flag, this timber-style balustrade emphasizes the flag’s diagonal pattern. Handrail ends must be returned and terminated at rail posts. Stairs. stainless-steel screws. Railing spacing ultimately determines the spacing of the pickets or balusters you will install; it plays an essential role in ensuring the structural integrity of the railing. Plan on having posts by the house, posts at outside corners — two at each corner — plus posts at the top of the stairs. The maximum space between the bottom rail and the surface is 4”. Measure the distance between posts at two corners and divide by the distance allowed between posts. To achieve this, you should space rail posts no greater than 6" apart. Deck Railing. A span is the unsupported distance between two posts. Deck Railing Systems. Explore. Drill two 1/4 inch holes through the base of each of your posts using a drill, then attach the posts to the deck with bolts or screws using a screwdriver. A “cantilever” is the unsupported end of a joist that extends past the last support post at the edge of your deck. Concentrated Load Test: The top rail must be capable of holding a point load of 200 lbs of force applied to the mid span, on the side of a post and on top of a post. Accurately calculating post spacing before you install your railing will ensure that you will not need to do costly reinstallations later on in your remodelling project. If you plan to install railings on multiple sides of the deck, measure the length of each section you wish to rail. What is the reasoning behind this spacing? Our styles including square, face-mount, round & glass balusters all from the best manufacturers in the industry. You’ll always need corner posts, so install these first then measure the distance between them, divide by six and round up. They include the actual height of the rail above the deck, the height above grade when a guardrail is required and important baluster spacing dimensions.. We have also created separate illustrations for residential guards for the USA and Canada - depending on where you live. Dec 13, 2018 - Deck Railling Ideas – In my quest to replace the iron railings on our front porch, I fell head over heels for the Union Jack balustrade. Each post must be able to withstand a minimum of 200-pounds of force against the top from any direction. Stair railing post spacing in Ontario. Maximum joist span of a 2X8 is 10’ – 6” at 16” o.c. Make a space between the post and the deck rail post no wider than the spacing between balusters. Shop Sale Railing ; Deck Post Caps. A circular cross section of a handrail must have an outside diameter of between 1-1/4” and 2”. The 12' I would think would be too far, so the choice would be 6' or 8'. Deck Railing Systems. Browse DecksDirect.com's massive online selection of deck balusters. The sweep space between the deck surface and the bottom rail must be less than 4". A safety factor of 2.5 is usually added to the testing. Dec 13, 2018 - Deck Railling Ideas – In my quest to replace the iron railings on our front porch, I fell head over heels for the Union Jack balustrade. by Bob (Kemptville, Ontario, Canada) I am just finishing up the railing on my deck. The main concern is a push outward from people leaning against the railing. Determining the spacing of posts is the first step in installing a railing on your deck or porch. Center a post on each of these marks, and mark the deck on each side of the post. Aluminum Post Caps; Stainless Steel & Copper Post Caps; Wood … Measure and mark locations for rail height. Metal Fence Post Caps. Your choices would be 12' o.c., 8' o.c., or 6' o.c. Decks attached to single family detached homes are regulated under the rules of the International Residential Code (IRC). Deck Railing Post Spacing. . Upgrade your deck railing today, in-stock and ready to ship out to you! Written by: Jon Zamboni. The clearance is tight, but a right-angle drill attachment helps to set them. The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. your own Pins on Pinterest. 200 pound point load applied at the top of the post in any direction, or at any point along the railing. By clicking GO!, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. Maximum cantilever of a 2X8 is 24” at 16” o.c. A variety of styles are allowed as long as the interior sections of the rail don’t possess any openings large enough to pass a 4” diameter sphere through. 1. Minimum stair railing height has to be 34” from the top rail to the nosing. Also install the stair railing post at the bottom end of the stringer. As a result, the post spacings for a railing will vary as will the length of the railing section that fits between each post. How to Calculate Railing Post Spacing. Zamboni has a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Wesleyan University. To ensure your system performs as well as designed, be sure to space structural posts 4ft apart center-to-center. With the standard safety factor of 2.5 used by engineers, that means railing and posts must be designed to resist a 300-pound uniform load or a 500-pound point load. Learn how to build and install deck railings in our comprehensive video. deck with a view image by Bruce Shippee from Fotolia.com. Deck Railing Guide ; Deck Railing Style Guide ; How to Measure Your Deck for Railing Video ; Deck Railing Image Galleries ; Sale & Closeout. The posts need to be bolted to the deck with approved hardware, not nailed into place. The sweep space between the deck surface and the bottom rail must be less than 4". Can I put my railing posts on after I build my deck? And a top rail 2x4 with a 2x4 top plate to cap it off. Discover (and save!) If you’re using a wood post system, you’ll need a structural post every 8ft with intermediate (non-load-bearing posts) spaced every 4ft between structural posts. On the flipside, a post will touch the deck every time … For a composite railing system, slide the post sleeve over the wood post, then the post sleeve skirt over the post sleeve; both should rest on the decking. Deck railing height should be a minimum of 36” for any platform elevated to 30” and more from the surface. Written on: July 14, 2020. deck with a view image by Bruce Shippee from Fotolia.com. Handrails are required for stairs and must meet standards as specified by R311.5.6.3 in the IRC code. Measure the distance between the corner posts of your deck with a measuring tape. A variety of gripping surfaces may be acceptable but must meet requirements for the gripping surface. He has previously written for The Spiritual Herald, an urban health care and religious issues newspaper based in New York City, and online music magazine eBurban. Since you'll want the posts equally spaced, do the math and see if there's a logical figure. The top edge of the handrail must be placed between 34” and 38” above the nosing of the stair treads. Determining the spacing of posts is the first step in installing a railing on your deck or porch. The guardrails must be strong enough to withstand a concentrated 200 lb force anywhere along the top of the rail. Uniform Load Test: The top rail must be able to sustain 125 lbs of force applied horizontally or vertically. Maximum spacing of posts is 72 inches on center. The size of the deck directly affects the spacing of the support posts. Mark the angle for trimming each stair rail. Determine post position based on overall deck dimensions. The farther apart your posts are spaced, the more cable deflection will occur and this can cause unsafe conditions. Deck railing height standards can vary from state to state but typically require a 36″ or 42″ railing. Accurately calculating post spacing before you install your railing will ensure that you will not need to do costly reinstallations later on in your remodeling project. Such calculators allow you to calculate the spacing of your posts using the width of the posts, the length of the area to rail and the size of the balustrades. Deck railings must meet building codes to pass inspection. Jon Zamboni began writing professionally in 2010. Sometimes local building codes will have more stringent regulations, so check your local building department for post spacing requirements. Deck railing posts have a maximum spacing of 6-feet for 4×4 posts and 8-feet for 6x6s but the railing will be stronger if the posts are closer together. These tests are performed by an accredited third-party testing agency. The top edge of the handrail must be placed between 34” and 38” above the nosing of the stair treads. For argument sake let's say the deck is 24' long. Flat 2x4 and 2x6 handrails are not acceptable. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30", you must still meet code requirements. Temporarily position each stair rail board against the stair rail posts at the marks to mark the trimming line at each end of the board. Inches or less from the top of the International Residential code ( IRC ) on your deck railing and! 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